Michigan Library Association

MLA Fund Updates

At the MLA March Board meeting, the Board of Directors approved shifting the focus of MLA savings to better serve and respond to the financial challenges of MLA members. Keeping intact the General Fund, Kaiser Fund, and Equity Fund – MLA Board members voted unanimously to merge the Advocacy Fund and the Intellectual Freedom funds (which will now be used to help with legal fees and board training) and to merge two education funds that will be used for scholarships to attend MLA events.

Call to Action - Urge Governor Whitmer to Dedicate CARES Act Funding to Libraries

April 15, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan has received $89.4 million in federal aid through the CARES Act that will help K-12 schools, colleges and universities and other educational organizations. MLA has contacted Governor Whitmer requesting that a portion of these funds be used for libraries.

Senate Passes Historic Stimulus Package

March 26, 2020

Yesterday, the United States Senate passed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion stimulus package in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. This bipartisan legislation is the largest economic aid package in US history, and was passed in the Senate with a unanimous 96-0 vote. It will next go to the House for a vote.

On Wednesday evening, before the Senate passed this legislation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced that the House will convene at 9 a.m. Friday to consider the relief package. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is indicating that she's optimistic that the bill will pass in the House as well. President Donald Trump has indicated he will sign the measure and tweeted his congratulations after it cleared the Senate. View full the bill text here.

MLA 2022 Board of Directors Election Results

Congratulations to MLA's new Directors! Scott Duimstra, Capital Area District Libraries was voted President-elect. Tashia Miller, Washtenaw Community College was elected as ALA Councilor. Angela Badke, Ojibwa Community Library; Sophia Ward Brewer, Grand Rapids Community College; and Christine Peele, Detroit Public Library, were elected as Members-at-Large to serve three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2025.

Many thanks to all the candidates for demonstrating leadership by agreeing to run and to all our members who voted. We look forward to a great year! Please feel free to welcome and congratulate our new Directors!

Written by Deborah E. Mikula, MLA Executive Director

Letter From Debbie

February 24, 2022

MLA has been a strong advocate for libraries throughout our 130-year history. Just in the past 2 years, we have increased library funding, taken a stand on library privacy, property taxes, intellectual freedom, open meetings, and so much more.

This week, I had the great opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes work of the American Library Association (ALA) and have had great conversations with other advocates from around the country and here in our state. I have been reminded many times over how strong our argument is for the value and importance of our libraries throughout our nation and in our world. We can’t ignore the evidence that strong libraries make strong communities.

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