JANUARY 23, 2025

I won't sugarcoat it, this one hurts. After nearly two years of work by Michigan Library Association staff, volunteers, and partners, the Freedom to Read bills died in the Senate at the end of 2024. Their introduction during lame duck was a last-ditch effort to cross the finish line and solidify First Amendment protections and civil rights law for Michiganders at public libraries. Unfortunately, the chaos and implosion of the House and the Senate left the Freedom to Read bills to die alongside hundreds of others in both chambers. With the makeup of Michigan's legislature now having shifted, any opportunity to pass these bills is now behind us.

What does this mean for public libraries in 2025 and beyond? In short, the work continues. Advocates in Michigan have spent the last three years honing their skills in advocacy and coalition building, coaching libraries through politically motivated material challenges, and providing education to boards and communities on legal precedent and the freedom to read. 

For many libraries, the New Year presents new challenges. Our recent November elections saw political appointees seated on library boards and in many cases, shifted majority control of library boards to groups that don't share the library's vision for the right to read. Come January, there will be a pressing need to ensure new, incoming board members at public libraries have the factual information they need to make determinations about library collections, that they understand the application of First Amendment and civil rights laws in public libraries, and the liabilities incurred when acting against legal precedent. In 2025 we show up and we work every day to ensure public libraries remain an institution independent of partisan politics. And we must continue to find ways to support the library directors, staff, and trustees who face personal and professional attacks for simply doing their jobs.

The prospect of the Freedom to Read bills becoming law gave me hope. In the time since the bills died, I've felt angry, sad, disappointed, and drained. I don't expect those emotions to go away anytime soon. But this morning I also feel motivated. There is SO MUCH we can do together to support our libraries and protect the right to read, and the resiliency I've seen from library workers over the last few years is the motivation I need to march on. In 2025 the work continues!

Dillon Geshel

President, Michigan Library Association

Future Pathways Grant - Now Accepting Applications

MLA is accepting applications for the Future Pathways Grant program (formerly the Equity Fund Grant) through Friday, January 31. 

Future Pathways Grants, funded entirely by donations through the MLA Equity Fund, aim to encourage the participation, engagement, and leadership of racially and ethnically diverse library workers in the library profession and MLA.

These grants reduce financial barriers to career advancement by providing up to $1,000 for projects and professional development opportunities for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, North African, or Middle Eastern individuals. Grant funds can be used for memberships, workshops, conferences, and other transformative opportunities.

For complete eligibility requirements, restrictions, and selection criteria, see the Future Pathways Guidelines (pdf). Applications are reviewed twice per year. Submissions are due in January and July. To be considered in January, please submit your application by Friday, January 31. 

Learn more and apply or share this information with colleagues!

Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks New Episode Drops February 13

Subscribe to Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks and tune in on February 13! Our February episode will be hosted by Steven K. Bowers, Executive Director of The Library Network Cooperative serving libraries in Southeast Michigan and feature Azita Frattarelli, Director/Youth Librarian at the Riverview Veterans Memorial Library in Riverview.

Hosted by the Michigan Library Association and the Library Cooperatives of Michigan, Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks features dedicated Michigan library workers and their inspiring stories. Each episode welcomes a library worker from one of Michigan's 11 cooperative regions to share their most interesting and inspiring experiences. New episodes will premiere on the second Thursday of each month. Chapter & Verse is sponsored by Midwest Tape | hoopla.

Listen to the podcast and subscribe on Podbean, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts, just search "Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks".

There is a wide disparity in the revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal years based on numbers from the Senate Fiscal Agency and the Department of Treasury. This is not a common occurrence.



The report from the Senate Fiscal Agency at the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC), held in early January, estimated that the state would close Fiscal Year 2024 (ending last September 30) with over $900 million more than expected in its General Fund (GF) and School Aid Fund (SAF) combined. Additionally, the report indicated that Fiscal Year 2025 (starting October 1) looked even better, with $1.2 billion more than anticipated due to revenue increases from income taxes, sales taxes, business taxes, and insurance taxes. Furthermore, as the Governor and state legislators begin to look at Fiscal Year 2026, revenue is expected to add another $1.4 billion.

A week later, due to a much less optimistic forecast, the Department of Treasury indicated drastic reductions from the original numbers above, but still on the positive side: $479 million for FY25 and $563.2 million for FY26.

The report expects Michigan’s economic growth to essentially mirror the economic growth of the United States: a slowing employment rate, accompanied by an increase in the unemployment rate. The report also expects consumer spending to slow in both the country and the state, with uncertainty over changes in federal budget policy and priorities. View the Senate Fiscal Agency Report: Michigan's Economic Outlook and Budget Review (PDF)

Michigan Library Advocacy Day 2025 Registration Now Open!

Spring Institute for Youth Services 2025 Registration Now Open

Are you a new library worker? Are you experiencing or thinking about a job change? Need a new perspective on your work? Just looking to connect with someone established in the Michigan library community? The MLA Mentorship Program is accepting new mentees soon! This flexible, self-directed program is open to all MLA members with no extra fees or requirements. Mentee applications are open February 1 through 28 and partnerships begin in April. The next opportunity to become a mentee will be August 2025.

Mentor applications are accepted all year! You can even opt out of matching at any point if you find yourself temporarily unable to commit the time to being a mentor. We are always looking to diversify our mentors and encourage library workers of all backgrounds to consider joining the program.

Visit milibraries.org/mentor-program for more information and to fill out an application.

Organizational Renewal and Group Invoicing for Staff Memberships

Thank you for your continued support! We're pleased to announce that dues will not increase this year. Look out for renewal information for the 2025-2026 member year in March and don’t forget to let us know if you would like to participate in group invoicing.

MLA offers a simple way for Organizational members to sign up all employees as Affiliated Individual members. Pay one invoice for all staff ($85 per employee) and renew everyone at the same time each year. We'll even pro-rate dues to avoid multiple checks.

For more details, contact MLA Administrative Assistant, Lisa Buttigieg, at (517) 394-2774 ext. 227 or lbuttigieg@milibraries.org

MLA Welcomes Prema Immadisetty as our social media intern for the next few months. Thank you for joining our team to help represent MLA and our Michigan libraries. Welcome, Prema!

The Ferndale Area District Library welcomed Drew Macaulay as the new Library Director. Drew has been with the Ferndale Area District Library since August of 2021. She most recently held the position of Head of Reference and Adult Services. Congratulations, Drew!

The Kalamazoo Public Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to nominate Michael Cockrell as the library’s Executive Director. Michael brings deep and broad administrative experience to the position and has worked for Kalamazoo Public Library for 25 years. Congratulations, Michael!

Vicki Carter, Cataloging Coordinator at Western Michigan University Libraries has retired after decades of service. Thank you for your commitment and contributions and best wishes for a fulfilling retirement!

Terri Stowers, Library Acquisitions Coordinator, retired from Western Michigan University Libraries at the end of December. Thank you for your many years of dedication and service! Wishing you all the best!

Patty Fittante, Children’s Librarian at the Escanaba Public Library, retired in December 2024 after 40 years of service. Thank you for your many years of service to the community. Enjoy retirement Patty!

Assistant Professor, Archives and Special Collections Librarian

Oakland University - Rochester, Michigan

Unite Against Book Bans welcomes organizational partners who share our core principles and would like to work together to defeat censorship. If your organization is interested in joining the campaign, complete this form and the campaign will reach out to you with partnership details.Learn more at uniteagainstbookbans.org. Join as an Organizational Partner.

Unite Against Book Bans, in collaboration with the publishing community, launched Book Résumés, a free resource to support librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves. 

Created in partnership with dozens of publishers and featuring information provided by publishers, librarians, and Unite partner School Library Journal, Unite Against Book Bans book résumés are easy-to-print documents designed to support readers’ access to books that are targeted by censors. Learn more