News

The Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) is offering four micro grants ($500) to support Montana libraries with programming related to intellectual freedom! Apply via Google Form!

Here are the details: 

• The IFC will be selecting four programs that support or are related to intellectual freedom (ideas include, but are certainly not limited to, Banned Books Week programs, guest speakers, community events, etc). 
• Awards are $500. 
• Programs should occur within the fiscal year. 
• All Montana libraries are encouraged to apply (public, school, academic, special, etc.)
• The application process is super simple! We estimate it will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete this Google Form. 
• The grant application closes September 5th. The IFC will review applications at our September meeting!

Please reach out with any questions! The IFC is looking forward to supporting MT libraries through this new program. 

Registration for the 2025 MLA Fall Retreat, taking place October 5-6 at Chico Hot Springs, is open!  Registration will be available through September 21.

We hope you will join us at this year's Retreat!

Want to share your library’s summer programming? Look no further! The MLA PR/Marketing Committee is asking you to submit photos and videos of your library’s summer programming/events for a chance to win one of three $50 gift cards! Every media submission will be counted as an entry so you can increase your odds of winning.

Submit entries at the form here: https://forms.gle/aMbY9boa5KAT9X9y8

Are you a Montanan pursuing or accepted to pursue your Masters in Library and Information Science or School Library Certification? If so, consider applying for an MLA Cates Scholarship!

More information and scholarship application can be found here: https://mtlib.org/Scholarships

The Sheila Cates scholarship typically awards several thousand dollars to those pursuing library education. Funds can be used towards books, tuition, and other education-related costs. MLA raises funds all year for these scholarships so we can help Montana's library workers reach their educational goals. We continue to carry on the legacy of Sheila Cates, a Montana State Library staff member and extraordinary mentor. 

The deadline for this year's Cates Scholarship is Monday, July 18, 2025 so don't delay. 

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the MLA Cates Scholarship Committee.

Fall Retreat is coming, and your colleagues want to hear from you!

Date: October 5-6, 2025

Location: Chico Hot Springs, Pray, MT

Join us for the MLA Fall Retreat, a two-day professional development retreat for ALL MLA members. 

The Fall Retreat committee invites you to submit a proposal to present at the MLA Fall Retreat. Proposals are welcome from anyone willing to share their expertise or content that would be of interest to academic, public, and special libraries. Please consider presenting a session.

Program proposals are due July 31, 2025! Please submit your proposal via this form.

All program proposals will be evaluated and selected by the Fall Retreat Planning Committee by August 8, 2025. The schedule and conference registration information will be available shortly after.

Questions? Contact one of your Fall Retreat 2025 planning committee members.

We look forward to seeing you in October! 

 

2025 Conference Registration for our vendors is now open.  We appreciate our vendors!

Hope to see you in Bozeman!

2025 Conference Registration for attendees is now open.

Hope to see you in Bozeman!

Join MLA President Sarah Widger Friday January 31 for an online discussion of recent MLA undertakings & events.  Bring your questions!  The President's Chat is open to all members of the Montana library community.

When?  Friday, January 31st, 2025.  10:00am - 11:00am.

How?  The meeting Zoom link is here.

Montana Library Association has been busy over the last two months!  To give members and library supporters an overview, MLA President Sarah Widger compiled an update.  Included in the update is a link to the January 31, Coffee & Catch-Up with the President Zoom link!

Access the January 2025 President's Update here.

Thanks for reading!

Wondering what the Montana Library Association board and executive committee have been up to the past 6 months?  Quite a lot!  To give members and library supporters an overview, MLA President Sarah Widger compiled an update.

Access the 2024 President's Update here.

Thanks for reading!