Michigan Library Association

Written by Gail Madziar, MLA Executive Director

Executive Director's Desk - February 8, 2018

MLA recently completed a membership survey. Thank you to the hundreds of librarians who responded. We are only now starting to analyze the results but one thing is clear. Each and every time we reach out to members you ask for advocacy training.

We listen and this year we are offering something a little different. In conjunction with the Michigan Cooperative Directors Association, MLA is presenting the ALA Advocacy Bootcamp. Being held April 20, 2018 at the Library of Michigan in Lansing, this is an opportunity to break down silos and join together to learn how to be the best advocate in your community for all libraries - no matter the type, size, location or available budget.

Written by Gail Madziar, MLA Executive Director

Executive Director's Desk - May 10, 2018

Recognition for School Libraries

The Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) has succeeded in having three bills introduced in the Michigan House that would require a school librarian in every school in the state. At MLA we fully support these bills and congratulate MAME on their effort and achievement. They worked tirelessly to raise awareness and garner attention to this crucial issue. These bills are recognition by legislators of the importance of school libraries and librarians to the education and well-being our youth.

Written by Steven K. Bowers, 2017-2018 MLA President

President's Update - February 8, 2018

For some of us, it's annual review time. For me, it's good to have a time to think about what I did in the past year and to plan ahead with goals for the coming months. This year at work we were really encouraged to think about our recently identified pillars of focus, and to tie each of our goals to those strategic areas, including: Student Success, Community Engagement, Digital Publishing and Scholarship, and Leadership and Organizational Development. This month I would like to focus on Leadership.

Written by Gail Madziar, MLA Executive Director

Executive Director's Desk - April 12, 2018

Does your leadership team apply the elements of change management and strategic leadership to their decision making?

What are strategic leadership skills?

It has been said, the more unpredictable the environment, the greater the opportunity-if you have the leadership skills to capitalize on it. That means being a strategic leader. According to the Wharton School, strategic leaders are constantly vigilant, honing their ability to anticipate by scanning the environment for signals of change. Strategic thinkers question the status quo. They challenge their own and others' assumptions and encourage divergent points of view before taking action. This requires patience, courage, and an open mind.

Written by Steven K. Bowers, 2017-2018 MLA President

President's Update - March 8, 2018

Special libraries, public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries. Those of us working in libraries tend to classify library types into divisions. I guess it's in our nature to organize information. But an interesting thing to note is that most of the general public, including most legislators, don't see those divides. They are pro-libraries (hopefully) and they see us all as one. That's good news, I think, and that is part of why the MLA mission is to support all libraries in Michigan.

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