Support MLA Future Pathways Grants

As we approach the end of the year, many of us look for meaningful ways to give back. This year, we invite you to support the MLA Equity Fund. Our goal is to raise $3,000 by year-end, and with your help, we know we can achieve this!

Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks

Tune in to the second episode of Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks on December 12! December's episode will be hosted by Linda Adams from the Northland Library Cooperative and feature library worker and award-winning photographer, poet, and author, Peter Wurdock from Newberry in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Note from Debbie

The voters have spoken and Michigan will again see a change in House leadership when the 103rd Legislature takes over on January 1, 2025. The short-lived, two-year trifecta of democratic control will come to an end, and while our Governor is a Democrat and the Senate continues to have a democratic majority, the House now has a solid 58-52 Republican majority.  

With that in mind, it is even more critical that we do all that we can before the year's end to pass the Freedom to Read legislation (House Bills 6034 and 6035) that MLA has been supporting for the past two years.

Two weeks ago, Rep. Glanville (D-Walker) and Rep. Paiz (D-Harper Woods) introduced tie-barred legislation that simply requires libraries to adopt collection development policies that incorporate both the principles of the First Amendment and the rights afforded and upheld in civil rights protections. By incorporating both principles into standard library policy, libraries can 1) protect citizen’s rights to receive and express diverse ideas without censorship, and 2) put to rest baseless challenges targeting authors or the subject matter, content, or viewpoint of material based on protected class. 

Freedom to Read Legislation Introduced in House

On Thursday, November 7, new legislation to safeguard library materials from censorship and protect the right to read was introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives. The Freedom to Read Act legislation, tie-barred House Bills 6034 and 6035, was introduced by Michigan State Representatives Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) and Carol Glanville (D-Walker) and referred to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Along with the MLA Board, staff, workgroup leadership, and the MI Right to Read Coalition, we are proud to endorse and share this newly introduced legislation. 

Let’s Go! October is Michigan Library Appreciation Month

It’s Michigan Library Appreciation Month, let’s celebrate! All October, we are excited to honor Michigan libraries and library staff, emphasizing the theme “Let’s Go!”!

Libraries inspire us to go explore, go learn, and go connect with our communities. Join us in celebrating Michigan Library Appreciation Month and help us showcase the profound impact libraries have on the lives of Michiganders.

MLA Strategic Planning Member Survey

This fall, MLA is working with Alliance for Library Impact to develop a new strategic direction and 3-year plan for our work to educate, advocate, and engage libraries and library workers throughout Michigan.

We need to hear from you! Please take a moment to let us know how we might better serve you in the future by sharing your input. The survey should only take 10-15 minutes and will be open until Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance!

Take the Survey