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Advocacy/Legislative Priorities Survey 2021-2022
1.
Contact Information:
While you may remain anonymous, we appreciate your contact information as it allows us to confirm that our input is statewide and allows us to follow up concerning specific policy recommendations. Please use your
HOME ADDRESS
and contact information for these questions.
Name
Library/Organization
Address
City/Town
State
ZIP Code
Email Address
Phone Number
2.
What best describes your primary affiliation with the Michigan Library Association?
Public Library
Academic Library
School Library
Special Library
Cooperative Library/Collective
Nonprofit Partner/Government Collaborator
Library Supporter
Vendor/Business
Other (please specify)
3.
What best describes your primary role/title with the library?
4.
What best describes your membership status with the Michigan Library Association?
Current and active individual member for many years
Current and either new or sporadic individual member
Current and active organizational member for many years
Current and either new or sporadic organizational member
Not a current member
Not sure of my membership status
5.
Do you support the priorities below and at what level? You may answer all or skip those that are not applicable.
Do you Support?
What Priority?
Protect Penal Fines in the State Constitution for Public Libraries
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Support Penal Fine Transparency from Courts and County Treasurers
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Increase State Aid for Libraries
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Reform Headlee Amendment to Allow Millage Rates to "Roll Up" During an Economic Recession
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Monitor Property Tax and Local Income Tax Funding Structure for Libraries
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Expand Broadband/Wifi Access for Libraries
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Secure Funding for Broadband/Wifi Access for Libraries
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Produce a Statewide Marketing Campaign to Amplify the Value and Importance of Libraries Post COVID
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Monitor and Address Nonprofit Status and Tax Exemptions for Health/Medical Providers (which affects property taxes)
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Monitor New Legislation for any Decrease in Personal Property Taxes (PPT) and Ensure Transparency
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Encourage Continued Support for Michigan E-Library - MeL and MeLCat
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Encourage equitable fee structure to provide RIDES throughout Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsula
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Maintain Ability to Hold Millage Elections in Key Months of August and November
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Monitor Tax Tribunal Issues, ie. Open and Abandoned Big Box Stores (increase big box stores obligations to pay taxes)
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Monitor Legislation to Ensure Elimination of Automatic Tax Capture for Tax Increment Financing Authorities/Brownfields
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Require Mandatory Training for Public Library Board Members
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Support Open Education Resource (OER) Initiatives
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Support Certified School Librarians in K-12 Education
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
3rd Grade Reading/Literacy Challenges
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Secure Funding for Libraries Participation in Early Childhood Literacy
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Promote Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship Laws
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
E-Book Purchasing Challenges (publishers trying to stifle library access to new releases)
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
3rd Party Vendor Privacy Challenges
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Net Neutrality Issues (keep the internet unencumbered and not allow internet providers to influence content and speeds)
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Comfort Animals in Libraries (promote regulations and a certification structure)
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Reform State Law to Enable Libraries to Prohibit the Open Carry of Firearms in their Buildings
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Protect Intellectual Freedom (where every individual has the right to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction)
Support
Do NOT Support
Not Sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
High Priority
Priority
Important, but not at the expense of higher priority
Not important/not a priority
Not sure
Abstain/Not applicable to my library type
Other (please specify)
6.
Please feel free to comment on any of the policy priorities above.
7.
Developing the policy priorities is only the first step. Then we must implement our advocacy strategy. Please help us understand your comfort level and experience in each of the areas
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Talk with legislators in my district
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Talk with legislators in Lansing
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Write letters to the editor/columns
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Ask key leaders or influencers in my community to contact legislators
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Participate in a common MLA messaging campaign
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Ask board members/faculty to talk with legislators
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Ask my friends, foundations, vendors to talk to legislators
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Organize a library tour for legislators
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Post Library information or an advocacy piece in my library
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Communicate with patrons about library advocacy
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Invite my legislators to hold coffee hour/town hall at my library
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Invite my legislators to summer reading kickoff programs
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
Visit with Legislators during Michigan Library Advocacy Day
Comfortable/Experienced
Not Comfortable/Yet Interested
Not Comfortable/Not Interested
8.
What best describes your comfort level with legislative advocacy
Expert: I routinely engage with elected and appointed officials and can teach and help my colleagues in their advocacy.
Somewhat Comfortable: I am very comfortable and routinely engage with elected and appointed officials, but am not at expert level to teach/help others.
Somewhat Uncomfortable: I know my policymakers and I will make the call or participate when asked but I don't seek out these opportunities.
Total Newbie: Teach me!
Other (please specify)
9.
I know how to reach my elected officials
I am on a first name basis with my legislator, know them and their family personally, have their cell phone number and will call without hesitation.
I know who my legislators are, but they might not know me personally
I know where to find out who my legislators are, but do not know them personally or professionally.
I do not know who my legislators are
10.
If you have made contact with your legislators in the past year, please indicate how you have made contact (phone, letter, in person, etc.) and with whom you have had contact (legislators name or staff name), and for what issue/concern/engagement?
11.
Learnings from other states. Are there any advocacy priorities from another state that we should model or avoid? Be specific.
12.
What else should the MLA Advocacy & Legislative Committee know about needs, trends, or policy issues as we plan for MLA policy priorities and strategies? Be specific.
