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State Senator Paul Wojno Honored as the MLA 2019 Legislator of the Year

For Immediate Release: October 17, 2019                                                                     
Contact: Deborah E. Mikula (517) 394-2774 ext. 224       

LANSING – State Senator Paul Wojno (D-Warren) has been named the Michigan Library Association (MLA) 2019 Legislator of the Year. Wojno received his award at the MLA Awards Luncheon during MLA 2019 Annual Conference on October 17 in Novi, MI.

Senator Paul Wojno has served Macomb County in the Michigan Senate since 2018. Wojno also proudly served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002 and is being recognized as Legislator of the Year for his stalwart support of libraries throughout Michigan.

“Senator Wojno championed new legislation that provides liability protection for libraries when providing the life-saving opioid antidote naloxone to an overdosing patron,” said MLA Executive Director Deborah E. Mikula. “His support and leadership were essential to the success of the Narcan bill package, signed into law this past June by Governor Whitmer.”

While he states that he didn’t do this alone, MLA is recognizing him as the driving force in the Michigan Legislature to accomplish a two-year endeavor that began back in 2017 to move this package of bills and get them signed into law. “When Senator Wojno was elected, this package of bills was something he felt strongly and passionately about and got behind immediately. So many people were involved, but Senator Wojno was our driving force,” stated MLA President, Kristin Shelley, Director of the East Lansing Public Library.

The MLA Legislator of the Year is awarded to elected officials in recognition of outstanding leadership in promoting libraries and supporting legislation or amendments that advance MLA’s legislative goals. The award recognizes lawmakers for their action on legislation impacting libraries and for their work supporting libraries and the communities they serve.

The Michigan Library Association (MLA) is Michigan's oldest and largest library association. Guided by the belief that free access to information is the cornerstone of a free society, MLA has advocated for libraries on behalf of the state's residents for more than 125 years. MLA's membership is comprised of more than 1,600 individual and organizational members from public, academic, school and special libraries. MLA defends the right to read, advocates for adequate library funding, clarifies library governance issues, promotes librarian education and works for free access to information for all residents. For more information visit milibraries.org.