MLA 2026 Board Election Results

Thank you to the many MLA members who voted in this year’s Board of Directors election. Your participation helps ensure MLA continues to reflect the needs and priorities of libraries across Michigan.

Members elected a President-Elect and four Members-at-Large, selecting leaders who bring a strong mix of experience, perspective, and commitment to supporting MLA’s work and statewide advocacy.

Advocates Prepare to Bring Library Priorities to Lansing

Libraries make a difference every day, and on Tuesday, April 28, library advocates from across Michigan will be in Lansing to make sure lawmakers hear that message directly. More than 140 library workers and trustees will meet with legislators and staff to share how libraries strengthen education, workforce development, access to information, and community wellbeing—and to advocate for sustained and increased state investment in library services.

IMLS Funding Again Targeted in Proposed Federal Budget

Federal support for libraries continues to center on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to supporting libraries and museums. In April 2026, the White House’s FY 2027 budget proposal again called for eliminating IMLS and other library-related programs, but this follows a familiar pattern: Congress has repeatedly rejected prior attempts to cut or dismantle IMLS, and in the FY 2026 budget process, lawmakers preserved and slightly increased federal library funding.

MLA will continue to monitor the federal budget process and share news, context, and ways advocates can stay engaged in support of federal funding for libraries as the process moves through Congress.

Get Involved! Answer the MLA Call for Ambassadors

The Call for Ambassadors for 2026-2027 workgroups and committees is open! Take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference in the Michigan library community, develop your leadership skills, grow your network, and represent MLA. If you're interested in growing personally or professionally, we have a place for you!

Take Action! Help Secure Federal Funding for Libraries in FY 2027

The federal budget process is underway, and early advocacy is already shaping congressional priorities. One of the first opportunities to demonstrate support comes through “Dear Appropriator” letters—requests from members of Congress to the Appropriations Committees, signed by multiple lawmakers, urging strong federal funding for specific programs. According to the American Library Association (ALA), library champions in the House have exceeded last year’s number of signatures on the letter supporting the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)—an encouraging sign of momentum for libraries.

MLA 2026 Board Election

The MLA Board election will open on Tuesday, March 31, and close on Monday, April 20, at midnight. This year, MLA members will vote for an MLA President-elect and four Member-at-Large Board positions for terms beginning in July 2026 and ending in June 2029. Election results will be announced in MLA’s Primary Source newsletter on Thursday, April 23. 

Meet the candidates and cast your vote! Voting will close on Monday, April 20, at 11:59 PM.

CAST YOUR VOTE:
MLA Board of Directors Election 2026 Ballot

Please note:

• You will need to log in to access the ballot. Forgot your password? You can request a password reset by visiting the following link and inputting your primary email address. Forgot your password?

• According to MLA Bylaws, Organizational Members, Affiliated Individual Members, Unaffiliated Library Directors, Affiliated Trustee Members, Retirees, Lifetime Members, and Students shall be entitled to vote in all matters submitted to a vote of the Members.

• The ballot form can only be submitted once, so please review your options carefully before hitting submit.

• When voting for Member-at-Large board positions, please select a maximum of four candidates. If you wish to select less than four, please also select the checkbox next to "No Additional Votes". Ballots with more than four candidates selected will be considered void and not counted.

Questions? Contact MLA Executive Director Dillon Geshel at (517) 881-1266 or [email protected].