All, I've been pretty quiet on the MAP front recently, on account I've been on vacation. Just as vacation can't last forever, neither can silence when it comes to the Michigan Activity Pass program. So, let's celebrate the breaking of the MAP noise fast! First, I am pleased to report that we have garnered nearly 300,000 hits on the MAP website since we went live over Memorial Day weekend. That number represents a higher total than we had for the entire twelve month period from May, 2014 through May, 2015! Usage of the MAP program has slowed with the start of school, as we knew it would. But keep in mind that nearly all of the DNR sites are open year round (advise patrons to call ahead to verify accessibility once the white stuff starts to fly, please), as are many of the indoor venues. Parents are still looking for things to do with their kids on the weekends, and retirees are game any day of the week. So keep up the promotion of MAP!!! Speaking of your patrons, how would you like to have five brand new MAP destinations to present to them? Okay! We say "thank you for partnering with us" to the five most accessible and largest nature preserves of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy http://www.chippewawatershedconservancy.org/ in Mt. Pleasant. We will work to get all of the information entered for Hall's Lake Natural Area, Sylvan Solace, Audubon Woods, Peterson Natural Area and Quigley Creek into the MAP database asap, in order that your patrons might partake of the beautiful Fall color show these areas will soon display. We've got some other potential MAP irons simmering over the fire. I'm not in a position yet to say what those are, but I can tell you that if they pan out you will be very pleased. Finally, the Michigan Library Association conference will take place at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Tom Daldin and Jim Edelman of Under the Radar: Michigan will be the luncheon keynote speakers on Thursday, October 29. Don't forget that Tom and Jim will also help us draw the names of four lucky libraries at the conference that will win a free program by the two UTR guys. Thank you for your continued support and promotion of the Michigan Activity Pass program. Sincerely, Jim Flury Jim Flury Technical Services Manager The Library Network 41365 Vincenti Court Novi, MI 48375 248-536-3100 x133 Fax 248-536-3098 jflury@tln.lib.mi.us