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MLA 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Special Events

Tuesday Night Welcome Events

Tuesday, October 15 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Arriving Tuesday before the official start of the conference? Choose your own adventure with one of our special early arrival welcome events! Additional fees apply to these events. Pre-registration is required.

Murder Mystery Masquerade Ball

This event is sponsored by ABDO!

Attend the Billionaires’ Club Annual Masquerade Ball and help get this soiree back on track by trading clues with other attendees, gathering information, and solving the crime before the masked menace gets away! Get ready for a glamorous evening of mystery, intrigue, and murder at this masquerade ball murder mystery party. Presented by the Murder Mystery Co.

Historic Tour of The Village

This event is sponsored by Demco!

Tour the former Traverse City State Hospital grounds. Learn about Dr. Munson’s “Beauty is Therapy” theory on patient care, former uses of the structures on the property, purpose of the architecture and much more. Venture through an unrenovated historic building and walk through an amazing brick steam tunnel built in 1883.

Traverse Area Brewery Crawl Bus Tour

Traverse City is known for an abundance of breweries. Join your colleagues on this tour and taste a selection of local breweries!

Michigan Library Awards Ceremony and Dinner

Wednesday, October 16 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Governors' Hall ABCD
The Michigan Library Awards are awarded annually and are considered the state’s highest honors within the library community. The awards celebrate the excellence, accomplishments, dedication and service of library staff, trustees and supporters in Michigan libraries. This event is free to attend for all Wednesday conference attendees or tickets can be purchased as an a la carte event. Event is free to attend for those registered to attend the conference on Wednesday, but pre-registration is required. Learn more about the Michigan Library Awards.

Reception at Traverse Area District Library

Sponsored by Midwest Tape | Hoopla!

Thursday, October 17 6:30 - 8:30 PM
610 Woodmere Avenue, Traverse City, MI 49686
Get ready to boogie at our No Panic, Just Disco party at the library! We're turning up the tunes and transforming the stacks into a groovy party where you can strut your stuff under the disco ball. Throw on something sparkly, enjoy some snacks, indulge in beer or wine, and dance the night away to the hits that defined a generation. It's a night of peace, love, libraries, and disco!

The party is scheduled from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. A shuttle bus will run between Grand Traverse Resort and the library every half hour beginning at 6:00 PM and concluding at 9:00 PM. You are also welcome to drive yourself and explore the downtown nightlife afterwards. The shuttle pickup spot is on the lobby level of the Grand Traverse Resort near the Gallery of Shops. Event is free to attend but pre-registration is required.

Nominating Committee Board of Directors Q&A

Friday, October 18 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Peninsula A
Interested in serving on the board of directors for the Michigan Library Association? Join the members of the MLA Nominating Committee for an informal discussion on the roles/responsibilities of serving on the board.

Catch-up with Maxine Bleiweis!

Wednesday, October 16 4:30 – 5:00 PM
Grand Traverse Lobby

More information about this session is coming soon!

Silent Auction

Bidding Open Wednesday, October 16 1:15 - 4:30 PM
Bidding Open Thursday, October 17 9:30 AM - 4:15 PM
Winnings Pickup Friday, October 18 8:00 - 11:30 AM

MLA will be hosting a silent auction at the 2024 Annual Conference. Proceeds from the auction will benefit MLA’s Equity Grant Fund, which supports the Future Pathways Grant Program. Vendors and attendees are asked for donations of any kind to this auction: library bling, vendor give-a-ways, new books, posters, a weekend stay in a fabulous location, anything which could either stand alone as an auction item or could be placed in a basket along with other items!

Library Spirit Day

Friday, October 18

Get ready to Press Play on Library Spirit Day! On Friday, it’s time to rewind and show off your library pride by dressing up in your favorite library-themed outfit or rocking a shirt that reps your library. Whether you're channeling classic book characters or keeping it cool with retro flair or branded merch, let’s finish strong by celebrating the libraries we love!

Don’t have a shirt in mind? Check out the MLA store by Bonfire for tons of great options!