MLA 2025 Board Election Results

The votes are in! MLA held elections from March 31– April 21. This year MLA members voted for an MLA President-elect and four Member-at-Large Board positions.

One of the benefits and responsibilities of membership is the opportunity to vote for the leadership of the association. Thank you to all MLA members who voted.

And, many thanks to all the candidates for demonstrating leadership by agreeing to run. Our new Directors will serve for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028.

Meet MLA's new Directors!

Freedom to Read Legislation Reintroduced in House

MI State Representatives Veronica Paiz and Carol Glanville are still working on behalf of Michigan public libraries and have reintroduced Freedom to Read legislation - now HB4250 and HB4251. We look forward to working with them during this new legislative cycle to move these bills through. Stay tuned.

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.”

Nonprofit Letter to Michigan's Congressional Delegation

MLA, along with more than 500 institutions from Michigan’s nonpartisan, nonprofit and philanthropic sector, has signed on to a letter to Congressional leaders to voice our concerns about the continued efforts to withhold federal funding committed to nonprofits.

Note From Debbie

March 27, 2025

Last week, I attended a think tank discussion, where this quote from JRR Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, was shared: 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. 

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

We didn’t dwell on the quote very long, but it lingered in my thoughts with a realization that even without full control on a situation, we still need to have courage and hope - to speak up, stand up and share our values - even when we are afraid.      

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.