Happy summer reading to you all!! There is so much COLOR in Our World right now – it has been fabulous to see all of your wonderful summer programs rolling out and your library decorations have been spectacular to see.
~ Cathy

#ColorOurWorld #MiSummerReading

Resources

Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Children
Some of the most important interactions caregivers have with young children happen through play. By engaging in playful serve and return with a child, we can help build stronger connections in the brain and set the foundation for children’s future learning, behavior, and health. Play can take many different forms, as seen by this caregiver making the young child laugh with brief, silly actions.  Looking for more ideas? Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child created these handouts with playful, age-appropriate activities for children, from newborns to adolescents, that are easy to do anywhere, created with support from The LEGO Foundation: https://bit.ly/3PvRRSf

 

Teen’s Top Ten - YALSA

The Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Readers ages twelve to eighteen then vote online for the top 10. Find the 2025 list here: https://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten

Serving Neurodiverse Library Patrons – A StarNet Webinar

July 16 at 2:00 pm ET
Neurodiversity includes a spectrum of cognitive differences, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other unique ways of thinking and experiencing the world. Although each person with these conditions has different skills, abilities, and needs, there are a variety of ways that libraries can tailor their programs and facilities to support neurodiverse patrons. Join this webinar to hear from a variety of experts, including leaders in the NASA’s Neurodiversity Network (N3) project and NASA@ My Library’s #actuallyautistic PI Anne Holland. We invite you to share your own efforts and experiences in supporting neurodiverse patrons! For details and how to register: https://www.starnetlibraries.org/event/serving-neurodiverse-library-patrons/


Library Juice Academy 
The classes are taught asynchronously, meaning that participants do the work when it is convenient (3 - 5 hours per week for four weeks).  The course work uses Every Child Ready to Read as a foundation.

July 7 - August 3

Assessing, Fostering, and Advocating for Early Childhood Services, Library Juice Academy

November 3 - November 30

Creating and Strengthening Family Service Partnerships through Community Outreach Programs, Library Juice Academy

Dorothy Stoltz, the instructor, worked in programming, outreach, and community engagement for many years.  

Dorothy is a professional librarian, author, and consultant. She has served as programming and outreach manager and community engagement director. Dorothy advocates for the quality of our thinking and our love of learning as being incomplete without the support of each other. Dorothy retired with the Carroll County (MD) Public Library in 2021. She is author of six books for ALA Editions, and more with her own company, Waldo Publishers, which presents books inspired by the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson to “activate from within.” She offers mentoring, consulting, and training services on creativity, advocacy, collaboration, and peer learning for libraries and other organizations, through Stoltz Creative Consulting

 

WebJunction Course Catalog
The WebJunction Course Catalog is free and open to library staff everywhere whenever you’re ready to learn. We offer library-specific self-paced courses, webinar recordings, and other great learning materials.
There are over 50 webinars available from a range of providers this month. These training opportunities are compiled and shared by the Maine State Library. Highlights include:

This program is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.

 

People Connect Institute (PCI) Webinars
Are you looking for free, high-quality continuing education on a wide range of professional topics? Check out the People Connect Institute (PCI) webinars now available to the Michigan library community. The Library of Michigan provides access to the PCI live webinars for all Michigan library staff. PCI Webinars uses the Zoom platform.

 

June 18 at 2pm

Are you or your staff looking to develop your skills with professional development opportunities either in or out of state? The Library Continuing Education Stipend program can support travel and registration costs by providing financial support for library staff continuing education. To find the full array of training and continuing education opportunities supported and offered by the Library of Michigan visit the Continuing Education site at Michigan.gov/LibraryCE Links to WebJunction, United for Libraries, the LM CE calendar, and the Niche Staff Skills Academy can all be found there.

This project is made possible by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan.

 

We Need Diverse Books
At WNDB’s mission is to create lifelong readers and a more empathetic world through the power of inclusive literature. We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that takes a holistic approach in improving literacy and building compassion by affecting change across the entire reading pipeline — turning diverse manuscripts into published books and then donating diverse titles to readers nationwide. Check out their resources online and on Instagram.

 

In the News…
House Budget Proposes Flat State Aid to Libraries, Anticipates IMLS Funding Cuts – Michigan Library Association, 6/13/25
The Science of Boredom with Jame Danckert, PhD – Children & Screens: Screen Deep Podcast, 6/2025
Libraries and Immigration Enforcement – Intellectual Freedom Blog, 1/24/25

 

 

 

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
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Join the MiYouth Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services.

 

 

 

 

Do you know an outstanding Michigan educator?
Nominate them for 2026-27 Michigan Teacher of the Year!

 

The MTOY Program is accepting nominations through September 24.

Nominate an educator using the online form.
For more information visit www.Michigan.gov/mtoy.

 

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