Michigan Library Association

Call to Action: Libraries Need Three Election Dates

June 21, 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.

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.

Intellectual Freedom Is Being Challenged Across the Country

May 27, 2021

In the Michigan Library Association’s current strategic plan, we state: “We believe in equal and free access to information and knowledge, while protecting an individual’s right to privacy.” Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession and a basic right in our democratic society. Our guiding principle expresses the importance of protecting the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Updates to MIOSHA Emergency Rules and MDHHS Order

May 24, 2021

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced updates to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (MIOSHA) COVID-19 emergency rules as many employers return to in-person work. Changes to the rules include:

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