MLA Welcomes New Staff

“Hi, I’m Mackenzie — a proud Michigan native and recent Michigan State grad! In my free time I enjoy skiing and being outdoors. I’m so excited to be working with MLA!” – Mackenzie Hanfland, MLA Event Coordinator

The MLA staff are welcoming a new member to our team this month! We are pleased to announce that Mackenzie Hanfland has joined the MLA staff this week as our new Event Coordinator! Mackenzie is a recent graduate from Michigan State and will be working with Amber Sheerin, who is moving into a new role as Program Director. “I am so excited to welcome Mackenzie to the MLA team and work alongside her as we continue to grow MLA events and professional development opportunities for our members,” said Amber Sheerin, MLA Program Director. “My role will continue to work on our events and help support our great conference workgroups, but is expanding to take on some new responsibilities, so Mackenzie’s experience and expertise will be a great asset to our organization.”

Meet the Candidates for the MLA 2025 Board Election

The MLA Board election will open on Monday, March 31 and close on Monday, April 21 at midnight. This year, MLA members will vote for an MLA President-elect and four Member-at-Large Board positions for terms beginning in July 2025 and ending in June 2028. Election results will be announced in MLA’s Primary Source newsletter on Thursday, April 24. Meet the candidates! 

Eligible members will receive an email on March 31 with instructions and a link to vote.

Take Action to Save IMLS Today!

Yesterday, a bipartisan group of senators—Jack Reed, Kirsten Gillibrand, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski—sent a letter to the new director of the IMLS. These senators are the co-authors of the last act that reauthorized IMLS. The letter urges Sonderling to continue IMLS’s mission to engage with and support libraries and museums, as Congress intended when it created the agency. Read the letter here.

Joint Statement on IMLS from Michigan Libraries, Museums, and Archives

On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) that adversely affects the only federal agency that provides resources to our nation’s libraries, museums, and archives. The EO “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy” directs the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to eliminate non-statutory programs and reduce its functions and personnel to the minimum required by law. For IMLS, this would mean a dramatic reduction in its scope and capacity to support our nation's cultural institutions. Libraries and museums across the country will feel the effects of these cuts, particularly in areas reliant on discretionary funding and special initiatives.

Michigan receives modest federal funding from IMLS, but our 397 public library systems, 87 academic libraries, nearly 3,000 school libraries, 650 museums, and hundreds of historical organizations pride themselves on using these resources efficiently and innovatively to deliver outstanding programs and services. The changes to IMLS ordered in the EO would be devastating to the cultural and literary landscape enjoyed by all Michigan residents.

Federal Changes Impacting Grant Programs for Michigan Libraries

Federal budget uncertainties, shifting priorities, and policy changes are causing significant changes and delays in grant programs and funding processes for Michigan libraries and cultural organizations. Updates from the Library of Michigan, Michigan Humanities, and the Michigan Arts and Culture Council highlight adjustments to grant cycles, compliance requirements, and funding priorities. These changes may impact future opportunities for libraries and their partners. We will continue to monitor and share updates on these programs. Below, we provide an overview of the latest developments to keep you informed and prepared. 

Governor Whitmer Proposes No Increase to State Aid to Libraries in FY26 Budget

As we have experienced for 8 years of the Snyder Administration and the 7th year of Governor Whitmer’s administration, the FY26 State Aid to Libraries budget remains flat. We also saw no increases for Library of Michigan programs/staff.