Summer Reading …. 2026!

Semiquincentennial Survey

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is always looking ahead for libraries. They are already making exciting plans for our dinosaur themed 2026 program, Unearth a Story. However, did you know that 2026 will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence? CSLP has heard rumblings from some libraries about patriotic festivities and staff already being appointed on town committees about these celebrations. Some libraries wish to celebrate the 250th during summer reading and are wondering what CSLP might offer… CSLP needs your feedback! CSLP volunteers created a short survey on this topic so we can better shape our program for 2026. CSLP would love to have your input! https://forms.gle/tT1N5Bk3ztwJQ4x96.

TALK: Text to Learn for Kindergarten

Subscribe to TALK by July 10 to receive IMLS grant funded texts
IMLS grant funds are available until July 10, 2024 to cover the cost of text messages for new TALK subscribers anywhere in the United States. These funds are available on a first come, first served basis to individual public libraries, co-ops, groups of libraries, and state-level implementations. Please note that grant funds do not cover the subscription price, which is calculated based on service population. Subscription discounts apply for MCLS members, and for co-op/group/state implementations. Text and Learn for Kindergarten (TALK) is an early learning text messaging service created by librarians for libraries. Based on the ALSC/PLA "Every Child Ready to Read" program, TALK is provided at no cost to caregivers of children ages 5 and under. Available in English and Spanish, it helps public libraries connect with underserved parents and caregivers, encourages caregiver-child interactions to support early learning, and suggests easy activities appropriate to a child's development level that help prepare them for school success. In addition, subscribing public libraries can also use TALK to promote their own programs for young children. The service comes with multiple toolkits for promotion, partnership building, getting started, and more, plus a web-based account portal and support provided by MCLS. To receive IMLS grant funded texts, you must subscribe to TALK: Text and Learn for Kindergarten, a service of MCLS, no later than Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Please fill out this no-obligation quote request for details. If you would like a demonstration of TALK or need to discuss billing options that align with your fiscal year, please email talkhelp@mcls.org.

Resources

LJ/SLJ Public Library Youth Services Leadership Summit – FREE in Ohio!

The 2024 LJ/SLJ Public Library Youth Services Leadership Summit, hosted by Library Journal and School Library Journal, is taking place in Ohio! It will be held September 26-27 at the Cuyahoga County Public Library. The Summit will bring together current and aspiring youth services leaders from across the country for a day and a half of timely and actionable learning, sharing, and connection. Join leaders who are driving the future of public libraries and gain ideas and skills that will help you take your career, and your youth services programs, to the next level.?? This is a FREE event and registration is required. More information and registration: https://read.libraryjournal.com/new-location-for-the-youth-services-summit.

Information Literacy

Last week, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced the launch of a new nationwide Information Literacy Initiative. The multi-partner project provides a website, InformationLiteracy.gov, that offers a wide range of ready-to-use tools and resources for library and museum professionals to engage their communities to find, understand, evaluate, and share accurate information. The website includes lesson plans and worksheets, community engagement and social media materials, examples of innovative work being done, and suggestions for partnership outreach, an important component for smaller libraries with limited resources to support financial, health, and digital literacy skills.

Exhibit for Teens Available for Public Libraries

Social pressures, a desire to take risks, insecurities, and many other factors affect a teen’s decision to try illicit drugs and/or continue to experiment with them. Many teens do not understand the long-term harm these drugs can cause. The consequences of drug use include changes in behavior, academic issues, strained family relationships, depression symptoms, and even suicide risks and loss of interest in the future. Research has found that teens desire the facts about drugs, without lectures or scare tactics. They are very interested in knowing more, and they need help in staying drug-free.

The DEA Museum has developed a new exhibit, for use in public libraries, to inform young people about drugs. The exhibit addresses teens and younger children by asking, “So what’s the big deal about drugs?” The exhibit, entitled Drugs and You: Use Your Head, provides information about specific drugs, addiction, and peer pressure, but goes on to encourage teens to develop dreams for their future, engage in healthy activities, and build positive friendships.

Drugs and You is a “pop up” two-sided, three-dimensional unit/exhibit approximately 8 feet high and 5 feet wide. All exhibit information is presented in a friendly, engaging way that welcomes the visitor to explore the exhibit in discrete sections. An appealing graphic novel design and informational “bubbles” invite teens to learn through words on the panel and through the content connected to QR codes that are integrated within the design.

It is recommended that a five-foot circumference surrounding the exhibit be maintained for visitor viewing and engagement. While there are no computers or speakers in the exhibit, teens/visitors will be viewing videos on their phones or tablets, so audio should be considered when the library location is chosen.

The exhibit is being loaned to libraries at no cost for an agreed upon duration while supplies are available. The length of time the exhibit will be shown is up to the venue, but a recommended time duration is at least two months. The exhibit is easy to set up and take down by following the included directions. A printed resource sheet and QR code flyers are also provided to distribute to the public. For more information contact: deamuseum@dea.gov

De-escalation Strategies for Libraries, Archives, and Museum Staff

WebJunction
Length: 1 hour
This course will equip you with ways to de-escalate conflict in libraries, archives, and museums. This conflict could be between staff as well as between and among those who are using the facilities, attending programs, or visiting our spaces (users). You will learn to use a framework for connecting and/or intervening in a conflict, with a consideration for the safety of staff and users. Understanding what makes individuals feel safe can vary from person to person. In this course, you will also learn to use de-escalation tools to enforce policy in proactive and courteous ways and head off conflict.

Learn more and register: https://learn.webjunction.org/enrol/index.php?id=691

ReadyNOW

Would you like to build community relationships? Do you want to be ready for crises that may affect youth and families in your community? If so, you’ll want to consider participating in the University of Maryland led Ready NOW: Supporting Youth and Families During Crisis initiative.

In its second year, Ready NOW is integrating learnings from year 1 of the initiative and expands on work that took place in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. That work led to the publication of Library Staff as Public Servants: A Field Guide for Preparing to Serve Communities in Times of Crisis (fondly known as The Field Guide). The Field Guide outlines four Essential Tasks that libraries and their staff need to embrace to serve historically marginalized youth and families successfully.

The Ready NOW project team is now recruiting library staff from across the United States to join in on the IMLS-funded next phase of the initiative. Participating library staff will benefit from the opportunity to:

Build strategies for working with community partners in support of historically marginalized youth and families
Gain knowledge of how to prepare, with community partners, for crisis situations
Attend a series of participatory design training sessions to gain skills in community engagement, co-creation, iteration, and re-imagining systems and structures
Design materials for use by others across the US working to serve their communities during emergencies

Staff from 13 libraries across the United States will be selected to work with their state library agency to participate in year two of this initiative. A $2000 stipend to use in support of learning about community and building crisis related services will be provided for selected libraries. Project activities for selected library staff begins in September/October of 2024 and continues through the spring of 2025. Learn more by registering here to attend an information session on July 9, 2024 (Tuesday) at 2 pm ET. If you have any questions, contact the Ready NOW team at: readynow@umd.edu and visit our website to learn more about us.

Hope you all had a great 4^th of July week/weekend!

Cathy Lancaster

Youth Services Coordinator

Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915
My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org to learn more.

LancasterC5@michigan.gov | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan
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Join the MiYouth Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services.

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! www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup

Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote.