Michigan Library Association

Call to Action: Please Call Your Senator Today - Libraries Need Three Election Dates

June 23, 2021

House Bill 4530 and Senate Bill 130 would amend different acts to remove the May regular election date and move the date of the primary election in Michigan from August to June, limiting a jurisdiction to holding only two elections in a year.

The bills will be discussed at the Senate Committee on Elections meeting today at 2:00 PM. Our Senators need to hear from us about why it is important to keep three election dates to allow libraries more flexibility in seeking millages. Please contact your Senator before 2:00 PM today to tell them that libraries need three millage election dates. Ask them to oppose HB 4530 and SB 130 and ANY legislation that limits election dates and hurts a library's ability to seek funding.

Call to Action: Libraries Need Three Election Dates

June 21, 2021

Libraries rely on locally dedicated millages for funding. A millage loss could very well close the doors permanently for a library, so alternative dates to re-present their proposal to their community during the calendar year are essential. Additional restrictions to the number of times each year that a millage can be brought before voters are detrimental to libraries. Read MLA's Statement in Opposition to Any Restrictions to Millage Dates by the Michigan Legislature.

Call to Action - Contact Your Representatives to Oppose Legislation That Diverts Penal Fines

October 14, 2021

House Bills 4535 and 4536 were introduced earlier this year by Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord. House Bill 4535 (HB 4535) would prohibit wheeled vehicles from driving on snowmobile trails between December 1 and April 1. House Bill 4536 (HB 4536) would direct the fines from these violations to be deposited into an account for the further maintenance of the snowmobile trails.

On Thursday, June 17, both bills passed out of the Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation to the Michigan House of Representatives on a unanimous vote, despite MLA testimony in opposition. Today, the bills were read for a second time in the House and are headed to a vote next Tuesday, October 19. This is a Call to Action by MLA to oppose House Bill 4536.

Jessica Keyser Appointed to MLA Board (Again)

At the MLA Board of Directors September meeting, the Board voted to appoint Jessica Keyser to the seat vacated by Tim Gleisner, who stepped down to take a position in Texas. Jessica will fulfill the remainder of the term which ends June 30, 2023.

MLA Welcomes Social Media Strategist Interns

MLA is adding more talent to our team! We are proud to announce that Trinity Jones, a senior at Eastern Michigan University and Hannah O'Malley, a senior at Michigan State University will be joining us for three months as our social media strategist interns to promote both MLA and Michigan’s awesome libraries and library workers. At MLA, they will work on social media projects like content development, photos, graphics, analytics and engagement. We are excited to welcome our new team members to MLA and continue to expand our communication efforts on our social media channels.

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