New MIOSHA Rules Took Effect on June 22

June 23, 2021

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) filed COVID-19 emergency rules to align with Federal OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on June 22, with the updated rules taking effect immediately and expiring on Dec. 22, 2021. 

The updated MIOSHA emergency rules adopt the Federal OSHA ETS and focus on health care settings where known or suspected COVID-19 patients may be present. These workplaces may have a higher exposure risk for employees and need continued protections to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. 

Call to Action: Libraries Need Three Election Dates

June 21, 2021

House Bill 4530 and Senate Bill 130 would amend different acts to remove the May regular election date and move the date of the primary election in Michigan from August to June, limiting a jurisdiction to holding only two elections in a year.

Libraries rely on locally dedicated millages for funding. A millage loss could very well close the doors permanently for a library, so alternative dates to re-present their proposal to their community during the calendar year are essential. Additional restrictions to the number of times each year that a millage can be brought before voters are detrimental to libraries. Read MLA's Statement in Opposition to Any Restrictions to Millage Dates by the Michigan Legislature.

MLA Member Group Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance Survey

June 16, 2021

MLA is considering creating a consortium or buying pool through National Insurance Services, for member libraries to purchase employer-paid group life and long-term disability (LTD) insurance.

To accomplish this, we would need interest and commitment from enough libraries to meet a minimum number of covered employee lives. This survey is to gauge interest amongst our member libraries to decide if we should take any next steps. 

If established, this group life and LTD consortium would have the following advantages:

• Part of a consortium with thousands of other public sector employers across the country

• Rate stability as part of that large purchasing group – year after year, over 95% of groups get no increase or a decrease in rates

• Benefit flexibility to match existing policies, or design a new program to meet your needs and budget

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) included at no additional cost

• ID theft assistance and restoration services at no additional cost

• Anticipated initial savings of 15% over in-force rates, and large group discounted pricing for libraries with no current coverage in-force

• Available to employees working as little as 20 hours/week

• Three-year initial rate guarantees

Please complete the survey to share if your library would be interested and able to commit to participating by Friday, June 25.

Learn more about National Insurance Services (pdf).

Take the Survey

Intellectual Freedom Is Being Challenged Across the Country

May 27, 2021

In the Michigan Library Association’s current strategic plan, we state: “We believe in equal and free access to information and knowledge, while protecting an individual’s right to privacy.” Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession and a basic right in our democratic society. Our guiding principle expresses the importance of protecting the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment.  

Advocacy and Legislative Priorities Survey 2021-2022

May 27, 2021

The Michigan Library Association has made advocacy one of its highest priorities. It has never been more important for librarians, staff members, trustees, and others with a vested interest in their libraries, to convey and address their challenges and successes. We hope you will take time out of your busy day to help us pinpoint the highest priorities that face our field.

State of Michigan Economic Forecast

May 27, 2021

Great news for the State of Michigan's FY21 and FY22 budget was delivered at the May 21, 2021 Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference. 

An economic forecast is based on the best information available at the time the forecast is prepared. Because information and foresight are not perfect, risks and uncertainties are inherent in any forecast, and variations in the underlying factors can exert either optimistic or pessimistic influences on the forecast. That said, the COVID-19 global pandemic is still considered the primary source of uncertainty in the underlying risk factors.