Michigan Library Association

Letter from Debbie: Dare Mighty Things

April 29, 2021

Mars has been a favorite object of skywatchers for centuries and of space explorers for decades. I watched in amazement a few months ago when Perseverance landed on the surface of Mars (~150 million miles away) having lifted off from earth in July 2020. I was also watching a few days ago when NASA’s first solar-powered helicopter, Ingenuity, took flight on Mars (the first-ever flight on another planet – as exciting as the Wright Brothers' first flight on earth). I found all of this inspiring and incredible in what can be achieved when individuals with a dream work together, collaborate, bring their individual talents to the table to achieve something greater than the sum of its parts.

Volunteer to Help the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission

April 29, 2021

MLA is working in partnership with the communications team from the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) to engage libraries in the redistricting plan for the State of Michigan. Libraries have been identified as a key partner and as such, MLA wants to make sure that our library community is integral in getting Michigan citizens involved in the redistricting process.

In 2018, Michigan voters passed Proposal 2, a ballot initiative for voters, and not legislators, to take responsibility for nonpartisan redistricting, which created the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC). The commission is comprised of 13 randomly selected Michigan residents that include four Democrats, five Independents, and four Republicans. The MICRC is responsible for redistricting the U.S. Congressional, Michigan House, and Michigan Senate districts.

Joint Statement in Support of Jurnee Hoffmeyer

April 21, 2021

The Michigan Library Association (MLA) and the Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) are committed to doing everything we can, in our libraries, schools, and communities to promote justice and equality for all. It has come to our attention that a white media assistant that works in the library at Ganiard Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, cut the hair of a biracial child without parental permission.

MLA and MAME are using our voices as representatives of all Michigan libraries and library workers, including school libraries, to stand in support of 7-year-old Jurnee Hoffmeyer.

MLA 2021 Election Results

April 29, 2021

Congratulations to MLA's new Directors! Ryan Wieber, Library Director, Kalamazoo Public Library was voted President-elect. Anne Heidemann, Tribal Librarian, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries; Cathleen Russ, Library Director, West Bloomfield Township Public Library; and Tiffany Russell, former Social Services Manager, Niles District Library, were elected as Members-at-Large to serve three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2024.

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!

MLA 2021 Youth Literary Awards Winners and Honor Books

March 25, 2021

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2021 Mitten, YouPer and Thumbs Up! Awards! The awards selection group members worked throughout the year spending thousands of hours reading, reviewing and ranking hundreds of books to determine the top titles published in 2020. Watch the announcement below!

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