MLA Ambassadors

MLA is lucky to have so many dedicated professionals step up to serve on our Board, workgroups, and committees and be ambassadors of the association. They show commitment to their communities, their libraries, their patrons, the library profession, and the Michigan Library Association every day.

MLA 2025 Youth Literary Awards

MLA's Youth Literary Awards recognize outstanding contributions to youth literature and celebrate the best titles for children and teens. For the past year, MLA Youth Literary Award workgroups have spent thousands of hours reading, reviewing, and discussing hundreds of books to choose the very best titles published in 2024 for Michigan kids. It's our pleasure to share the winners of the 2025 Mitten, YouPer, and Thumbs Up! Awards.

Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks New Episode

Check out the latest episode of Chapter & Verse, From Small Town Roots to Library Leadership: Defending Access and Inspiring Community.

In this episode, Debbie Mikula, Executive Director of the Michigan Library Association, and Jennifer Balcom, Director of the Mid-Michigan Library League, talk with Tracy Logan-Walker, Director of Cadillac Wexford Public Library in Cadillac, Michigan.

Tracy reflects on her journey from small-town beginnings to a career in librarianship, sharing the early influences that shaped her path. She highlights the vital role libraries play in their communities, recalls meaningful moments from her career, and addresses current challenges—including the spread of misinformation and the fight for intellectual freedom. Tracy also shares her hopes and excitement for the evolving future of libraries.

IMLS Update: Timeline of Key Events and Status

Since March of this year, libraries across the country have wrestled with federal funding uncertainty and the prospect of losing widely used programs and services funded by those dollars. An Executive Order seeking to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - the only dedicated source of federal funding for public libraries - was followed by the firing and replacement of key staff, federal lawsuits, court injunctions, and calls to action. With so many updates to this story over the last few months, we thought it would be helpful to summarize the timeline so far and the latest updates on securing IMLS funding.

“A Man is Known by the Company He Keeps” – a fond farewell from Debbie

June 25, 2025

It is time to say farewell to my MLA family. For the past 6 years, I have surrounded myself with positive thinkers - people who make a difference in their communities, in their organizations, and people who make my day brighter simply by being around them. You have challenged me, supported me, motivated me, mentored me and encouraged me to grow. I have found people to admire and people that I am proud to know. You have been my cheerleaders, teachers, trusted advisors, coaches, role models and ultimately, friends. I am mindful that the people who represent MLA reflect my own values and have influenced me in ways I can only be thankful for. Your positivity, high standards, kindness and honesty are contagious, and I am a better person for having known you all. The fact is, each of us determines the people we spend our time with. As Aesop said so well “A man is known by the company he keeps.” I have chosen wisely.

Deborah E. Mikula
MLA Executive Director

Note From Dillon

The past month has been a busy time of transition for MLA. As our outgoing Executive Director prepares for retirement, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside her and the MLA team in my new role as Interim Executive Director. Many of you have been in touch with well wishes, to check in, and to ask how the transition is moving along. And as I’ve often stated in response – Debbie and everyone on staff at MLA has helped to plan the most organized onboarding journey that I’ve ever experienced. It’s helped bring me up to speed on MLA’s day-to-day operations quickly, allowing me to dive right into our important work on advocacy, programming and member engagement.