COVID-19 Impacts on State of Michigan Budget

April 23, 2020

Libraries need to prepare now for diminishing revenues in FY2020 and FY2021. Preliminary revenue estimates for the State of Michigan for the remainder of this fiscal year and FY2021 are not looking very promising. In a report delivered in mid-April, the University of Michigan Research on Quantitative Economics (RSQE) has advised state officials and the Governor on projected revenue numbers due to the COVID-19 economic crisis. (Note: Formal revenue projections will be delivered on May 15^th. )

Update on COVID-19 Library Closures

April 23, 2020

Governor Whitmer is expected to announce extensions and adjustments to the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order on Friday, April 24. Lawmakers argue that certain accommodations can be made to allow some businesses to return if proper safety precautions are made. Libraries will probably not be affected and should prepare for an extension of their closures.

To date, the most accurate summaries on the Executive Orders and other current legislative activity can be found in the attached information sheet compiled by the Library of Michigan.

Take Action for Libraries Today - Reach out to Your Legislators

April 23, 2020

MLA continues to reach out to all of our Senators and House members to remind them of the importance of libraries throughout Michigan. We encourage you to reach out to them as well and make sure that in these difficult times that they are hearing from you too. Since we cannot visit with them in person or invite them to hold their coffee hours at our libraries right now, we suggest you email them and let them know what you are doing, even with the physical doors closed. You can find their contact information by inputting your address at the following websites: Find your Representative | Find your Senator

Our state legislators need to know that access to digital resources, delivered by our libraries, has become critically important to our citizens in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Libraries have stepped up to successfully deliver these resources to our communities.

Letter from Debbie – Johns Hopkins Report Response

April 23, 2020

When the Governor releases libraries to reopen our doors, we want to be ready. We want to make sure that reopening plans are in place and that we have thought of every contingency for keeping patrons and staff safe from a resurgence of the coronavirus. We recognize that our services and workflow will need to change; that our cleaning will need to be performed more often and with deeper, longer-lasting techniques; that our staff will need access to PPE and to explore new ways to serve patrons in a way that is safe for both; and that we need to prepare for differing patron behaviors in light of the coronavirus including updating all of our existing room and use policies. From all that we’ve heard, Michigan libraries will be ready when the time comes to reopen our doors.

MLA 2020 Board of Directors Election Results

April 23, 2020