Close up of Education Muse painted on the interior of the Capitol dome in Lansing, Mi

MLA Advocacy News

Michigan Library Advocacy Day

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, MLA hosted our 2nd annual in-person Michigan Library Advocacy Day at the Capitol. This sold-out event brought together more than 160 library advocates representing public, school, academic, tribal, and special libraries from across Michigan. Our unified message: Strong Libraries = A Stronger Michigan!

Take Action to Support School Libraries!

In early March, State Senator Darrin Camilleri (District 4) and Senator Rosemary Bayer (District 13) introduced a package of tie-barred bills requiring a library staffed by a certified school librarian in every public school in the state. These bills replicate the house bills that were introduced in the last three legislative cycles but didn’t move any further.

ALA Releases 2023 Censorship Data, Reports Record Number of Unique Book Titles Challenged in 2023

The surge in book censorship and the number of titles targeted for censorship during 2023 reached unprecedented levels. According to the American Library Association (ALA), there was a 65 percent increase in the number of titles targeted for censorship compared to the previous year. In 2023, 4,240 unique book titles were subject to censorship efforts, surpassing the previous high of 2,571 titles in 2022.

February Election Results

Check out our roundup of the February 27, 2024 election results for millage issues on ballots around the state. We are proud of the library boards, staff, and supporters for their work on these campaigns and their dedication to supporting their libraries. The Library of Michigan provides a listing of Public Library Millage Election Results from 2010 to the present. View the Michigan Public Library Millage Results 2010 to February 2024 (pdf).

Local Library Funding From Voter-Approved Millages Facing Opposition

What Would Happen if Libraries Were No Longer Funded by Property Taxes?

A small group in Michigan is questioning if property taxes should be eliminated by changing the Michigan Constitution and is actively working to get this question onto the November ballot. Over 446,000 valid voter signatures are needed by July 8, 2024, to make this a reality. And then it would be left to the voters.

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