Michigan Library Association Statement and Recommendations on the ALA Forward Together Process

March 19, 2021

Read MLA's Statement and Recommendations to ALA on the Forward Together initiative below or download the statement here.

The Michigan Library Association’s (MLA) Board of Directors has reviewed Forward Together, the American Library Association’s (ALA) recommendations for a reimagined ALA. Upon careful consideration, MLA supports ALA as it adopts changes to its governance structure by implementing much-needed changes that have been vetted and clarified by the Forward Together Working Group, Forward Together Fiscal Analysis Working Group, and ALA Council.

MLA understands that the Forward Together Resolutions Working Group (FT-RWG) is currently working on a series of resolutions to help shape the ALA Council debate and, ultimately, a decision on a reorganization of ALA’s governance structure. To aid the FT-RWG in its work, MLA issues the following recommendations in the spirit of shared governance necessary to ensure a bright future for ALA, a future that includes the voices of all members.

MLA Connect Webinar: Library Privacy Act Amendments

Tuesday, March 16, 2021
10:00 – 11:00am

Learn about recent amendments to the Library Privacy Act that have the potential to affect how libraries report crime, interact with law enforcement, interact with each other, and to underscore the seriousness of maintaining patron privacy. This session will go through the new amendments and discuss how they may affect existing library practices. This is presented as an in-depth follow-up to the Library of Michigan’s 1/27/21 Library Law Spotlight. Attendance at both events is not required.

MDHHS Updates Gathering And Mask Order, in Effect March 5

March 2, 2021

Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated its Gatherings and Mask Epidemic Order, allowing for increased capacity limits at various venues, larger residential and nonresidential gatherings.

Changes to the Gatherings and Mask Order go into effect Friday, March 5, and remain in effect through Monday, April 19.

Capacity changes include:

MLA 2021 Youth Literary Awards Top Titles 

February 26, 2021

We are excited to announce the top titles of the 2021 Mitten, YouPer and Thumbs Up! Awards! Top Ten Title flyers, awards seals and award banners are available and free to use! Please use these resources at your library to help us promote MLA Youth Literary Awards and the amazing job our work groups do in selecting the very best books for youth! Read on for details. 

MLA Youth Literary Award work groups worked throughout the past year, spending thousands of hours reading, reviewing and discussing hundreds of books to determine the top titles for youth published in 2020.

MLA Statement in Opposition to SB22

February 25, 2021

A bill to amend 1893 PA 206 “The General Property Tax”
Introduced by Senator Runestad on January 13, 2021

On average, Michigan Libraries depend on locally dedicated millages for 77% of their funding and this number is increasing nearly 1% each year. At the same time, diminishing property values reduce tax revenues, and DDAs and TIFAs are constantly siphoning dedicated millages. While millages aren’t the sole source of revenues for libraries, none is more important. Everyone is familiar with how property taxes have declined in value and collection in recent years, which obviously has impacted the library's ability to sustain all its operations.

MLA Members Meet With New Legislators

February 25, 2021

February has been a busy month of meet and greets with our freshman legislators. Approximately 30 new house members were elected last November, took office in January, and MLA has been busy ever since setting up 30-minute introductory Zoom meetings with each of them. The new legislators have been very open to our conversations and have expressed their sincere support for libraries throughout Michigan.