President's Update - July 12, 2018

Welcome to the new fiscal year for the Michigan Library Association (MLA). I am truly honored to serve as your 2018-19 MLA President. Fresh on the heels of the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans, I am proud and inspired to be in a profession that is forward-looking and customer-service driven. So many great programs and initiatives are happening around the state in libraries. We are proactively serving the needs of our patrons from Tahquamenon Falls to Kalamazoo to East Lansing to Port Huron and all points in between. Through the services of the MLA staff, board and volunteers, we will continue to advocate, innovate and communicate for Michigan libraries.

With the help and support of the MLA Legislative Committee and MLA members, we will continue to work on or monitor:

• State Budget
• HB 5090 Rep. Scott VanSingel (R-Grant):
  Changes how fines from weigh stations are distributed. Failure to stop at a weigh station would be changed from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction and exempt certain vehicles.
• SB 828 and 829 Sen. Jones (R-Grand Ledge) Sen. O'Brien (R-Portage):
  Legislation addressing Narcan and library liability.
• HB 5909 Rep. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor):
  Require every public school in Michigan to offer a library beginning in the 2018-19 school year that meets certain criteria.
• HB 5911 Rep. Christine Greig (D-Northville):
  Require a principal or other appropriate administrator to designate an individual to supervise students in a school library when a certified media specialist is not present.
• HB 5910 Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Twp.):
  Require a school district board to employ at least one certified media specialist for each school library operated by that district beginning in the 2018-19 school year.

On the state budget front, we have good news. The state budget, for libraries, increased by more than $1 million again this year! Great job to everyone who talked to legislators about the power of libraries-every story helps and makes an impact. While the increase to state funding is a win, we will need to continue to look at other, more sustainable revenue streams for libraries. Our advocacy efforts will be so very important this year as we welcome new legislators and a new governor to the state house.

I am excited to hear ideas and suggestions from our members, but I am even more excited to hear how our members are transforming lives at their libraries and in their communities, whether those are universities, colleges, towns, cities, schools or organizations. MLA is here to support, engage, develop and encourage all libraries and library staff. Please share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions with me throughout the year. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be inspired, be innovated, and to work with all of you. Thank you for this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Kristin

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