Interest Groups

Welcome to EAIG! The Emerging Adult Interest Group! 

Emerging Adults, individuals between the ages of 18 to 25, are drawing interest from library systems across the state of Maryland given the unique challenges this particular age group faces. As EAs are ushered into adulthood they suddenly must learn how to obtain employment, navigate higher education or other post high school training, become more independent, and discover mentors and a support system to help them reach their goals. 

Most current library structures see teens aging out of young adult services by 18 or 19 with no scaffolding in place to make the transition to adult programming more supportive and welcoming. 

EMERGE, focused library programming and services for EAs, can potentially create connections that will foster a greater sense of belonging and promote citizenship, well-being, and service to communities and neighborhoods. EMERGE will contribute to healthier communities by equipping EAs with better decision-making skills and stress management practices. 

The Emerging Adults Interest Group will support EAs in Maryland libraries by: 

• Sharing and developing resources for supporting Emerging Adults in communities across the state 
• Planning book recommendations and displays for Emerging Adults in libraries 
• Creating dynamic and unique programming for Emerging Adults 
• Marketing events for Emerging Adults in libraries across the state 
• Encouraging specific spaces for Emerging Adults in libraries 
• Advocating for Emerging Adult issues at the state level 
• Collaborating with other MLA groups and organizations 
• Initiating effective partnerships with nonprofit organizations, community colleges, authors and writers, private sector businesses, locally elected officials, state government, and other institutions that facilitate individual and community well-being. 

The Emerging Adults Interest Group is open to any person who is interested in this topic. 

Expectations: 

• Hold online discussions once a month, link is posted on MLA Connect each month. 
• Plan at least one MLA Conference program each year. 
• Seek out collaborations with other MLA units where missions and interests align. 
• Actively encourage participation by all MLA members and non-members across library types and positions. 

Purpose 

We work to ensure that MLA members and Maryland libraries are prepared to take advantage of tomorrow's opportunities. We keep aware of emerging trends, we motivate library staff to embrace a change-ready mindset and attitude, we are predictive and proactive about positioning libraries to be future-ready, and we ensure that our libraries are driving the success of adaptive and resilient Maryland communities.

Everyone is welcome to join the conversation with FOLIG! Join MLA Connect at mla.tradewing.com. If you are a MLA member already, you can log in with your website credentials. Search for FOLIG and join the group! If you are not yet a member of MLA and want to see what FOLIG is about, you can create an account with Tradewing on the MLA log in page. 

We meet on the first Monday of the month via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out to registrants and posted on MLA Connect. 

At each meeting we discuss the topic listed below. In between meetings, we share articles we have found online on each topic. The articles are shared on MLA Connect, with a hashtag for each meeting topic. The hashtags are: FOLIG 

• FOLIG-Economy 
• FOLIG-Education 
• FOLIG-Politics 
• FOLIG-Social 
• FOLIG-Technology 

You are encouraged to share any articles you find interesting at any time! 

Meeting Dates and Topics 

All meetings are at 10 am on the First Monday of the month, unless otherwise noted. 

Minutes 

Minutes are shared in the FOLIG Group on MLA Connect. 

Welcome to the Maryland Library Association (MLA) Immigrant Engagement Interest Group—a dedicated community where libraries and immigrant advocacy intersect to build stronger, more inclusive neighborhoods.

Empowering Maryland’s Libraries to Partner with Immigrant Communities

Our mission is to bridge the gap between library services and Maryland's diverse immigrant populations through three core pillars:

• Excellence in Service: Identifying and fostering best practices for effective, culturally responsive library services geared toward immigrant communities.
• Statewide Connection: Linking library workers directly with immigrant leaders, advocates, and organizations across Maryland.
• Policy Awareness: Keeping members informed on evolving state and national immigration policy trends to better advocate for our communities.

Member Benefits & Outcomes

Join a collaborative network designed to provide practical support and continuous professional growth:

• Resource Hub: Gain access to our exclusive MLA Connect space and a curated repository of media and policy briefs plus immigrant engagement tools.
• Strategic, Efficient Networking: Join monthly 1-hour Maryland Newcomer Coalition Meetings that bring together immigrant leaders and advocates followed by 30-minute library-focused breakout sessions to discuss library implementation and issues.
• Professional Development: Enhance your skills with trainings focused on the latest trends and advocacy strategies in immigrant services.

Ready to lead the way? Join our Interest Group and reach out if you need support with joining MLA.

Contact info: Ana Ndumu; linaproject@umd.edu

Mission Statement 

LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and all other marginalized gender and sexual identities) people are part of every community and library service area, including library staff. They face unique challenges, such as discriminatory legislation, barriers to healthcare, and gaps in library services. To effectively serve our communities and colleagues, and fulfill our organizational commitment to inclusion and diversity, the needs of LGBTQ+ people need to be specifically addressed in our programs, resources, services, and policies. The LGBTQ+ Interest Group brings together the efforts of libraries throughout the state of Maryland to protect and uplift the LGBTQ+ community.  

The LGBTQ+ Interest Group champions an affirmative space for the LGBTQ+ community in Maryland libraries by: 

• Aggregating and advising on best practices for topics including: 
• Programming for all ages, 
• Collection development, 
• Staffing, 
• Outreach, 
• Communications and marketing, 
• Sharing and developing resources for training, 
• Addressing the evolving needs of the community, 
• Collaborating with other MLA groups and community organizations, 
• Advocating for LGBTQ+ issues at the state level, 
• Including LGBTQ+ people of all intersectional communities throughout the state in the conversation, 
• Ensuring that MLA is inclusive and welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. 

Expectations:  

• Holds both face-to-face and online discussions. 
• Plans at least one MLA Conference program each year. 
• Seeks out collaborations with other MLA units where missions and interests align. 
• Actively encourages participation by all MLA members across library types and positions. 

LAIG Purpose 

To support and advance the Maryland Library Association's mission and strategic plan goals, emphasizing equipping members with professional development in effective advocacy. We aim to empower MLA members to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Members of LAIG will enhance their understanding, awareness, and skills in library advocacy, preparing them for roles as advocates and future leaders in the field.

Mission

As the library evolves to meet customers’ needs, the way physical material is added, curated, and culled from a collection also changes. The purpose of the Materials Interest Group is to provide continuing education as well as an exchange of ideas as they relate to collection management, cataloging, and technical services. From workflow automation, digital content, and the cataloging of new materials, the Materials Interest Group aims to be a collaborative environment to support library initiatives. 

The Materials Interest Group is open to any person who deals with the physical items that occupy a library space for customers or staff to use. This includes, but is not limited to: 

• Selectors 
• Processors 
• Catalogers 
• Branch Staff 

The Materials Interest Group will advocate best practices by educating/disseminating information concerning:  

• Storing and retrieval of material 
• Diversity of collections, both in content and in type of material 
• Accessibility of physical and digital collections 
• Collection development policies and processes 
• Special collections 

Mission

Founded in 2008, the Outreach Services Interest Group is open to all MLA members interested in outreach services including, but not limited to, under-served populations in Maryland. 

Our mission is to: 

• develop and maintain a network of public library staff responsible for outreach services (mobile or otherwise) within the state of Maryland 
• provide a means to exchange ideas relevant to outreach services 
• meet to view and discuss the various types of outreach services provided by each library system 
• encourage every library system to evaluate current programs and consider new programs that could expand their outreach services 
• promote the unique outreach programs of each system 

Welcome! 

Join your colleagues from across the state to share ideas about great books in every genre. We work together to improve our knowledge of books, to create a state-wide resource for RA, and to have fun. 

How you can participate 

• Attend our meetings: We meet several times a year online, to discuss books and RA work. At our meetings we share titles with each other to expand our Reader’s Advisory Toolbox and develop programs for both the annual conference as well as standalone training. 
• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlaraig/

RAIG is sponsored by the Adult Services and Reference Division of the Maryland Library Association. 

Our Meetings 

Our meetings are a chance to get together and talk about reader’s advisory with colleagues from around the state. We share one or two books each with the group in a round table format, discussing appeal factors and trending genres. Besides hearing about the books we've read, meetings also include wide-ranging discussions of books and reading, RA work, and anything else about libraries. Along with our discussions, we will also plan training programs for the MLA-DLA Conference and other times of the year. Finally, we will update and expand our presence by adding a social media component to our activities. 

Check MLA Connect for the latest meetings.

Mission

The Sustainability Interest Group explores current and developing trends in environmental sustainability initiatives; provides a resource-sharing hub to discuss ideas, experiences, and successes; and brings together the efforts of libraries across Maryland to live our values out loud and promote sustainability within the MLA! Sustainability is important work, and libraries can leverage our community connections to bring this work and its benefits to a wider audience. 

Get Involved

Library workers across the scope of Librarianship – from circulation and programming to acquisitions and administration – are encouraged to join. 

Mission

Would You Like To... 

• Share/Expand your knowledge of teen services?
• Gain confidence in making book suggestions and recommendations to teens?
• Join in discussion of issues facing teen librarians?

You can do all this and more through YSD/TIG! 

• Statewide networking with other librarians
• Participate in on-going discussions concerning teen services.
• Build your knowledge base of teen programs.
• Gain broader perspectives from other's viewpoints

Meeting Information

Teen Interest Group has four official meetings a year in January, April, July, and October. Meetings will be posted in our Discord and reminders will be posted in Discord, via MLA Connect, and TIG's listserv. These are full meetings with updates from MLA, planning for the future, and conversations around teen services.

Want something a little more informal? TIGTalk will take place throughout the year. These free flowing conversations are around a teen-specific topic with no agenda! TIGTalk dates will be posted in our Discord and reminders will be posted in Discord, via MLA Connect, and TIG's listserv.

Learn more on MLA Connect.

Get involved with TIG

• Come to a meeting
• Join the listserv
• Chat with us on Discord