Dear Library Community,
Wayne State University is conducting the Michigan School Census: A Michigan Literacy and School Library Study with funding provided in the FY26 School Aid Budget.

Each school received a unique link to respond to a survey as part of the study.
It is very important to have a response from every Michigan school building to help build an accurate portrait of Michigan’s school libraries and the needs of our schools—information that can inform future funding discussions and priorities. Schools without a library are an essential part of that picture.

Here is a video from State Representative Glanville encouraging all schools to respond to the survey.

Here is a Heat Map of the Responses by District

What can you do to help support this study?
Reach out to our local schools (principals or school library staff) and encourage them to respond, if they have not already, by the deadline --which is October 15th.

Let me know if you have any questions,
--Kathy

Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
Adjunct Faculty, Wayne State University, School of Information Sciences
School Library Consultant, Kent ISD
Advocacy Co-Chair, Past-President 2014, Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL)
Past-President, 2022-2023, American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
Retired School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018
SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century 2013-2022
ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner
2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year
2012 State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner

"Every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian"