September 2025 - Michlib-l

Financial Questions
by Athens Library 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

Our board is seeking information with regards to finances of libraries to determine if we are in line with expectations. We are a Class 1 Library and will greatly appreciate assistance from similar libraries; however, we are interested in hearing from anyone willing to answer the questionnaire. We are one of the few libraries required to reestablish under PA164 and still have a lot to learn with a new library board and a newish library director. Please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/ZcGnVPikq7Cf5YPK9 (I believe I have the access correct for responders.) Thank you in advance for your assistance. Happy Reading,Missy IronsLibrary DirectorAthens Community Librarywww.athenscommunitylibrary.org

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Unattended Minor Age
by Sarah Rick 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

Hello Everyone, I am emailing to ask at what age are kids permitted to be in the library unattended by a supervising adult? We are looking to review our policy and wanted to see what cap other libraries have. Thanks, Sarah Rick Library Director [cid:a6139eb4-c1d9-4d7a-869e-ea2f09addf63]

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Register now for Wellbeing workshop from MCLS!
by Jenny Kobiela-Mondor 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

Join the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services on Nov. 6 from 1-4 p.m. Eastern (12-3 p.m. Central) for Wellbeing for Libraries – Empowering Yourself & Others. Far from being just another laundry list of wellbeing tasks, this virtual workshop is designed to help you think differently about your wellbeing. The workshop includes practical information about cultivating flexibility, resilience, autonomy, and work-life harmony for yourself and your colleagues, all so that you can continue your important work while paying attention to your own needs, too. To learn more or register for this workshop, visit https://mcls.corsizio.com/event/67af9a6cb599add2e9318137. The workshop will be held on Zoom and facilitated by MCLS Library Strategist Jenny Kobiela-Mondor. This workshop is worth 3 contact hours for professional development, and is eligible for LEUs for Indiana public library staff, SCHECHs for Michigan school library staff, and PGPs for Indiana school library staff. For more information or to see all of MCLS’s workshop offerings, visit https://store.mcls.org. Jenny Kobiela-Mondor (she/her) Library Strategist 517-481-2013 kobielamondorj(a)mcls.org<mailto:kobielamondorj@mcls.org> [cid:e88637c2-7cc0-459e-9e3e-5abd22e3d8d5] Website<https://www.mcls.org/> | Newsletter<https://www.mcls.org/news/enewsletter> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/mcls.org> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/midwest-collaborative-for-library-services>

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stinky STEM kits
by Perri Saunders 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

How do you de-stink STEM kits, especially those that smell like weed? With the plastic bags and boxes that hold different games and activities, STEM kits are proving very hard to rid of smells! We have a stink box for books with air freshener and dryer sheets, but that's not working for the kits. What is your process? Thanks in advance! Perri -- Perri Saunders, Director White Pigeon Township Library 102 N. Kalamazoo St., P.O. Box 399 White Pigeon, MI 49099 269-483-7409 *p.saunders(a)woodlands.lib.mi.us <p.saunders(a)woodlands.lib.mi.us> * *Brighten the corner where you are.*

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Program Recommendation - George Robson - The Bath School Massacre
by Kimberly White 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

Earlier this year we hosted George Robson to present on the tragic Bath School Massacre. George's parents were students at the Bath School at the time of the bombing, so he has some unique insight into the tragedy. If you are looking for a high-interest program, George did a great job. Our audience found him both informative and engaging. The presentation is about 45 minutes with Q&A following. His fee was quite affordable but he does charge for mileage. He's out of Petoskey. You can reach George at (231) 758-2150 if you would like to book him at your library. Kimberly White Director Shiawassee District Library 502 W. Main St. Owosso, MI 48867 mysdl.org ZV255 [cid:095c0006-a24c-4210-9ed8-556a6c822ad7]

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Puzzles
by Amanda Murphy (Roseville Public Library) 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

Hello all, I'm organizing a puzzle tournament in November and I am looking for donations of puzzles for the event. We're specifically seeking six copies of the same 500/750-piece puzzle. All puzzles will be returned once the program is finished. Please let me know if you have any puzzles that fit this description. Thank you, Amanda Murphy Adult Services Librarian Roseville Public Library (586) 445-5407

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Memorial Policies Regarding Photographs/Memorabilia/Plaques
by T.A. Cutler Memorial Library 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

Good morning, Infrequently we receive requests to honor a decedent who had, or whose family perceives they had, significance to the history of the library. The request typically entails hanging a framed photograph or plaque or similar in the library. We have a policy regarding memorial donations, where the tangible item(s) donated or purchased with donated funds (usually meant to be circulated or used) receives a memorial plaque, but not one to address photographs or memorobilia specifically mounted in memorial and not for use or circulation. From the items currently displayed in the library we've done this in the past, but my board would like to adopt a policy to more uniformly address these requests. Does anyone have one (or a procedure) they'd be willing to share, or any advice? Thank you, Jessica Little Library Director T.A. Cutler Memorial Library 312 Michigan Ave. Saint Louis, Michigan 48880 (989) 681-5141

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MiYouth meets today!
by Lancaster, Cathy (MDE) 09 Sep '25

09 Sep '25

MiYouth Tuesday, September 9th 2:00 pm ET Public library staff that work with youth are invited to join LM’s Youth Services Advisory Council (YSAC) for networking and guided discussion. MiYouth meets quarterly (months vary) on the 2nd Tuesday at 2pm. Looking forward to seeing you at the next “MiYouth TWOsday!” No need to register, just join us at 2pm ET! (This meeting is not recorded, but shared notes will be sent out) Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/506813991?pwd=Z2NBMTFES1BlRlNVc2lhbzV1eTJ0QT09 Password: 454345 Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5(a)michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/> Join the MiYouth<https://lists.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/miyouth> Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services. [cid:dc5cd860-1a99-49c7-9ce8-30ae70a766ec] Nourishing Michigan’s Future during the summer! Find a Summer Food Service Program site nearest you and encourage Michigan’s children to Meet Up and Eat Up! Michigan.gov/MeetUpEatUp<http://www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup>. [Michigan.gov/Vote logo Description automatically generated]<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/> Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/>.

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Library of Things Policy
by Wendy Chapman 08 Sep '25

08 Sep '25

Hello all, We've had a Library of Things here for five years now. I have spent the three years that I have been here tweaking the policy with our director as situations have dictated and find myself once again at a crossroads of what to do. We have a continuing issue of patrons returning items from the collection late. Our current policy dictates that a patron may lose their privilege to check out items from the LoT once they have been late three times. I give grace the first time they are late, so they really get four chances before we consider removing their privileges. We do not specify within what timeframe those three late occurrences happen. So, as an example, we could have a patron that was late three times in 2022 and has been a model patron since then, but if they are late again this month they would lose their privilege per policy. Also, as a fine free library we really do not want to add a monetary penalty to the policy. We do send the patron to collections for the value of the item when it has been missing for a certain amount of time. In extreme cases, when the collections action has not produced the item we do make police reports. Any thoughts out there as to how to modify the policy to make the repercussions more apparent? What has worked for your libraries? Or didn't work? Many thanks in advance! Wendy Wendy L. Chapman LoT & Seed Library Coordinator Buchanan District Library 269.695.3681 Ext. 16 *www.buchananlibrary.org <http://www.buchananlibrary.org>*

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Don't miss out! Register by Sept 29 for Upgrade 2025 Conference
by UW iSchool CE 08 Sep '25

08 Sep '25

Upgrade: Enhancing Library Technology Services with Technology 2025 Conference<https://ischool.wisc.edu/continuing-education/upgrade/> October 6-7, 2025 Hybrid Conference $150-$350 Registration deadline - September 29, 2025 Join us for the inaugural Upgrade: Enhancing Library Services with Technology Conference as we explore the intersection of libraries and technology. Hear from leading experts, share best practices, and network with peers. This conference will include topics such as artificial intelligence applications in libraries, best practices for digital collections, and approaches to library instruction and patron engagement. Can't make it in-person? We will also have a hybrid track to accommodate virtual attendees. Virtual attendees will have access to both keynote presentations along with six additional hybrid sessions<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-qEmqrkVncVfNzIDP42LMdiwUzlQVbD2YP_pKrd…>. Registration for both in-person and virtual attendees closes on September 29, 2025! The conference will kick off with keynote Dr. Brandy McNeil, President of the Public Library Association and a nationally recognized leader in digital equity and public library innovation. As Deputy Director of Branch Programs and Services at The New York Public Library, she has transformed access to technology, knowledge, and opportunity across the system’s 89 branches. The conference will close out with Dr. Alex Hanna, Director of Research at the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR)<https://www.dair-institute.org/>. A sociologist by training, her work centers on the data used in new computational technologies, and the ways in which these data exacerbate racial, gender, and class inequality. She will share insights from her new book co-authored with Dr. Emily M. Bender, The AI Con<https://twitter.com/alexhanna/status/1758145788432236575>. In addition to our wonderful keynotes the conference will offer a diverse array of sessions including: * Applying User Experience Principles when Researching Generative AI Interfaces * Connecting Generations – VR in Libraries for Seniors and Students with Special Needs * Instruction for GenAI Information Literacy and Critical Appraisal Skills * Reference in discovery: A qualitative investigation of the impact of discovery systems on librarian reference practices * And more! Quick Links * View the full conference schedule<https://upgrade2025.sched.com/?elqTrackId=2150DAD183FD09ED8A2720A7452B37F4&…> * View the virtual track schedule<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-qEmqrkVncVfNzIDP42LMdiwUzlQVbD2YP_pKrd…> * Registration information<https://ischool.wisc.edu/continuing-education/upgrade/registration/?elqTrac…> Questions? Email ce-info(a)ischool.wisc.edu

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