- Michigan Library Association
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The Michigan Library Association is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, United States. It publishes a library science journal, MLA Forum.
Contents
History
Guided by the belief that free access to information is the cornerstone of a free society, the Michigan Library Association, headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, has advocated for libraries on behalf of the state's residents for over 100 years. In its long history, the MLA has defended the right to read, sought to clarify library governance issues, promoted librarian education, worked for free access of information to all residents and proactively lobbied for adequate library funding. The Michigan Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in Michigan. It has influenced the course of Michigan's libraries since its inception in 1890, when Mary A. Eddy, the librarian at Coldwater wrote to the Detroit Public Library about organizing a state library association. As a result of Eddy's letter, the first MLA meeting was held in Detroit. Thirty-seven members attended, elected a slate of five officers and printed their original 40-line constitution on a 3-inch by 6-inch card.
Mission
Michigan Library Association is a professional organization dedicated to the support of its members, to the advancement of librarianship, and to the promotion of quality library service for citizens of all ages of the State of Michigan. A chapter of the American Library Association, MLA is governed by an Executive Board whose officers are elected by the membership. The board provides leadership to the organization's units, each representing special library issues and populations, which carry out MLA activities with the assistance of the MLA staff.
Diversity in Libraries
Michigan Library Association's nearly 1,800 members include library directors, adult and youth services librarians, media specialists, systems administrators, cooperative directors, students, trustees, friends, educators, support staff, business representatives and others interested in information science and technology from across the state. MLA membership also reflects the wide diversity of Michigan's libraries--public, academic, school, state and special libraries serving persons in government, hospitals, commerce and prisons.
Legislative action
MLA educates and works with legislators to obtain the state and federal support necessary for libraries to flourish. Institutional membership dues pay for the services of a Lansing lobbying firm that works to support MLA's goals in the Michigan Legislature. Institutional members receive the "MLA Legislative Update," a publication highlighting current legislation affecting libraries.
Professional development benefits
Among Michigan Library Association's many professional development opportunities are a variety of workshops that focus on position responsibilities, technologies, trends, an annual 3-4-day conference that brings nearly half of its members under one roof to network, collaborate, and share best practices, and Spring Institute that prepares children and teen librarians to enhance programming.
Public Library Fund
The Public Library Fund (PLF) is an endowed, reserve fund of the Michigan Library Association. The purpose of the PLF is to provide financial support for the development and enhancement of continuing education of library directors, library employees, and library trustees as fiscally responsible stewards of public funds for the public library.
The PLF is funded through donations and through revenue sources designated by the MLA Executive Board. Decisions regarding fund management, investment and disbursement are made by the Michigan Library Association Executive Board.
Current and past presidents
Years Name Organization 2009-10 Larry Neal Clinton-Macomb Public Library 2008-09 Kathy Irwin Mardigian Library - University of Michigan-Dearborn 2007-08 Josie Parker Ann Arbor District Library 2006-07 Leah Black Michigan State University 2005-06 Michael McGuire Traverse Area District Library 2004-05 Linda Farynk Saginaw Valley State University 2003-04 Marcia Warner Public Libraries of Saginaw 2002-03 Phyllis Jose Oakland County Reference Library 2001-02 Elaine Didier Oakland University Library 2000-01 Tom Genson Grand Rapids Public Library 1999-2000 Denise Forro Michigan State University 1998-99 Nancy Bujold Rochester Hills Public Library 1997-98 Pamela Grudzien Central Michigan University 1996-97 Beverly Papai Farmington Community Library 1995-96 Martha Stilwell Kellogg Community College-Battle Creek 1994-95 Sandra A. Scherba Cromaine Library, Hartland 1993-94 Sandra Yee Eastern Michigan University 1992-93 Francis J. Buckley 1991-92 Jean Houghton Saginaw Valley State University 1990-91 Jule Fosbender Adrian Public Library 1989-90 Linda Heemstra Bay County Library System, Bay City 1988-89 Colleen Hyslop Michigan State University Libraries 1987-88 Clara N.Bohrer Farmington Community Library 1986-87 Margaret Auer University of Detroit Library 1985-86 A. Micheal Deller Madison Heights/Livonia Public Libraries 1984-85 Robert Garen Detroit Public Library 1983-84 Eleanor Pinkham Kalamazoo College Library 1982-83 Margaret Thomas Farmington Community Library 1981-82 Patricia Wilson Rochester Hills (Avon Township) Public Library, Rochester 1980-81 Howard Lipton St. Clair Shores 1979-80 Carolyn McMillen Michigan State University Libraries 1978-79 Robert Raz Grand Rapids Public Library 1977-78 Joan Wilcox Oakland County Library Board, Pontiac 1976-77 Robert Gaylor Kresge Library, Oakland University, Rochester 1975-76 Roberta Cheney Powell Branch, Kalamazoo Public Library 1974-75 Bernard Oppeneer Saginaw Public Library 1973-74 Mark Crum Kalamazoo Public Library 1972-73 Mary Daume Monroe County Library System 1971-72 Benard C. Rink Northwestern Michigan College, Petoskey 1970-71 Mildred M. Winslow Western Michigan University 1969-70 Robert E. Booth Wayne State University 1968-69 James Sterling Warren Public Library 1967-68 W. J. Kimbrough Lansing Public Library 1966-67 Richard Chapin Michigan State University Libraries 1965-66 Mary Mitchell Detroit Public Library 1964-65 H. G. Johnston Flint Public Library 1963-64 Madalyn M. Bradford Webster Memorial Library, Decatur 1962-63 G. Flint Purdy Wayne State University Library 1961-62 Ransom L Richardson Flint Public Library 1960-61 Robert W. Armstrong Detroit Public Library 1959-60 Frederick Wagman University of Michigan Library 1958-59 Katharine Harris Detroit Public Library 1957-58 Clifford B. Wightman Hackley Public Library, Muskegon 1956-57 Clover Flanders University of Michigan Extension Service 1955-56 William Chait Kalamazoo Public Library 1954-55 Ethel Walker Yarbroff Detroit School Librarian (retired) 1953-54 Ruth Warncke Kent County Library 1952-53 Frances E. Burnside Jackson Public Library 1951-52 Robert M. Orr Grosse Pointe Public Library 1950-51 Marian C. Young Detroit Public Library 1949-50 Alta Parks Mason Public Library, Ingham County 1948-49 Alice Louise LeFevre Western Michigan College, Department of Education 1947-48 Hobart R. Coffey University of Michigan, Law Library 1946-47 Donald W. Kohlsedt Grand Rapids Public Library 1945-46 Adeline Cooke Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham 1944-45 Ernest I. Miller Detroit Public Library 1943-44 Cecil J. Mettale University of Michigan, Department of Library Science 1942-43 Eudocia Stratton Central Michigan College of Education Library, Mt. Pleasant 1941-42 Irene C. Hayner University High School, Ann Arbor 1940-41 Dorothy T. Hagerman West Side Branch, Grand Rapids Public Library 1939-40 Frances A. Hannum Ann Arbor Public Library 1938-39 Ruth Rutzen Detroit Public Library 1937-38 Ralph A. Ulveling Detroit Public Library 1936-37 Maude E. Grill Jackson County Library 1935-36 Samuel W. McAllister University of Michigan Library 1934-35 Loleta D. Fyan Wayne County Library, Detroit 1933-34 C. Tefft Hewitt Hackley Public Library, Muskegon 1932-33 Nancy B. Thomas Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham 1931-32 C. B. Joeckel University of Michigan Library School 1929-30 Elisabeth Knapp Detroit Public Library 1928-29 William Webb Flint Public Library 1927-28 William Bishop University of Michigan Library 1926-27 Gail Curtis State Library, Lansing 1925-26 Louis Bailey Flint Public library 1924-25 Harold L. Wheeler Hackley Public Library 1923-24 Constance Bement State Library, Lansing 1922-23 Flora B. Roberts Kalamazoo Public Library 1921-22 Alma A. Olson Detroit Public Library 1920-21 Annie Pollard Grand Rapids Public Library 1919-20 Adam Strohm Detroit Public Library 1918-19 Francis L. D. Goodrich University of Michigan Library 1917-18 Kathryn G. Sleneau McGregor Public Library, Highland Park 1915-16 John S. Cleavinger Jackson Public Library 1913-14 Theodore W. Koch University of Michigan Library 1912-13 Annie F MacDonell Bay City Public Library 1910-11 Nina K. Preston University of Michigan Library 1908-09 G. M. Walton State Normal College Library, Ypsilanti 1906-07 Samuel Ranck Grand Rapids Public Library 1891-1905 H. M. Utley Detroit Public Library Categories:- Libraries in Michigan
- Lansing, Michigan
- Library-related professional associations
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