[cid:image009.png@01D5F880.2383F310] March 12, 2020 Dear Rachel, The health and safety of our members and our communities is our top priority at MLA, especially in relation to the coronavirus and Michigan's newly declared state of emergency. Yesterday evening, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released new recommendations that discourage events and gatherings of more than 100 people and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. We are committed to doing our part to curb the transmission of the coronavirus. This means we will be changing some of our programming for this spring, including rescheduling Spring Institute for Youth Services as well as our upcoming Human Resources for Libraries workshop. Please rest assured that we are committed to providing quality and timely professional development, education and networking opportunities for our members and that we will fully refund registration costs for attendees in the event that programs are cancelled or if for any reason attendees are unable to attend the rescheduled events. We will update you with more information as soon as details become available. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time! [cid:image010.jpg@01D5F880.2383F310] Deborah E. Mikula Executive Director More Information Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released community mitigation strategies to slow the transmission of COVID-19 that urge residents to avoid gatherings of more than 100 people. A video of Governor Whitmer's press conference is available here.<https://www.facebook.com/wxyzdetroit/videos/659429514892160/> View the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Interim Recommendations for COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies<https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIEOG/2020/03/11/file_attachments/1398669/MDHHS,%20Interim%20Recommendations%20for%20COVID-19%20%28final%29.pdf> The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic<https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020>. View more information at who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019<https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019> Please visit the American Library Association (ALA) pandemic preparedness resource page<http://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/pandemic-preparedness> for more information about how libraries can be community partners in response to this outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=MI08ES&crop=15585.10758247.5225676.7241366&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cdc.gov%2fcoronavirus%2f2019-ncov%2findex.html&redir_log=104035161607358> provides updates on the virus and safety information for the public and healthcare professionals. The State of Michigan<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=MI08ES&crop=15585.10758247.5225676.7241366&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.michigan.gov%2fcoronavirus&redir_log=832321613259260> provides updates on the disease's spread within the state, as well as frequently asked questions available here<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=MI08ES&crop=15585.10758247.5225676.7241366&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.michigan.gov%2fdocuments%2fmdhhs%2f2019-nCoV_Web_FAQ_Final_02.07.20_680693_7.pdf&redir_log=397916662274542>. The State Department<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=MI08ES&crop=15585.10758247.5225676.7241366&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2ftravel.state.gov%2fcontent%2ftravel%2fen%2ftraveladvisories%2fea%2fnovel-coronavirus-hubei-province--china.html&redir_log=27246739159755> provides a list of travel advisories for those who are planning to fly outside of the United States. [Web Icon resized] Rachel Ash Membership and Communications Director Michigan Library Association 3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100 Lansing, MI 48911 Phone: (517) 394-2774 ext. 225 milibraries.org<http://www.milibraries.org/> rfash@milibraries.org<mailto:rfash@milibraries.org> Follow MLA on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MichiganLibraryAssociation> and Twitter<https://twitter.com/mlaoffice>!
