MLA Advocacy News

ALA Defends ERate at Supreme Court

On Wednesday, March 26, oral arguments began in the U.S. Supreme Court case brought by Consumers’ Research, which argues that the Universal Service Fund—the mechanism supporting E-Rate—is unconstitutional. E-Rate is the program that provides affordable broadband to schools and libraries nationwide for nearly three decades. Listen to the arguments. Learn more

Read the brief for the American Library Association as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioners: Federal Communications Commission v. Consumer’s Research

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.

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.

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.