Fired up and ready to go for 2026 Summer Reading! Seeing so many great kick-off events and sending you all positive vibes for a summer of fun and literacy. ~ Cathy Ready to Read Michigan Presents... Practical Puppetry for Powerful Programs with Katie George! Save the Date(s): There will be two (2) full-day workshops. One on Monday, September 14th and the other on Tuesday, September 15th. Locations will be announced when registration opens in June. Katie George has been working in public libraries for over 20 years. She is currently the Professional Development Instructor at Howard County Library System in suburban Maryland, but she began her library career in the children’s department. Katie has incorporated puppetry into library programs and events for children, teens, and adults. Before moving to library land, Katie performed with puppets at Walt Disney World and constructed puppets at VEE Corporation in Minneapolis. For two years she was the Resident Puppet Builder at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. Katie earned her MA from the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts Program and her MLS from the University of Maryland's College of Library and Information Studies. Katie has presented puppetry workshops for the Puppeteers of America, the Maryland Library Association, the American Library Association, and in other venues. Space for these workshops will be limited, so save the dates now and look for a message from me when registration opens! Unearth A StoryTM Updates Promotional Shorts Reminder, there is no official PSA this year. We're already looking at having some animations of Laurie Conley's work created for next year so video shorts will be easier, as well as looking at a longer form video that includes those animations. Meantime, the following Canva short MP4 (video) templates were added to the manual last week for marketing on social media. These are in horizontal format: * 2026 Summer Trailer Style Mobile Video Ad (:36)<https://canva.link/webgdueir9d3vd1> (Edit)<https://programs.cslpreads.org/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=3174> - 2026 Summer Trailer Style Mobile Video Ad (:36) * Happy Summer Reading Short Video Kids (:19)<https://canva.link/gvw26aez4gsscrz> (Edit)<https://programs.cslpreads.org/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=3175> - Happy Summer Reading Short Video Kids (:19) * How to Unearth a Story Summer Reading Reel (:33)<https://canva.link/sc8sydtzeiumb4j> (Edit)<https://programs.cslpreads.org/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=3179> - How to Unearth a Story Summer Reading Reel (:33) * Unearth a Story 2026 Coming Soon! Mobile (:22)<https://canva.link/yi4y8mpljdy06mf> (Edit)<https://programs.cslpreads.org/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=3176> - Unearth a Story 2026 Coming Soon! Mobile (:22) How to Channel Your Inner Archaeologist this Summer: a webinar for librarians! 📺 If you missed the live webinar, you can watch it on the AIA’s YouTube channel: ArchaeologyTV<https://youtu.be/CSxLzU4exR0?si=YNkmERKbM5HxsAoF>. To join in the fun of the mid-webinar quiz—YouTube has a pretty well hidden “take quiz” button—if you can find it below the video, you can play along! 🍯 Here at the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), we are so excited about the Unearth a StoryTM theme and the opportunity this gives the public to learn more about the human story through archaeology. With many libraries already subscribing to AIA’s popular magazine ARCHAEOLOGY, we’re thrilled to be growing our relationship with libraries this year through Summer Reading. 📋 Chapter 5 of your Collaborative Summer Library Program manual has some great archaeology resources, and we’re also actively compiling and sharing more resources on AIA’s CSLP Summer Reading Resources page. Check it out, send us feedback, and check back throughout the summer for more informational resources, passive activity ideas, hands on activities, and more! 🗺️ We especially encourage you to look into and direct your library patrons to local archaeology resources—archaeology is all around us! See the “Explore Local Archaeology” heading on our resource page for tips. 📨 Please be touch with feedback, questions, and ideas. We’d love to hear from you! 🙌 Cheers to a fun summer of reading, exploring, crafting, and engaging with your library patrons! Best wishes, Meredith Langlitz, Director of Programs, Archaeological Institute of America CSLP Vendor & Artwork Survey The CSLP Vendor and Artwork committees are currently accepting feedback for the 2028 theme/slogan. The theme is Mythical Creatures, and the slogan is Libraries Are Legendary. As we start work on creating artwork/selecting products for 2028, we are asking member libraries for feedback. This survey is open through June 7th, and we'd love for anyone in your library who has anything to do with summer to give their opinion! That includes youth and adult library staff, marketing folks, purchasing decision-makers, etc. etc. Any and all feedback is welcome! Fill out the survey <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18Wws7HVHlW__aZmZZvZFScSNlM9Y-I5n2F9sEkJcXF8/edit> here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18Wws7HVHlW__aZmZZvZFScSNlM9Y-I5n2F9sEkJcXF8... #DigThis Photo Challenge Archaeological Institute of America is also offering a photo contest: #DigThis<https://www.archaeological.org/digthis-photo-challenge/>! Check it out and feel free to share the challenge's Bingo card<https://www.archaeological.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/digthis-bingo-sheet-1.pdf> <https://www.archaeological.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/digthis-bingo-sheet-1.pdf> with families. Resources ALA Webinar: Turn Your Library Into a Dyslexic Positive Literacy Hub and Help Kids Learn to Read June 3rd, 2:00 pm EDT Details and registration: https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1719&_zs=Fu5vg1&_zl=q8alA University of Wisconsin-Madison Free Summer Webinar Series<https://ischool.wisc.edu/continuing-education/alumni-webinar-series/> The UW-Madison Information School’s annual free webinar series is returning this summer! One-hour webinars (Mastering Job Interviews, Canva for Public Libraries, and more!) Thursdays (July 9, 16, 23, and 30) will take place from 1 to 2 pm EDT and will be recorded. Sign up for one or all four: Registration is now open.<https://ischool.wisc.edu/continuing-education/alumni-webinar-series/> Amplify: K-5 Summer Learning Kit A free K–5 summer learning kit<https://go.info.amplify.com/fy26_elemlitsolutions_summerk5learningkit_national_download_pdf-toolkit_content-only_optin?utm_campaign=42930256-FY26_ElemLitSolutions_SummerK5LearningKit_National_Download&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-95ygS13wux1BN3cMsQi1of14oESsMg1j_FzfeqjQE8PTrerfKbYjtW6YGusD-P7R_HWoRxWeBaZOGuecIa5HUop6kJIA&_hsmi=416678328&utm_content=416678328&utm_source=hs_email> provides printable activities that help students maintain reading momentum while having fun. Request yours now to get four science-based resources you can use for at-home learning. It's all rooted in the Science of Reading. ALSC 2026 Summer Reading Lists The 2026 Summer Reading Lists<https://www.ala.org/alsc/publications-resources/book-lists/summer-2026?_zs=Fu5vg1&_zl=uROjA> feature book titles and digital media options to keep children engaged in reading and exploring throughout the summer. Four lists are available for birth-preschool and grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. The lists are free to download and share! Take a Glimpse of the START Project Statewide Autism Resources & Training (START)<https://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/> Mission: To work with schools, community partners, and families to support students with autism to become active, engaged members of their schools and local communities, and successfully move into adulthood as independent individuals with many choices and opportunities. The Statewide Autism Resources and Training (START) Project is housed in the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Autism Education Center (AEC) and has been funded by the Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education<https://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-6530_6598---,00.html> since 2001. START supports educators to increase local capacity by providing evidence-based training, resources, and coaching support focused on systems-level change. As a statewide collaborative project, START partners with schools, families, and communities to create inclusive environments and experiences to empower autistic and neurodivergent students. In the News... Want to boost early literacy skills? Try singing<https://hechingerreport.org/want-to-boost-early-literacy-skills-try-singing> - The Hechinger Report, 5/14/26 Maine Has a New Way to Prepare Teens for Jobs. Other States Are Noticing<https://www.the74million.org/article/maine-has-a-new-way-to-prepare-teens-for-jobs-other-states-are-noticing/> - The 74, 5/15/26 Practical Strategies for Helping Youth Develop Empathy<https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2026/05/practical-strategies-for-helping-youth-develop-empathy/> - Public Libraries Online, 5/6/26 Designing a System-Wide Scavenger Hunt<https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2026/05/designing-a-system-wide-scavenger-hunt/?_zs=Fu5vg1&_zl=m0TjA> - ALSC Blog, 5/3/26 A City That Plays Together: What It Takes to Run a 17,000-Player Library Game<https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/city-plays-together-what-it-takes-run-17000-player-library-game> - Programming Librarian, May 2026 Thank you, 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@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://liblists.org/postorius/lists/miyouth.liblists.org/> Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services. [Michigan Seal of Biliteracy] Acknowledge the incredible strength of students’ multilingual abilities. Seek the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy<https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/flexible-learning/michigan-seal-of-biliteracy> for graduating seniors. [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/>.
