Things remain busy at MCLS in this time of transitions, and I hope to see many members at the MCLS Annual Meeting on Dec. 2, 2025 at 10 a.m. Eastern (9 a.m. Central) on Zoom (please register here) where topics will include revised MCLS Bylaws and our Board of Directors’ next steps following their September member survey and recent retreat.  

Following a Board vote on Nov.14 to revise the MCLS Bylaws, the MCLS members must vote to approve the revised version per Bylaws Article XI. Provided we have a quorum of 10% of MCLS members present at the Dec. 2 Annual Meeting (see Article VII Section 7.05), we will hold a vote. My Annual Meeting invitation email to MCLS members included links to the current and revised Bylaws. The 2025 Board officers (see Article V) led the Bylaws revision in consultation with MCLS’s attorney.   

The main difference in the revised Bylaws is in Article IV Section 4.01 (Board of Directors Composition). MCLS would move from: 

• requiring 16 Board members including 10 by library type (Academic, Public, Research, School and Special) and four At-Large seats  
• to requiring at least eight Board members, ideally comprised of representatives from Academic, Public, School and Special, and two At-Large seats 

These changes mean that: 

• Board seats dedicated to the highest-research academic libraries (i.e., the six largest universities in Indiana and Michigan) would sunset in the next few years (high-research institutions would be eligible to serve in the Academic seat). 
• Reducing from four Academic and Research seats to up to two Academic seats promotes fairness in representation and Board composition. 
• One At-Large seat in each state would also sunset in the next few years (a representative from any type may serve in remaining At-Large seats). 
• Making the number of seats flexible rather than fixed would allow the Board to continue operating through occasional Board resignations that may occur. 
• Removing the requirement to have each type represented would relieve situations where it is difficult to find a new representative to succeed one who resigns and allow the Board greater flexibility than the current Bylaws permit. 
• MCLS can reduce its costs for reimbursing Board members for travel to meetings. 

Turning to the Board’s member survey results and their next steps toward updating their collective vision and direction for MCLS (also known as Ends, on p. 3 of the Board Policy Manual), 232 individuals responded to the survey, offering nearly 700 comments in addition to answering all or nearly all of the survey’s five questions.  

Here is a summary of some of the survey data: 

1. Many respondents identified how the Board’s current three main outcomes of developing innovative solutions, fostering robust collaboration, and facilitating transformative learning are interconnected and hard to prioritize. Innovation received the most “highest importance” ratings at nearly 47%, and transformative learning received the most “lower importance” ratings at nearly 42%. 
2. Regarding current concerns, nearly 62% were “most concerned” about funding overall, with many pairing that with concern over legislation/requirements for libraries, book banning/freedom to read, and community advocacy on the importance of what libraries do. 
3. A free response box regarding how libraries could collaborate to address concerns from question 2 identified many common themes including collective advocacy, shared collections/licensing, group discussion opportunities, and training for library staff. There was significant overlap around groups of libraries/librarians coming together to share best practices, commiserate, discuss common issues, or learn from each other. 
4. In terms of the most important thing libraries need that they do not currently have, most respondents cited funding, or situations complicated by a lack of funding, such as training or education for staff, a new or renovated building, marketing support, or fair/reliable pricing for resources.  
5. 100 respondents took the opportunity to offer open comments to the Board, many reiterating the need for advocacy, or offering thanks for current MCLS activities. Some comments encouraged the Board to be more visible and explore innovative ways for libraries to share and communicate, and for MCLS to lead more opportunities in Indiana and find new ways to demonstrate the value of services to public libraries.  

At their Nov. 14-15 retreat, the Board considered the survey data in a broader context of driving forces that may shape MCLS’s future. After some intensive group work and discussion looking at Ends development through multiple lenses, the Board created a draft Ends document. Now under revision ahead of a Board vote in early 2026, the current version points to expanding access to resources, innovation and stability, and collaboration. I hope you’ll join us at the Annual Meeting on Dec. 2 to learn more, engage, and ask questions.  

In the meantime, and as we wind through and past the 2025 holiday season and into 2026, I want to take a moment to express gratitude for MCLS’s members, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders. I thank our staff, who work hard to provide the best service we can. I also thank our Board and its officers for all the work they did in 2025 on a number of fronts and look forward to how they continue what they started this fall and help fuel MCLS’s and our community’s future. Special thanks to Indiana Academic Library Representative Josh Petrusa for his help with this newsletter piece.   

I will also take just a moment here to recognize Janet LaCross, who retires from MCLS in December after a remarkable 39-year career with us. Janet has seen and helped guide MCLS through an astonishing amount of change in her many years with us, and we wish her a long, happy, and healthy retirement. We will miss Janet greatly.  

I hope our December-January newsletter reaches you around a restful holiday season spent with those who mean the most to you. As always, I hope to hear from you at garrisons@mcls.org, and as we reflect on what at times has felt like a chaotic 2025, may we all have a productive and successful 2026.