Wandoo Reader

FREE accounts for public libraries in Michigan are still available for setting up summer reading or any other year-round reading programs your library runs. If interested, please have the library director request an account to be set-up from me at lancasterc5@michigan.gov and I’ll send the link/information on how to get that set-up. We will be having staff from Demco doing hands-on training at SRLC, so make sure you get an account set-up before the conference in April.

Our Planet: Earth

During April 2020, the STAR Library Network (STAR Net) is celebrating the important role that Earth plays in our lives with a special month-long campaign called, Our Planet: EARTH. This national campaign is an outgrowth of three converging events during April 2020: Citizen Science Month, the 50^thAnniversary of Earth Day, and the recent adoption by the American Library Association (ALA) of “sustainability” as a new core value of librarianship. As described by ALA, to be truly sustainable, libraries and their communities need to embody practices that are environmentally sensible, economically viable, and socially equitable. Partners include ALA, SciStarter, Globe Observer, and many others. Libraries across the country can register to join the campaign and access a number of resources including earth science activities, a media toolkit, videos, images, posters, and connections to ALA’s SustainRT and citizen science programs.

The campaign is sponsored by NASA through STAR Net’s NASA@ My Library program that is managed by the Space Science Institute. Campaign goals include:

1) provide libraries with rich and effective resources that they can use to develop engaging environmental programs,
2) promote citizen science opportunities, and
3) build lasting collaborations around environmental sustainability both within the library community and beyond.

It will focus on positive, climate-friendly actions that local communities can make such as planting trees, recycling efforts, protecting species and their habitats, safeguarding clean air and water, and engaging in a variety of citizen science projects. Citizen science engages volunteers in the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists. Citizen scientists of all ages can make amazing discoveries, inspire new projects, and help learners of all ages do real scientific research

Learn more & register: http://www.starnetlibraries.org/our-planet-earth/

YALSA

The official titles of YALSA’s 2020 Amazing Audiobooks and Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers lists have been released. Nominees for each list were posted and discussed in blogposts on The Hub. Stay tuned later this month for the release of the 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults list.

In the News

How to Spot Fake News a forum from WGBH News, featuring Library Consultant Christi Showman Farrar from Massachusetts Library System.

Meet ALA’s new Executive Director: Tracie D. Hall! (started out as a children’s librarian!)

Grants

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides funding to public libraries, schools, and nonprofit organizations to support literacy and learning. Two grant programs of interest are currently open. The application deadline for both is February 20.

Dollar General Summer Reading Grants support the creation or expansion of summer reading programs. The maximum award is $3,000, and grants will be announced on May 14.
Dollar General Family Literacy Grants support programs that include all these components: adult education instruction, children's education, and Parent and Child Together Time (PACT). The maximum award is $10,000, and grants will be announced on May 14.

For details and to apply for either program: https://www.dgliteracy.org/

Libraries Ready to Code: Digital Literacy Day mini-grants: http://www.ala.org/tools/readytocode/minigrant

Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship: An annual award consisting of $1,000 and a 24k gold-framed citation of achievement honoring an individual for contributing significantly to the public recognition and appreciation of librarianship through professional performance, teaching, and/or writing. Applications are currently open.

The Library of Michigan grants programs are open for 2020/2021! There are three grants programs open for applications this year and detailed information on the grant programs, including the program timeline, applicant eligibility, and the applications, are available at www.michigan.gov/lsta in the respective grant sections.

Money Smart Week

Free Books – still available! Sign up today!
Money Smart Week 2020 (MSW) will kick off National Financial Literacy Month. Michigan’s MSW Campaign is once again offering Money Smart Kids Read for interested public libraries to incorporate into story times, March 28-April 18, 2020.
2020 title: Save It! A Moneybunny Book by Cinders McLeod.
What to do?

Plan your money-themed story time(s) NOW, to take place between March 28-April 18, 2020 – NOTICE THE 3-WEEK WINDOW TO HOST MONEY SMART WEEK PROGRAMS!
Register as a Money Smart Week host partner, TODAY; go to www.MoneySmartWeek.org and click “GETINVOLVED”. You’ll receive notices about FREE resources, like BOOKMARKS, POSTERS, and more.
Complete the questionnaire for FREE BOOKS and, via RIDES/TLN, we’ll send you enough books for each attending family to keep a copy!

Many libraries also plan money-themed programs for TEENS and ADULTS during Money Smart Week.

As soon as you have your story time event planned, before January 30^th, enter your event(s) in the MoneySmartWeek.org online event calendar. Even if it’s a private event, you MUST enter it in the system.
After your event takes place, it is imperative that you enter your attendance number!
Stay in touch with the Michigan Money Smart Week Campaign! Go to – and LIKE – our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MoneySmartWeekMichigan.

Special THANKS to our generous 7-year-running Money Smart Kids Read underwriting partner, Michigan Credit Unions. Thanks also to the Library of Michigan, Michigan Library Association, and The Library Network & RIDES for their support! Questions may be directed to Michigan Money Smart Week Chair, Kelly Masters; MoneySmartMichigan@gmail.com.

LM Youth Services Webinars

Stepping Gently Outside of Your Comfort Zone! With Jenifer Strauss

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

2:00 PM ET

So…you have been doing Storytime for years! You have a reliable plan and you have developed your own special storytime groove! That is wonderful! But…maybe it’s time shake it up and try something new!

In this interactive webinar, Storyteller and Narrative Consultant, Jenifer Strauss will encourage you to step gently out of your comfort zone and create storytime programs with a new twist and some unique razz-a-ma-taz! Jen will be presenting innovative, “Out of the Box” ideas for storytime planning and model NEW use-right-away songs, stories and activities.

In this webinar you will:

Learn how to insert cool yoga moves into your next storytime
Add more movement using oddly interactive props and games
Learn to use large group writing projects as a story time finale
Sandwich each storytime with memorable beginnings and endings beyond songs
Collaborate with community partners to offer a Pop-up Storytimes in new and different places!

This webinar is recorded for participants that cannot attend live and is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Parade of Elephants: Ready to Read Michigan 2020 with Jenifer Strauss *Kits will be arriving soon to public libraries!!

Thursday, February 20, 2020

2:00 PM ET

In 2020, the Library of Michigan’s Ready to Read Michigan program will feature the book, Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes. In this informative and interactive webinar, Storyteller and Narrative Consultant, Jenifer Strauss will feature Parade of Elephants and then share a plethora of ideas to build a storytime for your youngest patrons using this sweet, action-filled story. In this webinar you will:

Be introduced to the book: Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes with several examples for how to share it with your youngest patrons and caregivers.
Include the Five Practices with Elephant songs, dances and activities!
Sing and tell other interactive songs and stories that partner well with the featured book.
Learn “Act it Out and Play Options” for the theme that include patterns, counting, colors and opposites.

This webinar is recorded for participants that cannot attend live and is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Beyond Storytime: The Care and Feeding of Teens at Your Library with Jenifer Strauss

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

2:00 PM ET

“If you feed them, they might come”, but food alone will not keep teens coming back to your library for more! A sense of place, belonging and strong programming will.

Don your hard hats and take a journey inside the teenage brain with former sixth grade teacher, Institute on Media and the Family speaker and Storyteller, Jenifer Strauss. Find out “why they act that way” and what it takes to really connect with tweens and teens at your library.

In this webinar you will:

Understand the workings of the teenage brain
Learn new programming ideas that will entice teens
Find out how to create a Teen Advocacy Group & attract teen volunteers
Discover ways to funnel teen creativity into programs that focus on contribution
Learn how to collaborate with community partners that offer what teens need

This webinar is recorded for participants that cannot attend live and is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“Without love, there is no reason to know anyone, for love will in the end connect us to our neighbors, our children and our hearts.”

~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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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