New Podcast Debuting in November

What can happen when a few very creative individuals sit around a table with a glass of wine and a good idea? At the PLA Conference in Columbus this past spring, we found out. One of the coop directors, a few library directors, and MLA staff were enjoying conversation when they hit upon a great idea for a joint project that would be fun and inspiring – a monthly podcast celebrating the lives of library workers throughout Michigan. For the past 6 months, MLA and the Library Cooperatives of Michigan have been working together to plan and prepare for a grand debut of Chapter and Verse on November 14, 2024.

Hosted by the Michigan Library Association and the Library Cooperatives of Michigan, Chapter and Verse: Storytime from the Stacks features dedicated Michigan library workers and their inspiring stories. Each episode welcomes a library worker from one of Michigan's 11 cooperative regions to share their most interesting and inspiring experiences.New episodes will premiere on the second Thursday of each month.

MLA Strategic Planning Starts Soon

This fall, MLA will begin developing a new strategic direction and 3-year plan for our work to educate, advocate, and engage libraries and library workers throughout Michigan. Since 2019, MLA has been working with a healthy and robust rolling plan that is updated annually and has served us well over the past 6 years.  It is now time to gather more input, check in with our members, and re-engage our key stakeholders. As our newly contracted planning consultants state in their proposal, “After the uncertainty of the last several years and recent threats to libraries across the country, it’s a good time to celebrate success, assess what’s working, deepen members connections, and set a course for the next three plus years.” We are excited to get started. 

Note From Debbie

September 26, 2024

Stronger together! That was the uniting message coming out of Washington DC this past week at the National Summit on Intellectual Freedom for 150 librarians, library association executives, representatives from the ACLU, NCAC, PFLAG, publishers, authors, the Obama Foundation, booksellers, Red Wine & Blue, advocates, and so many others. MLA was honored to have been invited, not only to represent our members and association but also to represent the International Council for Library Association Executives (ICLAE) that we are a part of.  

For over three years, since the beginning of the culture wars that have put our First Amendment Rights through unprecedented challenges, those invited to attend have been on the frontlines guarding and protecting these rights. What we came to realize in our short time together is that we all represent and speak to diverse and unique communities. But, at the end of the day, we all agreed that we must step up TOGETHER, find a common message, fight like hell, and leave egos at the door. We need to acknowledge the hard, exhausting, and daunting work, and that we have to do it anyway. 

Justice for All Commission Seeks Library Representation

The Justice for All Commission currently has an open seat for appointment of an individual on behalf of the Michigan libraries as a stakeholder group.

Let’s Go! October is Michigan Library Appreciation Month

Get ready to celebrate Michigan Library Appreciation Month! This October, we are excited to honor Michigan libraries and library staff, emphasizing the theme of “Let’s Go!” Libraries inspire us to go explore, go learn, and go connect with our communities.

Michigan Library Millages August Election Results

Check out our roundup of the August 6, 2024 election results for millage issues on ballots around the state. There were 42 millage questions on the ballots and 38 of these passed. 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, including the library millage type, if the millage is new, a renewal or a renewal with an increase, the number of yes and no votes, the term, and the year it takes effect. View the results (pdf)