senate resolution no.163

Senator Stamas offered the following resolution:

A resolution to designate October 2022 as Michigan Library Appreciation Month.

Whereas, The Michigan Library Association (MLA) annually designates the month of October as a statewide observance to celebrate the contributions of Michigan's libraries, librarians, and library staff; and

Whereas, Libraries are an indispensable resource for children, teens, adults, and seniors; and

Whereas, Michigan's libraries, including school, public, academic, tribal, cooperatives, and special libraries, are vital, dynamic centers of discovery and lifelong learning, serving as cornerstones in healthy communities; and

Whereas, In order to serve and support their communities, Michigan’s libraries continue to evolve while expanding their services; and

Whereas, As dynamic centers of discovery and lifelong learning, libraries serve as concert venues, art galleries, tourist destinations, meeting spaces, community living rooms, makerspaces, study rooms and more; and

Whereas, Patrons are provided more than books to borrow, including tablets and laptops, mobile hotspots, tools, games, movies, music and more; and

Whereas, With free access to information, millions of Michiganders are allowed to explore and discover a vast world of information and entertainment; and

Whereas, Libraries provide materials and programs that are as diverse as the people they serve, while protecting patron’s privacy and supporting their right to read; and

Whereas, As primary points of access for people without internet or access to computers, libraries enable everyone to connect to the people and ideas of the world; and

Whereas, Michigan libraries are indispensable educational and cultural institutions in the heart of our communities, offering a place to gather, socialize, study and learn; and

Whereas, Hundreds of libraries and millions of library supporters across Michigan are celebrating Michigan Library Appreciation Month this October; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That members of this legislative body designate October 2022 as Michigan Library Appreciation Month. During this time, we encourage all residents to visit their library in-person or virtually to explore and discover its wide variety of services, resources, and collections.