A quick note to start this week’s updates. Every year as I pour through the suggestions for summer library programming, I see “food” requested over and over as a “theme.”  So, for years I’ve kept my eyes out for a food literacy training program for library staff that work with tweens & teens that will have a true impact in your communities and be used in outreach efforts year-round. I think I finally found it! Looking forward to seeing many of you at an upcoming workshop:

Gather ‘Round the Table with Teens: A Food Literacy Workshop

Food literacy is essential for teens to understand and learn about food in a positive way, including food skills and best food practices. Library staff who work with tweens & teens will benefit from this workshop designed to guide libraries to in turn support teens as they explore the impact of food on so many levels of their lives.

Food Education Consultant Rebecca Antill will provide in-person workshops on how to plan and deliver nutrition & cooking programs for teens, featuring how to do so with minimal kitchen access. As a former librarian, Rebecca will offer a tailored learning experience that will equip library staff to offer food programming of all levels at their libraries. Basic health and safety information, kitchen classroom management, culinary skills and community partners will all be discussed as participants cook and share time together. Bring your own apron as this cooking workshop is hands-on and very interactive!

Workshops will be offered in three locations across the state and registration is very limited:  

Monday, May 5, 2025
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
Jackson District Library’s Meijer Branch
4699 Airport Road, Jackson, 49202
Registration & Details: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=7470&  

 

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
Traverse Area District Library’s Woodmere Library
610 Woodmere Ave., TC 49686

Registration & Details: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=7475&

 

Friday, May 9, 2025

*9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET

Gloria Coles Flint Public Library
1026 E. Kearsley St., Flint, 48503

*Please note the earlier start time for this workshop, due to a special GCFPL event following the workshop at 4pm – details on this event TBA to registrants.

Registration & Details: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=7480&  

These workshops are supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

 

LM Webinar

Color Our World™: Animal Prints and Patterns with the Detroit Zoo

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

2:00 - 3:00 pm EST

Our friends at the Detroit Zoo are back to bring us engaging STEM programming using colorful animal patterns.

Spots, stripes, and more! Animal patterns are all around us, so this is a great opportunity to learn how to engage youth in your community with science activities created just for libraries by the Detroit Zoo.
Register: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=7407  

 

Additional training & CE opportunities from the Library of Michigan can be found here: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/eventList.jsp and you’ll find self-paced courses on LM’s Niche Academy platform: https://my.nicheacademy.com/staffskills. And don’t forget to catch-up on additional webinar recordings for summer programming from CSLP at https://www.cslpreads.org/summer-symposium/.

 

This is provided by the Library of Michigan with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Resources

 

BCALA, SLJ Announce 2025 Winners of the Children & Youth Literary Awards

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (BCALA) and School Library Journal have revealed the winners of the 2025 Children & Youth Literary Awards, which celebrate the diversity of the Black experience. Check out the full release of award winners.

 

Severe Weather & Climate Engagement Toolkit
Thanks to funding from NASA through the Learning Ecosystems Northeast project, the Maine State Library is proud to present the Severe Weather & Climate Engagement Toolkit. As the frequency of severe weather events increases around our world and we're all trying to figure out how to prepare for and recover from these events, those of us who work with younger children have seen a lack of resources to help share this topic with them. With funding from a NASA grant through the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Learning Ecosystems Northeast project, The Maine State Library has partnered with The Healing Library to create a brand-new toolkit for younger children and their caregivers to talk about severe weather events. The toolkit includes before, during and after sections. While this kit cannot make all the worries and experiences of severe storms go away, it can help families down a path to healing by:

Together, all these pieces start families down a path of healing of their own design, a path that will be different for everyone. The toolkit is available for FREE to download and the kits to circulate can be created at your library or purchased from The Healing Library. Any questions can be directed to Kara Reiman, Youth Services Specialist at the Maine State Library.

In the News…

Accessibility, Privacy, Dignity: How Libraries Are Addressing Hygiene Needs – Programming Librarian, 2/12/25

Sold A Story: 3 NEW episodes – APM Reports Podcast, February 2025

ReadSquared

Available to all MI Public Libraries through the Library of Michigan thanks to support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The 2025 CSLP summer reading program is available to import into your ReadSquared site! How to import the full programs: In the administrative control room site (yoursitename.readsquared/controlroom) go to Programs > Add Program. Select Learn More next to the program you would like to add and select Import on the next screen. You will then find the program in your list of editable programs. 
Email support@r2stg.zohosupport.com if you need assistance with program imports or wrap up.

 

ReadSquared Training Dates:

You and your staff can attend training sessions at your convenience. Onboarding covers all the basics of setting up your ReadSquared site and is designed for those new to ReadSquared.
Onboarding schedule:
 -  March 6, Thursday, 10 a.m. EST 

 -  April 8, Tuesday, 2 p.m. EST 

 -  May 14, Wednesday, 11 a.m. EST 


Refresher training is best for those who have used ReadSquared in the past and want to prepare for upcoming summer programs and possibly add more features to their site. These sessions will cover the new theme, site updates, optional features, and promotion.
Refresher schedule:
 -  March 25, Tuesday, 10 a.m. EST 

 -  April 17, Thursday, 2 p.m. EST 

 -  May 7, Wednesday, 11 a.m. EST

No registration is required, and all training is free. You can choose from any of the above sessions and use this link to join: https://join.me/ReadSquaredTraining

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

 

Take care,

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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