Close up of Education Muse painted on the interior of the Capitol dome in Lansing, Mi

MLA Advocacy and Legislative Committee FY2027 Action Plan

The Michigan Library Association leads, educates and advocates for the advancement of the Michigan library community. MLA is the collective voice for Michigan libraries, and we prioritize support for public, school and academic libraries through grassroots advocacy, lobbying and statewide publicity. We advocate for and protect library funding and monitor and respond to challenges and issues that impact our libraries’ ability to serve our communities. MLA will place the three key categories below at a high priority in the work plan for FY2027:

Funding

Property Taxes: Monitor property tax and local income tax funding structures for libraries.

Monitor and react to legislation that ensures the elimination of existing and new automatic tax captures.
Proactively provide legislators and libraries with information about library funding sources.
Identify opportunities to work in partnership with MML, MTA, MAC and others to restore libraries’ abilities under Headlee to roll up their millage rates to the amounts originally authorized by a vote of the people.
Maintain three election dates each year that allow libraries to hold millage elections.

Penal Fines: Monitor, protect and oppose any efforts to provide legislation for parallel ordinances and other methods to siphon this funding, where appropriate.

Educate all parties (legislators, county treasurers, librarians, boards) on how this system works.
Promote transparency and consistency in reporting methods to libraries by the state and county treasurers.
Research funding sources in other states that may serve as a stable, predictable, secure and equitable alternative to penal fines.

State Aid: Protect and increase State Aid to Libraries in the FY2028 appropriations.

Prepare information for Appropriation Chairs and for testimony at budget hearings.
Set up individual meetings with key legislative leadership in March 2027.

Access to Information

Intellectual Freedom: Protect intellectual freedom and the right to read. Continue to react and provide support for libraries experiencing censorship, election challenges and book bans. Codify the Freedom to Read legislation.

Protect Privacy: Monitor and respond to any challenges to library users’ privacy.

Michigan eLibrary: Protect and advocate for continued IMLS funding for the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) and Michigan eLibrary Catalog (MeLCat). Provide supporting resources to libraries to educate patrons on how MeL and MeLCat are funded.

E-Rate Funding: Raise awareness of threats to E-Rate funding and amplify timely information, resources and calls to action from the American Library Association and the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition.

K-12 Libraries: Support the Michigan Association of School Librarians’ efforts to ensure libraries in K-12 schools are staffed by certified school librarians/media specialists.

Literacy/Early Childhood Education: Explore options to promote and secure funding for libraries’ participation in early childhood education, digital literacy and digital citizenship.

Digital Content: Advocate against eBook publishing practices that restrict libraries from access to new releases and imposes unreasonable pricing and terms. Explore the viability of statewide legislation that protects libraries, cooperatives and consortiums from restrictive licensing practices and supports sustainable and equitable access to digital content.

Open Meetings Act: Support legislation that will allow library and cooperative boards to attend and participate in meetings on a virtual basis.

Member Advocacy Development

Facilitate Member Advocacy: Host a statewide Advocacy Day for library personnel and legislators.

Provide advocacy training and talking points for legislative visits.
Provide post-Advocacy Day opportunities for further engagement between libraries and legislators.
Encourage library workers to invite legislators to office hours, library tours, summer reading kickoff programs and to read a book during March is Reading Month.

Click here to view a PDF version of MLA's Advocacy Action Plan.