[MDE Logo] News Release Contact: Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, 517-241-4395 Bill DiSessa, Spokesperson, 517-335-6649 Braille Enhanced StoryWalk(r) Programs Offered at 32 Local Michigan Libraries April 9, 2018 LANSING - Thirty-two public libraries statewide are blending indoor and outdoor activities in a literacy enrichment program called the Braille Enhanced StoryWalk(r), the Library of Michigan (LM) announced today. The second-annual StoryWalk, a collaboration of the LM, Michigan Department of Education's (MDE) Low-Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO), and Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL), is a fun, educational activity designed to inspire parents and caregivers to take young children outdoors to engage in literacy and physical activities. "By including braille, local libraries help embrace accessibility and equal access to information," State Superintendent Brian Whiston said. "We encourage families to explore these stories by touch and reading aloud." He said the 32 libraries offering this year's StoryWalk are encouraged to collaborate with local parks and recreation departments on where to display it. The hosting libraries are: * Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library * Bay County Library System - Auburn Branch * Bloomfield Township Public Library * Canton Public Library * Capitol Area District Libraries * Charlotte Community Library * Clarkston Independence District Library * Cromaine District Library * Croton Township Library * Detroit Public Library - Main Library * Detroit Public Library - Douglass Branch LBPH * Dickinson County Library - Main Branch * East Lansing Public Library * Farmington Community Library Downtown Branch * Ferndale Area District Library * Frankenmuth Wickson District Library * Grace A. Dow Memorial Library * Interlochen Public Library * Kent District Library - Englehardt Branch * Lyons Township District Library * Marshall District Library * Norton Shores Library * Portage District Library * Public Libraries of Saginaw - Butman-Fish Library Branch * Salem-South Lyon District Library * Saline District Library * Tamarack District Library * Taylor Community Library * Three Rivers Public Library * Troy Public Library * Warren Public Library - Arthur J. Miller Branch * West Branch District Library Anyone interested in these programs are asked to check directly with the library for dates and locations. The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk(r) is a registered service mark owned by Ferguson. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services funds, administered by the LM. For more information on the Braille Enhanced StoryWalk, please contact Cathy Lancaster, Youth Services Coordinator at the Library of Michigan, at 517-335-8129 or at lancasterc5@michigan.gov<mailto:lancasterc5@michigan.gov>. # # # The Library of Michigan is an agency within the Michigan Department of Education and is dedicated to providing the people of this State and their government one perpetual institution to collect and preserve Michigan publications, conduct reference and research and support libraries statewide. To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwNDA5Ljg4MTMxMzUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDQwOS44ODEzMTM1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTk4Nzk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bGFuY2FzdGVyYzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1sYW5jYXN0ZXJjNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan>. * Braille+StoryWalk+press+release.pdf<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwNDA5Ljg4MTMxMzUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDQwOS44ODEzMTM1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTk4Nzk0JmVtYWlsaWQ9bGFuY2FzdGVyYzVAbWljaGlnYW4uZ292JnVzZXJpZD1sYW5jYXN0ZXJjNUBtaWNoaWdhbi5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIMDE/2018/04/09/file_attachments/987134/Braille%2BStoryWalk%2Bpress%2Brelease.pdf> ________________________________