Executive Director's Desk - December 13, 2018

I just finished reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. Gretchen spent an entire year researching the cause and effect of happiness in an effort to determine if she could make herself happier. While the conclusion I came to after finishing the book was that we are all responsible for our own happiness, it also made me see that we can have a big influence on other's happiness as well if we so choose.

2019 Michigan Author Award Call for Nominations

MLA is seeking nominations for the 2019 Michigan Author Award. The award recognizes an outstanding published body of literary work by an author who is either from Michigan or has substantial ties to the state.

MLA Advocacy - November 29, 2018

NARCAN Bills Head to Senate Floor

SB 828 and 829 cleared the Senate Health Policy Committee this week and are headed to the Senate floor. The bills would offer liability protection for libraries when providing the life-saving opioid antidote naloxone, common brand name Narcan, to an overdosing patron. Recently, the Senate Health Policy Committee took testimony on SB 828 and 829, and as a result of testimony headed up by MLA President Kristin Shelley, the committee chair requested an amendment to the legislation which would protect all public locations from liability including libraries. While this delayed the legislation briefly the broader implications for public safety are tremendous. We fully expect legislation to be signed into law by the end of this legislative session.

President's Update - November 8, 2018

On the heels of the 2018 Michigan Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference and the midterm elections, many Michigan library staff members and libraries are celebrating renewed knowledge, energy, connections, and most importantly, that their levies passed. Congratulations to all the libraries who passed their levies on November 6! Let yourselves and your patrons celebrate those victories.

Executive Director's Desk - November 8, 2018

We Survived Mid-Term Elections

Elections are over, finally! It's been a contentious election cycle once again, but we are looking forward to some collaboration and teamwork on the part of our newly elected lawmakers. Granted, that may be optimistic, but there is certainly an opportunity for each library to connect with their elected officials. Don't wait until after the new year. Invite those folks to your library today. If they are new to the office, remind them you have space available for office hours. Host a coffee hour and invite the community to meet them. Encourage them to join you for a story time, after school program or community event. If you are planning a celebration such as a ribbon cutting, invite them to participate. It's important to have a relationship with your elected leaders. Remind them of the library's role in the community and that you can be counted on as a resource. Make them a partner in your goal to engage and serve the community.

MLA Advocacy - October 25, 2018