Join Michigan Libraries for Life 2018! 
(October 9th - October 15th)

Registration form: http://bit.ly/ML4L2018

If you could save a life, would you?  Most people would say “Yes!” without hesitation.  One of the simplest ways to save and improve lives is by supporting organ, tissue, and eye donation.

Since 2010, libraries across Michigan have participated in a simple and effective campaign to educate patrons about donation and transplantation, and to give them an opportunity to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. The campaign is called Michigan Libraries for Life. This statewide campaign, which includes public, academic, special and hospital libraries of all sizes has inspired over 3,900 people to sign up as donors!

“Libraries have been great partners in saving and healing lives,” said Dorrie Dils, Gift of Life Michigan’s CEO. “They’ve been very successful at educating the public about the facts of organ, tissue and eye donation. Thanks to this partnership, Michigan Libraries for Life gives hope to the 3,200 Michigan patients waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.”

More than 95% of Americans support organ, tissue and eye donation. Yet in Michigan, only 63% of adults have joined the state’s donor registry.  That discrepancy is largely due to residents not knowing how to properly join the donor registry. Michigan Libraries for Life helps to address that information need.

“Someone you know probably needs - or will someday need - a lifesaving organ or tissue transplant.  People die waiting because not enough organs are available. Your library can be a great help by registering donors and providing information about organ donation,” said Anne Rau, Capital Area District Library librarian and living kidney donor. “By participating in Michigan Libraries for Life your library is helping to save lives.”

Kalamazoo Valley Community College Library 2017

We are excited to bring this life-saving event back again in 2018!  Libraries are welcome to participate by staffing a registration table in their libraries for however long they are able, from just a few hours to all 7 days. This year’s drive will start on Tuesday, October 9th and run through Monday, October 15th. Gift of Life Michigan will provide free in-person trainings for library representatives (dates and locations TBD). We have also developed web-based training materials for those who are unable to attend the in-person sessions.

"Thank you to all of those who support the Michigan Libraries for Life campaign." commented one 2017 Michigan Libraries for Life participant. "We as libraries could not offer a campaign without all of the resources you provide to us."

The key to this program's success is the participation of many libraries across the state. Your library is warmly invited to join the 2018 Michigan Libraries for Life organ donor registration drive. If your organization would like to participate in this year’s program, please complete this registration form: http://bit.ly/ML4L2018. If you would like more information, please contact us at MichLib4Life@umich.edu or (734) 936-1394.

You can also find Michigan Libraries for Life on Facebook! www.facebook.com/ML4Life

For additional information visit: http://www.librariesforlife.org

The 2017-2018 Michigan Libraries for Life program is generously funded with a Community Grant from the Gift of Life Foundation.

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Kate MacDougall Saylor, MSI
Health Sciences Informationist 
University of Michigan
Taubman Health Sciences Library
734.936.1394