Gov. Whitmer's Appointments to the Library of Michigan Board of Trustees

On August 15, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced two appointments to the Library of Michigan Board of Trustees.

Annual Meeting Notice

Notice is hereby given to MLA members that the Annual Meeting will take place during MLA 2024 Annual Conference at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme (Traverse City) on Thursday, October 17, 2024 from 4:00 – 5:00 PM. MLA 2024 Annual Conference registration is not required to attend the annual meeting and all members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Note from Wesleyann, MLA 2024 Annual Conference Chair

Greetings! I’m Wesleyann Johnson, Director of the Center Line Public Library and the 2024 Conference Chair of MLA’s Annual Conference. It’s been an immense privilege to helm a workgroup of our amazing colleagues from across the state of Michigan in planning “Press Play”, to be held this October 16-18 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme. There is also a Small & Strategic Libraries Pre‑Conference on October 15, at the same location.  

Our vision for the 2024 Annual Conference came to life after hearing of its location, greater Traverse City, which, for many of us, isn’t just a location but a “destination”.  MLA events are meetings of minds, first and foremost, but we wanted the 2024 Annual Conference to offer an escape as well. This is reflected in the roster of events: from the Tuesday evening pre‑conference events (a wine/brewery tour, the tour of the State Hospital and a murder mystery party), the opening keynote speech from award‑winning magician Ben Whiting, the “See You in the Funny Pages” library comic contest with the acclaimed artist Gene Ambaum, the reception at the Traverse Area District Library, our fun “jam sessions” for bouncing ideas and so much more! When we play, we learn. Our objective is to have attendees “press play” and enjoy themselves, while developing professionally.

ALA Advocacy Alert: #FundLibraries in FY25

The U.S. House of Representatives has proposed a 15% cut to federal library funding. Contact your federal legislators using the ALA action center and tell them we need their help to preserve and expand this critical funding and the services it supports.

MLA 2024 Annual Conference PRESS PLAY

Registration for MLA 2024 Annual Conference and Small and Strategic Pre-conference is OPEN! This October 15 -18, PRESS PLAY and join the Michigan library community at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City.

Note From Keeley

July 25, 2024

At a recent MLA event, a Mentorship Program participant sought me out to thank me for introducing them to their mentor. Hearing their feedback made me so glad to be a part of this organization and inspired me to start thinking about why mentorship matters.

Being a mentee is an opportunity to grow and learn from someone more experienced in your field, but it’s so much more than that. A mentor helps you clarify and be accountable for your goals; more informally, a mentor is a trusted listener who is there to encourage you when your work gets difficult (and, as we all know, the work has been especially difficult the last few years). Mentors bring with them years of connections, expanding your professional network, as well as the kind of institutional knowledge that you often don’t pick up in school. A mentor offers insight into potential career paths, projects, and educational options. The mentor-mentee relationship is flexible, personal, and confidential in a way that a classroom generally isn’t.