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.

MLA Statements of Principle

For the past year, MLA’s Intellectual Freedom Task Force has been focused on refining our commitment to censorship challenges in our public libraries. We have found that we needed talking points to counter questions and concerns about age appropriateness and about rating and labeling systems. Over the course of the past two months, the task force, the Advocacy and Legislative Committee and the MLA Board have been workshopping these statements of principle that outline our stance when it comes to these challenges. These are statements that have been molded and shaped into shared messaging that reinforces our library values of protecting intellectual freedom for every citizen of Michigan.

Statement of Principle on Book Rating Systems and Labelling in Public Libraries (pdf)

Statement of Principle on Age Appropriateness and Placement of Materials in Public Libraries (pdf)

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. READ MORE

NEW MLA Community Forums

Connect with other Michigan librarians and library workers right from your computer with the new MLA Community Forums!

The purpose of MLA Community Forums is to provide a platform for members to exchange ideas and resources. Each forum has a designated topic of discussion: Library of Things, Marketing and Promotions, and Makerspaces. Community Forums are also intended to act as a repository of these conversations that MLA members can reference in the future. All active MLA members are welcome to read and post on the forums.

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 “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. Libraries and their dedicated staff play a crucial role in fostering connections, providing resources, and supporting lifelong learning.

Think Space Registration Opens Soon

Join the 2024-2025 cohort and experience what makes Think Space a transformative journey for library leaders! Now in its fourth year, MLA’s Think Space is designed to help library directors thrive—both as workplace and community leaders. This year’s focus is on sustaining personal well-being and supporting those around you, all while adapting to evolving challenges.

Since 2021, Think Space has provided a unique forum where library directors and cooperative directors across Michigan come together to engage deeply in issues that matter to our profession. More than just a learning opportunity, it’s a space for meaningful connection—where conversations spill out of formal sessions and continue in hallways, on porches, or even around the bonfire.