SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Hello and welcome to another edition of MLA’s Primary Source! Just a couple of short months ago, I couldn’t have known I’d be writing this update as the soon-to-be MLA President. In October, I’ll move into the role of MLA President as Scott Duimstra steps down and takes on a new opportunity as Library Director of the Hennepin County Library in Minnesota. Congratulations to Scott and on behalf of MLA, I want to thank him for his exceptional leadership over the last year and beyond. Scott has been a thoughtful, measured leader as MLA President and among the MLA membership at large. We will miss his quick willingness to support Michigan libraries and MLA priorities, and wish him the best on his new journey. 

As your incoming President, I thought I’d share about my own MLA journey. My volunteer path with MLA began in the registration booth at an annual conference, and I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside the MLA staff and so many excellent volunteers at several conferences since. As a first-time library director, I participated in MLA’s mentorship program, which paired me with an experienced library director who helped me shape my own philosophy as a library leader today. I’ve also had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the mentorship program as a mentor, where I’ve learned just as much from Michigan’s up-and-coming library leaders. 

In June of 2021, I was honored to be appointed to the MLA Board. In the time since, I’ve served as Vice Chair of the annual conference workgroup, and currently serve as Chair while we put the finishing touches on next month’s gathering in Kalamazoo. Last year, I served as Chair of MLA’s new Intellectual Freedom Task Force, working alongside an exemplary group of MLA staff and volunteers to shape supporting resources for libraries. I also serve on the Legislative and Advocacy Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. As I move into the MLA President role next month, I can’t wait to give back to the organization in new ways. 



MLA has a busy and exciting month ahead. I hope to see many of you at the MLA Annual Conference in Kalamazoo, October 18 – 20. Our conference planning workgroup has put together an excellent schedule of sessions and many special events and activities that seek to help you Connect the Dots between ideas, opportunities, and people. 

October is also Michigan Library Appreciation Month, a month-long celebration of our love for libraries. Keep an eye on MLA’s social media pages for celebratory posts you can engage with and share to help highlight our appreciation for Michigan libraries and library workers. Michigan Library Appreciation Month also aligns with another major MLA project – our MI Right to Read campaign, which aims to educate the public and grow our coalition of Michiganders opposed to removing books from library shelves. This six-month educational campaign will ramp up in October, and you can help us spread the word and advocate in your own communities by accessing resources and tools at mirighttoread.com.

Dillon Geshel

MLA President

Director, Superiorland Library Cooperative 

Since 2019, the MLA Board of Directors has spent time and energy developing a strategic direction for MLA. Each year MLA is dedicated to revisiting it, talking through our challenges and successes to remain relevant as we address the needs of the field. 

In July 2021, July 2022, and August 2023, MLA gathered a small group of key stakeholders who reviewed the planning document and made updates that addressed achievements and changes for 2021-2023, 2022-2024, and 2023-2025. At the September 2023 Board of Directors meeting, the Board voted to accept the updated plan for 2023-2025.

Updates include an increased focus on empowering members, supporting the safety, health and wellbeing of the library community, and engaging, mentoring, and supporting those new to the profession who are the future of the library field. With this plan, MLA will also continue to focus on supporting intellectual freedom and protecting the First Amendment. The updated plan also prioritizes future ready libraries, advancing and preparing for what’s next for the library profession.

As an organization that values those who are shaping the field for the future, we will be investing our time and resources to expand this work throughout each of our goal areas: advocacy, knowledge, and community. View the MLA Strategic Plan 2023-2025 (pdf).

MLA is committed to leading the advancement of Michigan's libraries through advocacy, education, and engagement; this has been demonstrated over the last year by the creation of MI Right to Read and a statewide PR campaign for public libraries, as well as ongoing advocacy for increased State Aid, protecting penal fines and much more. The MLA Board supports the mission of MLA by providing financial and policy oversight as well as setting the strategic direction for the organization.

The MLA Nominating and Leadership Development Committee is the group that identifies and recruits excellent candidates to run for the Board, and determines the final slate of candidates to present to the membership for election. Potential candidates nominate themselves for an open board position, or can be nominated by someone else. When putting together the proposed ballot, the Committee looks at many factors, including geographic, racial, gender and age, as well as skills and experience, in order to propose a well-rounded and representative slate. I have the pleasure of chairing the Nominating Committee again this year, working with Steve Bowers, Mallorie DeVilbiss, Eric Stanton, Kate Van Auken, Sophia Ward Brewer and Lisa Waskin. 

This year, the Call for Nominations for five Board positions opens on Thursday, September 28 and runs through Friday, November 3. We are seeking nominations for the President-Elect position and four (4) Member-at-Large positions. The term of office runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. The election opens on Monday, April 1 and closes on Thursday, April 25. Election results will be announced to the membership on or around Saturday, April 28. 

If you have ever wondered what an MLA Board member does, please join us for an informal information session at the annual Conference at the Stone Theatre on Thursday, October 19, from 5:15-5:45 PM, immediately following the Annual Meeting.  Board members will be on hand to answer any questions you have. You are also welcome to contact any member of the Nominating Committee, if you would like to know more. 

If you've ever thought of running for the MLA Board, now is the time! You do not have to be a director to run for a seat on the Board either. You just need to have a passion for libraries and a desire to make the library world a better place. 

Please feel free to reach out to me at russcath@wblib.org if you have any questions or need more information. Thank you for your consideration!

Cathy Russ 

MLA Nominating Committee Chair

Library Director, West Bloomfield Township Public Library

Lexi Mohney

Event Coordination Intern

Oliver Brown

Social Media Strategist Intern

Congratulations to Katie Perkey who was recently promoted to the Children’s & Teen Services Outreach Manager at Clinton-Macomb Public Library. Congratulations Katie!

Welcome to Andrea Forte, a Drexel University Professor of Information has been recommended to be the next Dean of the University of Michigan, School of Information. Wishing you all the best!

Scott Duimstra, a seasoned veteran of libraries with two decades of experience is relocating to the Twin Cities. Scott has been appointed to lead the Hennepin County Library system in Minneapolis as their new Director. Wishing you all the best Scott. You will be missed. 

A warm welcome to Kristen Edson who took over as Library Director at the Livonia Public Library earlier this month. Happy to be back in her home state, Kristen is looking forward to serving the Livonia community. 

Andrea Ingmire of the Peter White Public Library in Marquette was honored with the 2023 (UP Librarian of the Year Award) at the recent UPRLC Conference in Sault Ste. Marie. Congratulations Andrea on your well-deserved award!

Executive Director of Library Services - Manistee County Library (MI)

Manistee County Library (MI) - Manistee, MI

Library Director

Newaygo Area District Library - Newaygo, MI

Youth Services Librarian

Pontiac Public Library - Pontiac, MI



View these jobs and more on the MLA Job Board.