The pre-1990 accessions from the Michigan Library Association (MLA) are available in three broad groups of material which overlap one another in terms of office of origin, dates, and subjects. This arrangement reflects the way the material was received from the MLA.
The papers received with the 1990 accession cover the years 1937-1952 and 1961-1989 with the bulk of the material from 1980-1989.
The papers received in 1993 cover the years 1977-1991 and mostly contain records of the Intellectual Freedom Committee. Accession also includes bylaws, minutes of the Management and Administration Forum, policies and procedures, and minutes of the Executive board, 1981-1983.
The Michigan Library Association (MLA) was founded in Detroit on September 1, 1891, for the purpose of promoting the cause of librarianship throughout the state. Today the Michigan Library Association's membership includes librarians, library trustees, and library friends groups. For each year since 1891, members of the Michigan Library Association have gathered at their annual conference to discuss and debate topics of concern to Michigan librarians. To further inform their members, the MLA publishes a quarterly journal, The Michigan Librarian.
MLA is closely related to the American Library Association and supports its interest in libraries and library professionals. In addition, MLA cooperates with regional library and state professional organizations, such as the Midwest Federation of Library Services, the Michigan Association for Media in Education, the Adult Education Association, and the State Library of Michigan.
Other activities of the MLA derive from the various sections that make up the organization. The association is composed of seven districts that meet annually to discuss regional issues. The MLA is divided into sections which are called divisions, caucuses, and committees. Divisions are composed of members who wish to promote library service and librarianship within a particular type of library activity. Caucuses are composed of members who wish to promote library service and librarianship and who share the same interest. There are two types of committees within the MLA, operational and activity.
As of 1988, the MLA had 5 divisions, 14 caucuses, 8 operational committees, and 3 activity committees. The divisions at that time were: Academic and Research Library, Children's Services, Friends, Trustees, and Public Library. The 14 caucuses were: Bibliographic Instruction, Community Colleges, Cooperatives, Junior Members Roundtable, Library Education, Management and Administrative, Marketing and Public Relations, Media, Preservation, Reference, Rural Libraries, Specialized Services, Technical Services, Young Adults. The operational committees consisted of: Awards and Resolutions, Conference, Conference Program, Constitution and Bylaws, Editorial Board, Headquarters and Finance, Membership and Promotion, and Nominations. The activities committees were: Continuing Education and Professional Standards, Intellectual Freedom, and Public Policy. These groups do not always keep the same title. For example, they may change from committee to caucus or division.
