<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Great work! Thanks for advocating for all libraries across the state. Very much appreciated!</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div>
<div id="appendonsend"></div>
<div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
Lynne Wiercinski</div>
<div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
Ironwood Carnegie Library</div>
<div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
906.932.0203</div>
<hr tabindex="-1" style="display:inline-block; width:98%">
<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Debbie Mikula via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 26, 2022 4:17 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> michlib-l@mcls.org <michlib-l@mcls.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Michlib-l] Open Meetings Act Changes for Libraries Introduced in the Michigan House as HB5689 (2022)</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div lang="EN-US" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="x_WordSection1">
<table class="x_MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="width:100.0%; border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 0in 15.0pt">
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size:21.0pt; font-family:Roboto; color:black">Open Meetings Act Changes for Libraries Introduced in the Michigan House as HB5689</span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt">
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">Allowing library boards to meet remotely has taken on new purpose with increased engagement/attendance of the public in remote meetings, and recognizing the extreme geographic distances travelled by many board members to participate
at in-person meetings. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">The Michigan Library Association (MLA) is pleased to inform you that today, Representative John Damoose (District 107) has introduced
<a href="https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ysexeby030jb4h14oz11nznr))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectname=2022-HB-5689">
House Bill 5689</a> which will update Section 3a (MCL 15.263a) as amended by 2021 PA 54 of the Open Meetings Act to allow
</span><span style="color:black">cooperative library boards and local library boards
</span><span style="color:black">to meet virtually if they choose. The bill was referred to the Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee.</span><span style="color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">The MLA Advocacy and Legislative Committee, led by Jessica Keyser, director at the Grosse Pointe Public Library; and our lobbyist at GCSI, Bob DeVries; have put an extraordinary amount of thoughtful time and energy into the development
of this legislation with Representative Damoose. While there have been a number of proposed revisions introduced to the Open Meetings Act, we want to make clear that none have moved past introduction since mid-2021 with the political divisions we now see.
(These bills are documented in the <a href="https://www.milibraries.org/bill-tracker">
MLA Bill Tracker</a> on the MLA website.) </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">With that said however, the most recent update to this particular section of the Open Meetings Act has allowed those in an agricultural commodity group to meet through electronic means. MLA hopes to emulate their success by giving
libraries the option of meeting remotely as well. </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">We are very grateful to Rep. Damoose for recognizing the challenges faced by our libraries when it comes to meeting in-person, and to Val Meyerson, Director of the Petoskey District Library for continuing to bring this item to his
attention – it is all about relationships.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">MLA’s communication plan and templates for use by library staff, trustees and others to get involved in advocating for support of this legislation are being finalized and will be announced soon. We hope you will be ready to advocate
and let your Representatives know the importance of passing this bill.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">Debbie</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
</p>
<div>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"><img border="0" width="112" height="43" id="x_Picture_x0020_1" alt="A picture containing text, clipart
Description automatically generated" style="width:1.1666in; height:.4479in" data-outlook-trace="F:1|T:1" src="cid:image001.png@01D812D8.A5AF13A0"></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt; color:#4597A5">Deborah E. Mikula</span></b><span style="color:#4597A5"></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">Executive Director</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">Michigan Library Association</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">Lansing, MI 48911</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black">Office: 517-394-2774, ext. 5</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="color:black">Direct: 517-881-1266 </span></b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:red">*Please note new number</span></i><b><span style="color:black"></span></b></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:dmikula@milibraries.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">dmikula@milibraries.org</span></a></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.milibraries.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.milibraries.org</span></a></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:black">Follow MLA on </span></b><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMichiganLibraryAssociation&data=02%7C01%7Cdeanjl%40udmercy.edu%7Cf692f7742583436eba1e08d7a0f63a92%7Cc8a4c2d8bd6840bab8b67522be9a7171%7C0%7C0%7C637154852055251013&sdata=Th0TcwslA3d76K3JTgsGU87oG99mgJWlz8ibEzVY9jc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" title="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMichiganLibraryAssociation&data=02%7C01%7Cdeanjl%40udmercy.edu%7Cf692f7742583436eba1e08d7a0f63a92%7Cc8a4c2d8bd6840bab8b67522be9a7171%7C0%7C0%7C637154852055251013&sdata=Th"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:#0563C1">Facebook</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:black"> and </span></b><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fmlaoffice&data=02%7C01%7Cdeanjl%40udmercy.edu%7Cf692f7742583436eba1e08d7a0f63a92%7Cc8a4c2d8bd6840bab8b67522be9a7171%7C0%7C0%7C637154852055251013&sdata=G8ESMwB%2BtH7rMxCSZuOQwqAoCeX%2FcTXoYceNkJmIoi0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL:
https://twitter.com/mlaoffice
Click to follow link."><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:#0563C1">Twitter</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:black">!</span></b></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="color:black"> </span></p>
</div>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>