The MLA Board Shuffle

In October, MLA’s President Ryan Wieber announced he was moving out of state for a new opportunity and resigned from the MLA Board. The MLA Board of Directors has appointed President-Elect Scott Duimstra to step into the role of President a little early. Scott has been engaged in public libraries for more than 18 years which has given him a broad vision of how public libraries function in Michigan. He began his career in Los Angeles Public Library as an adult services librarian and between 2005 to the present, he has moved up the ranks at the Capital Area District Library from Public Services Librarian to Training Specialist to Associate Director of Public Service to Senior Associate Director to Executive Director. Scott is well-rounded and possesses a big-picture focus and global outlook. He is a change agent, he has the ability to present, persuade and influence as evidenced by his time as the Secretary/Treasurer and short-stint as President-Elect, and he is just an overall really nice guy.

$500,000 Added to FY23 State Aid to Libraries

July 1, 2022

MLA Members and Friends,

Your work to advocate for increased investment in libraries has again been rewarded. 

For the third straight year, MLA is proud to announce an additional $500,000 has been included in the State of Michigan budget for State Aid to Libraries. In addition, $800,000 was allocated for the library pilot program that addresses a partnership between public and school libraries. Resources were also included for the Poet Laureate ($100,000), and $1.2 million was awarded through an enhancement grant to the Inkster Library. (One hundred unique projects were identified to receive $205 million in the newly released budget.)