Call for Nominations for MLA Board

The Call for Nominations for candidates for the 2027 Board of Directors election is now open! The Nominating and Leadership Development Committee (NLDC) is seeking nominations/self-nominations for four member-at-large directors as well as the President-elect position, with terms beginning in July 2027 and ending in June 2030.

MLA Merch Design Contest 

Calling all artists, designers, doodlers, and creative library people! MLA is looking for original designs inspired by books, reading, libraries, intellectual freedom, banned books, or library life to feature on merchandise in the MLA Store.

FY27 Federal Budget Update

The federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that extends fiscal year 2026 funding through December 11, 2026. Before that deadline, Congress must pass all 12 appropriations bills or another CR to avoid a full or partial government shutdown. With negotiations underway and key decisions still ahead in the Senate, there is still time to make sure your Senators hear from you about the importance of federal support for libraries.

MLA and ACLU Partner to Track and Map Censorship Efforts in Michigan

Two years ago, the ACLU of Michigan launched an innovative online mapping tool that tracked book bans and other forms of government censorship throughout the state. MLA is excited to announce a major update in that work. Through our partnership with the ACLU of Michigan, we’ve worked together to complete the first comprehensive update to the map and brought it directly to the MI Right to Read website.

Michigan Libraries Secured Increased Funding in FY2027 Budget—Please Take Five Minutes to Thank Your Legislators!

On Tuesday, July 21, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Michigan’s FY2027 budget into law. Thanks to your outreach and advocacy, Michigan libraries secured several key funding wins: While many state departments and agencies saw budget reductions, State Aid to Libraries saw a one-time increase of $375,000.

Happy 135th Birthday, MLA!

On September 1, MLA will celebrate 135 years of serving Michigan’s library community!

Our story began in 1891, when Coldwater librarian Mary A. Eddy wrote to Detroit Public Library librarian Henry M. Utley about forming a statewide library association. On September 1 of that year, library leaders gathered in Detroit for MLA’s first meeting. And the rest, as they say, is library history!