Collaborative Summer Library Program’s Annual Meeting 

September 16-19, 2019
Indianapolis, IN

Notes compiled by Cathy Lancaster (Library of Michigan) & Emily Cummings (Dickinson County Public Library)

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) empowers libraries to foster community.  CSLP collaborates with libraries to create an inclusive literacy based program that is enjoyable for all ages, provide a reproducible program with a unified theme, share resources and offer professional support.

At the 2019 Annual Meeting State Reps and attendees were given insights to the new manuals, new store front, discussions on upcoming themes and products, participated in Best Practices sessions and overall, helped to plot a course for the coming years of summer library programming. Below are some of the highlights. 

Upcoming themes/slogans:

• 2020: Imagine Your Story (theme of Fairy Tales/Mythology/Fantasy),  Artist: LeUyen Pham
• 2021:  Tails and Tales (theme of Animals and Stories), Artist:  Salina Yoon
• 2022: All Together Now (theme of Inclusion/Diversity/Social Justice), Artist:  Sophie Blackall
•  2023: Slogan TBD at September 2020 CSLP meeting (theme of Oceanography*), Artist: Frank Morrison.
  *Please note: Oceanography was part of 10 themes membership at large had to vote on and it won by 36 votes.  It was not Michigan’s top 3 from previous polling, so we did not vote for it. For those who only voted in Cathy’s flash poll this theme might be surprising...  Cathy will be working hard to make sure the slogan decided next year will encompass Michigan’s freshwater lakes, wildlife, and environmental goals.

Major Changes to the manual(s):

• The CSLP manual has been reformatted for 2020 with a new look and organization.
• It is shorter and programs are more developed.
• The manual is no longer divided into age sections, but includes program groupings that are appropriate for various ages and that include adaptations for different audiences. This is in response to librarian feedback over the years and is intended to support family and intergenerational programming, improve usability at smaller libraries where the same person may be developing program for all ages, and support larger libraries' internal collaborations across departments.
• All Michigan public libraries are members of CSLP thanks to the Institute of Museum and Library Services and therefore have access to manuals, art, etc.  Directions on how to access and use the online manual will arrive in the coming weeks. Library locations are asked to request/register for 1 code, per location.

CSLP has a *NEW* Storefront and Catalog:

• CSLP has ended its relationship with an exclusive vendor for products (DEMCO), and is now working directly with a contracted design house. Only CSLP artwork will appear in all products in the CSLP catalog.
• Everything in the catalog is in stock and ready to ship right now, except for the manuals and the Puss in Boots puppet (which is worth waiting for!).
• Paper catalogs will arrive with directions to downloading manuals, but it is available now online when you are logged in at: https://www.cslpreads.org/shop/. 

Rules of Use - now more inclusive!

•  Libraries  may now use CSLP artwork and slogans on all paper items that you create in-house or through other vendors.
• You are also no longer restricted in how long you may use CSLP artwork on library materials. 
• CSLP is now retaining ownership of all art provided by the artists to CSLP for its programs.
• For details go to: https://www.cslpreads.org/membership-information/rules-of-use/

National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) Report

• Rachel Gwaltney, Director of Policy  rgwaltney@summerlearning.org
• NSLA Conference this October: https://www.summerlearning.org/national-conference/
• Their vision = Every child grows during summer. 

  Only 1 in 7 youths get needed resources

   Only 1 in 7 youths has a way to get to the library

•  Summer by numbers
•  Growing gap between middle income kids and low income kids
• This gap grows larger each year
• Nationality
•  33% of families have a child in a summer program
• 72% of families agree that summer activities are important
•  It costs $288 per child per week to take part in these activities, which is expensive for all
•  Resources
•  Summer Meals and Learning Act https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Summer%20Meals%20Act%202019%20One%20Pager%20Final.pdf
•  Summer Starts in September https://www.summerlearning.org/knowledge-center/summer-starts-september-program-planning-guide/
• Lunch at the Library https://lunchatthelibrary.org/

This program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Cathy Lancaster

Youth Services Coordinator

Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915

LancasterC5@michigan.gov | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan

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