Using Your MLA Membership

Do I have to be a member to register for an MLA event? Is my library an MLA Organizational Member? Do I have an Individual MLA Membership?  Check out answers to MLA Member Account FAQs (pdf) and read on to make sure your membership profile is up to date!

A New Legislative Cycle Begins…A New MLA Bill Tracker

Check out MLA's Bill Tracker to view a full list of legislation that the Advocacy and Legislative Committee is watching.

As the 102nd Legislative Cycle begins, we are excited to begin anew and have introduced a new MLA Bill Tracker on our website. Each year, the MLA membership has the opportunity to choose priority issues that directly affect Michigan libraries. MLA then works with the Michigan Legislature to move these issues through the legislative process. The MLA Bill Tracker is updated monthly by the MLA Advocacy and Legislative Committee to inform our members of the Senate and House bills MLA is watching and addressing, our position if any, and actions that we are taking to support or oppose the legislation.

Celebrating the Introduction of Bills to Amend the Elliott-Larsen Act

On the first day of the 2023-2024 session, our new legislators took immediate action to introduce two important bills that MLA is proud to endorse and support. Senate Bill 0004 and House Bill 4003 which mirror each other in language, were presented by a large group of senators and house members to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act 453 of 1976 to include sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression as part of the long list of discriminatory practices. The Act currently prohibits discriminatory practices, policies and customs in the exercise of those rights based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.

Michigan’s Budget Process Begins

The good news and the bad news at January’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference.

Michigan’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) took place on Friday, January 13, 2023. The CREC meets in January and May of every year and brings together the state’s leading economists to discuss the national and state economic outlook, and issue revenue forecasts that help inform state policymakers ahead of the state budget process. The budget process is expected to formally begin in early February when Governor Whitmer releases her Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Executive Budget Recommendation. View the full CREC report (pdf).

State Aid to Public Libraries

In 1977, the State Aid to Public Libraries Act (Act 89 of 1977) was enacted and funding for public libraries and cooperatives was set at $0.50/capita. Based on the rate of inflation, $0.50/capita in 1977 would be equivalent to approximately $2.50/capita in 2023. It took 46 years to reach only $0.50/capita. It is now long past time to increase the state's financial investment to keep our 397 public library systems viable and strong in each of our Michigan communities.

MLA’s Statement in Response to Governor Whitmer's State of the State Address

January 26, 2023