Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative

Director’s Report
February and March 2026

 State Budget/State Aid:

  • We have heard that the Governor’s budget will keep State Aid at the same level as last year. Both Legislative branches will need to create their own Budgets. Then all three branches will create the final budget after lots of negotiation.

 Cooperative Services:

  • Kate Pohjola Andrade, Strategic Planning Consultant has sent out a survey to Advisory Council members. We will be reviewing the survey results at the April 14th Advisory Council zoom meeting. Our next in-person Advisory Council Meeting will be at Dryden May 5th starting at 10 am. The next Board meeting will be May 14th starting at 5:30 p.m. at Public Libraries of Saginaw – Hoyt Branch.
  • We want to Welcome Stephen Banister as the new Director at Lapeer District Library. Gloria Coles Flint Public Library has announce their new director will be Desmond London. Public Libraries of Saginaw are currently searching for a new director.

Library Cooperatives of Michigan (LCM):  

  • LCM CE committee had a panel discussion in March via zoom on how to become a District Library. We had 50 people from across the state sign up for the discussion. MMLC had 3 Library Directors and one Trustee who have now gone through the process.
  • Kathy McKinney is the new director at Suburban Library Cooperative.
  • Governor Whitmore puts out a newsletter, and in the latest edition she mentioned Mi Library Finder as a great tool to use to find your public library.

Library of Michigan (LM): Michelle Bradley, Interim State Librarian

  • Interim Manager of Library Development - Biz Gallo gallob@michigan.gov 517-335-1402
  • Awesome Millage Mondays 04/06/2026 02:00 PM - 05/04/2026 03:30 PM ET Free Webinar link will be emailed to registrants the day before the webinar begins. Michigan Public Libraries are required to be funded locally, by the communities they serve. Generally that means a millage. A millage means a millage campaign. This 5-part weekly webinar series will provide information and resources on the millage process- from how to determine whether to go for a millage and how much to request, to the laws surrounding the millage process, campaign limitations, yes groups, and tackling tough community questions.

There will be 5 session, one each week:

    • Apr 6, 2026- MI Library Funding and Millage Basics (Joe Hamlin & Clare Membiela).
    • Apr 13, 2026 - Promote Your Millage Through Data- How to “campaign” for your millage legally through factual infographics (Joe Hamlin).
    • Apr 20, 2026 - Ensuring Legal Compliance - How to Navigate the millage process (Anne Seurynck).
    • Apr 27,2026-  YES Committee Basics (Shirley Bruursema).
    • May 4, 2026 - Communicating With Your Community- Addressing Difficult Questions (Panel Discussion, Dillon Geshell, MLA, Kate Pohjola-Andrade, Woodlands Library Cooperative, Megan Rose, Dickenson County Library, Michelle Guerra, Betsie Valley District Library).

 

 Michigan Library Association (MLA): Dillon Geshel, Interim Executive Director

  • The MLA Board election will open onTuesday, March 31, and close on Monday, April 20, at midnight. This year, MLA members will vote for an MLA President-elect and four Member-at-Large Board positions for terms beginning in July 2026 and ending in June 2029. Election results will be announced in MLA’s Primary Source newsletter on Thursday, April 23.
  • Meet the candidatesand cast your vote! Voting will close on Monday, April 20, at 11:59 PM.
  • The Michigan Library Association Board of Directors is happy to announce the appointment of Dillon Geshel as the association's new Executive Director. Following a comprehensive executive search and selection process, Geshel, who has served as MLA’s Interim Executive Director since May 2025, will continue leading the association and advancing its mission to support libraries and library professionals across Michigan.
  • Take advantage of the opportunity to make a difference in the Michigan library community. Develop your leadership skills and grow your professional network by volunteering to serve on a committee or work group. The 2026-2027 Call for Ambassadors is open until May 8, 2026. Save the date for the virtual 2026 MLA Ambassador Orientation on Wednesday, June 3 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. All MLA members are eligible to participate. Nonmembers interested in volunteering are welcome to join MLA by filling out the online membership applicationor by contacting us at (517) 394-2774 or MLA@milibraries.org.

 

Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS): Scott Garrison, Executive Director

  • On March 17, 2026, Beanstackand LibraryPass (Comics Plus) announced a merger to form Joyful Reading Company. Coverage of the acquisition was published in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. MCLS partners with both former companies to offer discounted pricing on subscriptions, and we’re pleased to share that we will continue to work with them as Joyful Reading Company. We are in the process of making necessary updates in our systems to reflect this change and will continue to keep members informed about products and pricing in the coming months.
  • As the end of the fiscal year approaches, NewsBank is offering substantial discount incentives (20%+) on their fully digitized, complete run backfiles of local Michigan and Indiana newspaper archives. See the titles here.The offer includes the following details:

For more information or a quote, contact MCLS eLicensing & Collection Resources at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382. You may also reach out to Kyle Carufe (NewsBank Senior Academic Account Manager) at kcarufe@newsbank.com.

MMLC Administration:

  • Eric and Irene attended the Advisory Council meeting at Public Libraries of Saginaw.
  • Eric met with LCM committee several times in preparation for the District Library seminar.
  • Eric attended both LM updates meetings.
  • Eric participated in both LCM monthly meetings.
  • Met with our IT specialists to fix the camera on my laptop.
  • Attended LCM CE seminar called ‘Is a District Library your Next Chapter: Empowering Directors and Trustees to take the Next Step’.
  • Met with Kate to discuss the Strategic Planning survey.
  • Attended the Quarterly Overdrive Meeting, hosted by Overdrive.
  • Met with Kate and Irene about the Strategic Planning survey.
  • Eric attended the MLA Connect ‘Leading through Uncertain Times; with Scott Duimstra, Director of Hennepin County Library in Minnesota and formerly Director of Capital Area District Libraries.
Respectfully submitted, Eric Palmer

MMLC Director