Michigan Academic Library Association - MiALA

02/04/2026

Now open! The application period for MiALA conference scholarships is open until March 1, 2026. Scholarships cover the cost of full conference registration, as well as reimbursement for up to two nights lodging at the conference hotel. Learn more here:

The 2026 MiALA Conference Scholarship Subcommittee is pleased to announce the availability of multiple scholarships to support current MiALA members' attendance at the Annual Conference. The scholarship will cover the cost of full conference registration, as well as reimbursement for up to two night...

09/26/2025

Casual Conversation: Graduate students and library instruction

Graduate students are a unique group of learners developing advanced, highly specialized research skills. Yet, as librarians we cannot assume that they have mastered the basic skills we teach to undergraduates. Also, depending on the program, it may be difficult for faculty to make room for library instruction. Whether you work with graduate students, have been a graduate student yourself, or are just interested in the many ways we can teach information literacy, please join us for this lightly-structured conversation.

We will cover topics such as:
Which research skills do graduate students need help with?
What opportunities do librarians have to reach grad students?
How can librarians promote library instruction to faculty who work with grad students?

URL for further information and registration:

Graduate students are a unique group of learners developing advanced, highly specialized research skills. Yet, as librarians we cannot assume that they have mastered the basic skills we teach to undergraduates. Also, depending on the program, it may be difficult for faculty to make room for library....

08/29/2025

Joint Letter Urging Congress to Fund IMLS

MiALA joined a coalition of associations representing Michigan’s libraries, museums, and historical societies and sent a joint letter to Congressional leaders urging them to support funding the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in FY 2026.

Without IMLS support, schools, libraries, historical organizations, universities, and community colleges would face major challenges in sustaining these programs, especially those with limited local funding. The economies of scale that make these statewide services affordable would disappear. For example, the current cost of MeL database subscriptions statewide is $2,481,885 annually. If each institution were to purchase those resources independently, the total cost would skyrocket to $66,910,870. Michigan residents depend on these programs for education, career development, and access to reliable information. Continued federal funding through IMLS is essential to ensuring equal access for all.

MLA and a coalition of associations representing Michigan’s libraries, museums, and historical societies have sent a joint letter to Congressional leaders urging them to support funding the Institute of Museum and Library Services in FY 2026.

08/04/2025

Immediate Advocacy Action to Protect Funding for MeL/MelCat

As the Advocacy Committee prepares to kick off what we expect to be a very active year politically this Fall, we are writing today to share an immediate action you can take today to support federal funding for IMLS. We strongly encourage members who live in the Second District of Michigan, represented by Congressman John Moolenaar, to reach out directly to his office and communicate the importance of IMLS funds. John Moolenaar is on the Appropriations Committee, and Congress will consider library funding in September, which gives us time to advocate now.

Please see the sample text below to use when contacting John Moolenaar, adapted from ALA’s IMLS Advocacy campaign. We encourage you to add personal anecdotes to showcase the impact of IMLS funding on your library. For members not represented by Moolenaar, we encourage joining ALA’s Advocacy efforts to protect IMLS funding.

Call Script:
Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent from [YOUR ADDRESS] and I’m calling to urge Representative John Moolenaar to support libraries and protect the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

On March 14, President Trump issued an executive order to eliminate I-M-L-S. If this order is allowed to stand, it will hurt millions of Americans who rely on our libraries. A June 2025 poll from the Michigan Library Association shows that 79% of respondents approve of Michigan libraries’ work, up from 71% in 2023. I-M-L-S makes a real difference for Americans every day. In Michigan, I-M-L-S funding supports programs such as MeL and MelCat, which increase access to information for Michiganders and allow our academic libraries to connect students with resources that support their learning.

I urge you to overturn the executive order and continue funding for I-M-L-S in the next fiscal year.

Email Script:
Subject: Protect the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Dear Representative John Moolenaar,
As your constituent, I urge you to oppose the White House's attempt to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency that ensures every community has access to library funding.

Despite libraries (of all types) receiving only 0.003% of the federal budget, libraries provide free, impartial resources that serve everyone. Eliminating IMLS would be a devastating blow to essential community services. A June 2025 poll from the Michigan Library Association of over 800 voters in Michigan shows that 79% of respondents approve of Michigan libraries’ work, up from 71% in 2023. IMLS makes a real difference for Americans every day. In Michigan, IMLS funding supports programs such as MeL and MelCat, which increase access to information for Michiganders and allow our academic libraries to connect students with resources that support their learning.

I oppose any effort to defund IMLS and urge you to use your position in Congress to protect IMLS funding in the next fiscal year. Please protect our libraries at the federal level.

Sincerely.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]

Thank you,
MiALA Advocacy Committee