Take Action for School Libraries

April 29, 2021

State Reps. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) and Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw) introduced a package of bills that would require a library staffed by a certified media specialist in every public school in the state.

House Bill 4663, would require a school board to employ at least one certified media specialist for each school library operated by its district.

House Bill 4664, would require a school library in every Michigan public school, and also would require the library to be accessible to students and offer resources in both electronic and print form.

Call to Action: MLA Opposes HB 4530-4533, Please Contact Your Senator Today!

April 29, 2021

On April 27, HB’s 4530-4533 were presented and passed in the Michigan House of Representatives. This package of bills eliminates the May and August elections and replaces them with a June election. Click the links to see who voted in support and who opposed. HB 4530 Passed 63 to 46, HB 4531 passed 67 to 42, HB 4532 passed 65 to 44, and HB 4533 passed 65 to 44.

House Bills 4530-4533 would amend different acts to remove the May regular election date and move the date of the primary election in Michigan from August to June, limiting a jurisdiction to holding only two elections in a year.

MLA 2021 Election Results

April 29, 2021

Congratulations to MLA's new Directors! Ryan Wieber, Library Director, Kalamazoo Public Library was voted President-elect. Anne Heidemann, Tribal Librarian, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries; Cathleen Russ, Library Director, West Bloomfield Township Public Library; and Tiffany Russell, former Social Services Manager, Niles District Library, were elected as Members-at-Large to serve three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2024.

Many thanks to all the candidates for demonstrating leadership by agreeing to run and to all our members who voted. We look forward to a great year! Please feel free to welcome and congratulate our new Directors!

Volunteer to Help the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission

April 29, 2021

MLA is working in partnership with the communications team from the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) to engage libraries in the redistricting plan for the State of Michigan. Libraries have been identified as a key partner and as such, MLA wants to make sure that our library community is integral in getting Michigan citizens involved in the redistricting process.

In 2018, Michigan voters passed Proposal 2, a ballot initiative for voters, and not legislators, to take responsibility for nonpartisan redistricting, which created the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC). The commission is comprised of 13 randomly selected Michigan residents that include four Democrats, five Independents, and four Republicans. The MICRC is responsible for redistricting the U.S. Congressional, Michigan House, and Michigan Senate districts.

Letter from Debbie: Dare Mighty Things

April 29, 2021

Mars has been a favorite object of skywatchers for centuries and of space explorers for decades. I watched in amazement a few months ago when Perseverance landed on the surface of Mars (~150 million miles away) having lifted off from earth in July 2020. I was also watching a few days ago when NASA’s first solar-powered helicopter, Ingenuity, took flight on Mars (the first-ever flight on another planet – as exciting as the Wright Brothers' first flight on earth). I found all of this inspiring and incredible in what can be achieved when individuals with a dream work together, collaborate, bring their individual talents to the table to achieve something greater than the sum of its parts.

Joint Statement in Support of Jurnee Hoffmeyer

April 21, 2021

The Michigan Library Association (MLA) and the Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) are committed to doing everything we can, in our libraries, schools, and communities to promote justice and equality for all. It has come to our attention that a white media assistant that works in the library at Ganiard Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, cut the hair of a biracial child without parental permission.

MLA and MAME are using our voices as representatives of all Michigan libraries and library workers, including school libraries, to stand in support of 7-year-old Jurnee Hoffmeyer.