Note from Debbie

The voters have spoken and Michigan will again see a change in House leadership when the 103rd Legislature takes over on January 1, 2025. The short-lived, two-year trifecta of democratic control will come to an end, and while our Governor is a Democrat and the Senate continues to have a democratic majority, the House now has a solid 58-52 Republican majority.  

With that in mind, it is even more critical that we do all that we can before the year's end to pass the Freedom to Read legislation (House Bills 6034 and 6035) that MLA has been supporting for the past two years.

Two weeks ago, Rep. Glanville (D-Walker) and Rep. Paiz (D-Harper Woods) introduced tie-barred legislation that simply requires libraries to adopt collection development policies that incorporate both the principles of the First Amendment and the rights afforded and upheld in civil rights protections. By incorporating both principles into standard library policy, libraries can 1) protect citizen’s rights to receive and express diverse ideas without censorship, and 2) put to rest baseless challenges targeting authors or the subject matter, content, or viewpoint of material based on protected class. 

Freedom to Read Legislation Introduced in House

On Thursday, November 7, new legislation to safeguard library materials from censorship and protect the right to read was introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives. The Freedom to Read Act legislation, tie-barred House Bills 6034 and 6035, was introduced by Michigan State Representatives Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) and Carol Glanville (D-Walker) and referred to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Along with the MLA Board, staff, workgroup leadership, and the MI Right to Read Coalition, we are proud to endorse and share this newly introduced legislation. 

Let’s Go! October is Michigan Library Appreciation Month

It’s Michigan Library Appreciation Month, let’s celebrate! All 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.

MLA Strategic Planning Member Survey

This fall, MLA is working with Alliance for Library Impact to develop a new strategic direction and 3-year plan for our work to educate, advocate, and engage libraries and library workers throughout Michigan.

We need to hear from you! Please take a moment to let us know how we might better serve you in the future by sharing your input. The survey should only take 10-15 minutes and will be open until Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance!

Take the Survey

Chapter and Verse: Storytime from the Stacks Podcast Debuts November 14

Our first episode of Chapter and Verse: Storytime from the Stacks debuts November 14, 2024 and will be hosted by the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative and feature Ryan Tackabury, Director of the Ruth Hughes Memorial District Library in Imlay City.

Ryan Tackabury first started working in his school library while in High School, and then never left the profession. After nearly twenty years of experience serving Genesee County library patrons in various roles including as a Digital Services Librarian (yes, he can help you recover your email password, and he is happy to do it!), he remains excited about public service. Ryan now serves as the Director of the Ruth Hughes Memorial District Library, working alongside a talented and passionate staff. Ryan resides in Flint's historic Carriage Town neighborhood with his wife, a fellow librarian, their two book-loving children, and a book-indifferent Pug. When he's not talking up the library's value or spending time with his kids, Ryan is often found trying to convince friends to play ever more complex board games.

Note From Debbie

October 24, 2024

I would like to say that now that the MLA Annual Conference is over, the MLA staff can slow down and get back to our daily routine, but truthfully, I don’t think there is a daily routine any longer. The fall and winter are just as busy with Think Space, the legislative lame-duck session, audit prep, annual report writing, preparing for Spring Institute and Advocacy Day in the spring, recording our first podcast, and already meeting to plan next year’s annual conference. We are back to work, a little tired, but planning, preparing, producing and always thinking ahead to what else we might work on that is of benefit to our members.  

And, of course, this fall there is also an election to take into account in just under two weeks which will affect and provide the foundation for MLA’s advocacy work over the course of the next couple of years.