Not only did the Board need to replace Ryan’s position as President, but they also needed to appoint someone to his term of office which will not expire until June 2024. His departure also left a hole in the MLA Executive Committee. We are proud to announce that we have found perfect replacements for both of these leadership positions and the MLA Board has unanimously voted to approve the appointments.

Jenny Marr, Director at Ferndale Area District Library, was appointed as a member-at-large director with a term expiring June 2024. Christine Peele, Public Service Librarian at Detroit Public Library was appointed to serve on the MLA Executive Committee. 

Since 2017 Jenny has served as the director at the Ferndale Area District Library. Prior to this she was the director of Morrill Public Library in Hiawatha, Kansas for 5 years. Jenny began her library career at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland and is an East Lansing native who earned her MLIS degree from Wayne State University. Jenny demonstrates that she is truly invested in the success of MLA as she has a long history of working as a member and chair of the MLA Advocacy and Legislative Committee, and more recently as a vital member on the long-range planning committee to help make MLA’s vision into a successful plan of action. Her leadership on the legislative committee initiated over 3500 legislative bills being read and analyzed during the last legislative session. In July 2023, Jenny will again be made the official chair of the MLA Advocacy and Legislative Committee as an internal board role of MLA. 

Christine has served as a Public Service Librarian for over twenty years at the Detroit Public Library and is a current branch manager. Christine holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Library and Information Science Degree from Wayne State University. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Detroit Public Library Author Series and of the award-winning African American Booklist. Her election last year to the MLA board has proven she is an active and passionate voice of librarians that work in and with communities of color and a voice for all individuals considering a career in libraries who need to see themselves represented in all areas of the profession. We are happy that she will be joining the MLA Executive Committee and adding her voice to our leadership team.

Thank you to Scott, Jenny and Christine for stepping up and leading MLA!