Good morning! ICYMI: MLA’s June Advocacy Hour is this morning at 10AM. We hope to see you on Zoom! (It’s free to attend, but registration is required.) Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rc-uoqjkvHdefl6Hdimpzba_BbIb8PoK... More Than Books – Why We Fight for Libraries Thursday, June 19, 2025 10:00 - 11:00 AM This Thursday, June 19, at 10:00 AM, join us for an Advocacy Hour on Zoom featuring Skip Dye, Chair of the Penguin Random House Intellectual Freedom Task Force. Skip will talk about some of the current challenges facing libraries, from the proposed elimination of federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the surge in book bans threatening First Amendment rights. Libraries are lifelines for millions, yet with IMLS on the chopping block and censorship escalating, advocacy is critical. Skip will share inspiration and strategies to sustain momentum, defend librarians, and amplify libraries’ proven impact. This event is free, but registration is required: Can’t attend this morning? A recording will be available in the advocacy hour archive on MLA Connect On-Demand: https://mla.mclms.net/en/package/8979/course/17384/view About our Guest Speaker: Skip Dye is SVP, Library Sales, and Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House (PRH) and currently serves as Chairperson, PRH Intellectual Freedom Task Force, where he leads initiatives to champion freedom of expression and support libraries nationwide. Skip has been at PRH for over 29 years and is deeply committed to advocating for library funding and First Amendment rights. He is an active member of the Freedom to Read Foundation, Chair, American Library Association Public Partner Program Steering Committee, and a past-President and current board member of United for Libraries. Skip has participated in many webinars and conferences discussing and advising on First Amendment issues and on advocacy for library funding. This past Fall Skip was named Publisher’s Weekly Notable Person. In June, the American Library Association is set to confer an honorary lifetime membership, its highest honor, upon Skip Dye for his longstanding support to America's libraries and to intellectual freedom. He is a proud board member of the Friends of Lewes Public Library in Lewes, DE (the first town in the first state). Questions? Please contact us at MLA@milibraries.org<mailto:MLA@milibraries.org>. [cidimage002.png@01D73C4D.ABEAD040] Rachel Adams Membership and Communications Director Michigan Library Association PO Box 27337 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: (517) 394-2774 ext. 2 Direct: (517) 881-6652 milibraries.org rfash@milibraries.org<mailto:%0bmilibraries.org%0brfash@milibraries.org> Follow MLA on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MichiganLibraryAssociation> and Bluesky<https://bsky.app/profile/milibraries.bsky.social>!
