Note From Debbie

February 27, 2025

MLA is proud to serve a vibrant and growing membership. Our mission and commitment drive everything we do and as we close in on the final meetings to update our strategic plan, we are even more committed. Every day we are making sure that you are informed through online and in-person events—through our pillars of advocacy, education, and engagement.

With that said, we want to make sure that you know that MLA’s leadership (on the board, staff, and committees) is closely monitoring the fast-paced discussions that are taking place in our country, and we will continue to strongly and loudly advocate for the essential and critical role that libraries play in our communities throughout Michigan.

MLA Statement on Civil Fines and Penal Fines

MLA’s statement in response to bills that attempt to siphon penal fines or civil fines away from libraries.

The Michigan Constitution states that all fines assessed for breaches of penal laws must be exclusively applied for the support of libraries. This provision has been in place since the first state constitution in 1835 and has been reaffirmed in subsequent constitutions. In addition to penal fines, Michigan law specifies that civil fines ordered under section 907 of the Michigan Vehicle Code should also exclusively be applied to support libraries.

Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks New Episode Drops February 13

Subscribe to Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks and tune in on February 13! Our February episode will be hosted by Steven K. Bowers, Executive Director of The Library Network Cooperative serving libraries in Southeast Michigan and feature Azita Frattarelli, Director/Youth Librarian at the Riverview Veterans Memorial Library in Riverview.

2025 State Budget Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference

There is a wide disparity in the revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal years based on numbers from the Senate Fiscal Agency and the Department of Treasury. This is not a common occurrence.

Note From Dillon

I won't sugarcoat it, this one hurts. After nearly two years of work by Michigan Library Association staff, volunteers, and partners, the Freedom to Read bills died in the Senate at the end of 2024. Their introduction during lame duck was a last-ditch effort to cross the finish line and solidify First Amendment protections and civil rights law for Michiganders at public libraries. Unfortunately, the chaos and implosion of the House and the Senate left the Freedom to Read bills to die alongside hundreds of others in both chambers. With the makeup of Michigan's legislature now having shifted, any opportunity to pass these bills is now behind us.

MLA Update

Last Friday, MLA was feeling like the holidays came a bit early, and as the Grinch would say “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.” MLA leadership felt a small spark of hope, a tiny flicker of optimism, despite the things we have no control over. And that optimism was rewarded on Friday, December 13 around 7:30 PM when the democratic House Members voted unanimously to move the Freedom to Read bills to the Senate.