MLA Connect Advocacy Hour: Advocacy Resources for Trustees 

Thursday, May 18, 2023 
10:00 - 11:00 AM 

Michigan public libraries cannot exist without their boards of trustees. Elected or appointed, trustees govern, steward, and advocate for their library on behalf of their communities.

When the library faces trouble, or a crisis, it is frequently the board which must navigate the situation while causing the least amount of damage to the institution they are sworn to protect. What resources are available to assist public library trustees in advocating for their libraries and in managing the positive and negative situations that may come their way?

Join MLA and Library Law Consultant Clare D. Membiela, Library of Michigan to discuss strategies and resources available to library boards and library directors for preparing for, identifying, and managing advocacy opportunities - in both celebration and in crisis.

Advocacy Hour conversations are always free to attend but registration is required.

View Recording at
MLA Connect On Demand

Guest Speaker

Clare D. Membiela
Library Law Consultant, Library of Michigan

As the Library Law Consultant at the Library of Michigan, Clare helps public libraries understand and manage legal issues that impact library services. Before joining the Library of Michigan, Clare was the Associate Director for the WMU Cooley Law School Libraries. She has an M.L.S. from Southern Connecticut State University, a J.D. from the University of Miami, and 30 years of law library experience

MLA Connect Advocacy Hours are an opportunity for the library community to learn more about MLA's advocacy and legislative priorities including funding, elections, property taxes, literacy, internet access, privacy, intellectual freedom, and more. Each month, we will address a new topic and share any pending legislation introduced in the House or Senate that could impact the Michigan library community. Open discussion and Q & A will follow the interview-style agenda.

Monthly sessions will take place generally on the third Thursday of the month at 10:00 am. Advocacy Hours are free to attend to anyone interested in joining the conversation! A maximum of 500 attendees can join each live event. Registered attendees will receive information and a link to access the meetings on the Zoom platform. 

Please note recordings of all MLA Advocacy Hours are available to watch for free and on-demand at MLA Connect On-Demand.