Michigan Library Association Advocacy Hour 
Virtual Event with Williamston Theatre 
Thursday, April 2 at 10am 

Experience art meeting advocacy in this special MLA Advocacy Hour with the Williamston Theatre. Enjoy a short live excerpt from the play Bad Books by Sharyn Rothstein. Then Michigan library leaders and Williamston Theatre production team members will have a candid conversation on book challenges, difficult library confrontations, and the growing impact of censorship. Discover how art mirrors real-life situations and learn more about MLA’s MI Right to Read initiatives to protect intellectual freedom. This event will last one hour.

Panel Members: Michele Howard, Director of the Traverse Area District Library and MLA's Advocacy and Legislative Committee Chair; Jenny Marr, Executive Director of the Capital Area District Library and MLA's Board President; Erin Schmandt, Director of the Caro Area District Library and a member of the MLA Board; Tony Caselli, Williamston Theatre Artistic Director and Director of Bad Books at the Williamston Theatre; Sharyn Rothstein, Bad Books playwright. 

About the Michigan Library Association 
The Michigan Library Association (MLA) leads the advancement of Michigan libraries through advocacy, professional development, and engagement. MLA is Michigan's oldest and largest library association and has served the library profession in Michigan for more than 130 years. The membership includes more than 300 libraries and individuals throughout Michigan from public, academic, school and special libraries, and organizations supportive of libraries. They are a collaborative network of libraries, library professionals and library supporters who are dedicated to advocating for libraries, growing professionally as leaders in the library community and advancing the profession through sharing of best practices, innovative ideas and new programs and services that benefit library personnel, library patrons, and the communities they serve.