You can also view this newsletter in your browser: https://mailchi.mp/cslpreads/cslp-newsletter-december2025-6750273?e=c18caf2b... Wrapping up the year with lots of info to share! Happy Holidays! View this email in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/cslpreads/cslp-newsletter-december2025-6750273?e=c18caf2bb6> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/ed31fdf7-bdb5...] [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/5c062764-5ce4-fba...] [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/0463948d-7afd-737...] We had a successful 2025 Summer Symposium, filled with inspiring stories, programming, and idea sharing! Thanks to our sponsor, Midwest Tape/hoopla<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=5275cb0ab1&e=c18caf2bb6>, we were once again able to provide high-quality and engaging content to public libraries to kick off our planning for Summer 2026's Unearth a Story™! [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/e34364c0-03bd-54b...] Dan Santat<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=6f33bcbe4c&e=c18caf2bb6>, our 2026 Summer Reading Champion<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=99f85ad2e8&e=c18caf2bb6>, shared stories of his path from childhood to Caldecott Award-Winning, New York Times Best-Selling Author and Illustrator, and the role libraries and librarians played in his life. Thanks to everyone who contributed questions for our chat and to Dan Santat for a great start to our Summer Symposium! View keynote video here<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=585569c7bd&e=c18caf2bb6> View the keynote chat transcript<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=8eb53ac941&e=c18caf2bb6> Additional Session Recordings and Resources Unearth A Story™ 2026 Manual Highlights with Amanda Raiche View highlights video<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=ace4e6ed0d&e=c18caf2bb6> View the highlights slides<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=7221358ce1&e=c18caf2bb6> Unearthing Science with the Detroit Zoo with Zahraa Aljebori and Shelby Lane-Clark Detroit Zoo Google Drive Resources<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=29b6e67dd6&e=c18caf2bb6> View the Detroit Zoo video<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=78179fbe5c&e=c18caf2bb6> View the Zoo slides<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=aa3ed61afe&e=c18caf2bb6> Connect, Create, and Celebrate: A Collaborative Strategy for Summer Reading Decorations with Monica Williams, Venus Chavez, Erin Schaarschmidt, Kimberly Manise View the decorating tips video here<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=203ad03bf7&e=c18caf2bb6> View the decorating slides<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=402f8a8f76&e=c18caf2bb6> Whether you participated in the live Summer Symposium or are viewing the recordings, please fill out the Summer Symposium Evaluation<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=389fa176a0&e=c18caf2bb6>. [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/6065d17e-4a70-2507-adeb-660dfcf5ef82.jpg]<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=cf27c670d6&e=c18caf2bb6> CSLP Shipping Timeline January starts heavy ordering season here at CSLP. October through December, if all items are available in our Warehouse, your order ships within a week’s time. However, once January hits, this is the schedule for shipping: [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/8e8b812f-35e6-9694-a27b-67e7837dff86.png]Order by/Receive by * Jan 1, 2026 / Mar 1, 2026 * Feb 1, 2026 / Apr 1, 2026 * Mar 1, 2026 / May 1, 2026 * Apr 1, 2026 / June 1, 2026 * May 1, 2026 / June 15, 2026 PLEASE open your boxes when they arrive! Do a damage and quality check. Try on any apparel to make sure it fits. We’re a seasonal store, so please make sure you view our Returns/Exchange policies here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WAK797pE63ZuyuqOZ4wiMkV4HO9mzzsGt8ZC_2M20Es/edit?usp=sharing<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=9fd27dbc5e&e=c18caf2bb6> Libraries have 30 days from the date of order to request a return/exchange. We cannot accept returns of 2026 Unearth a Story™ themed items after May 1st. Libraries Are Life™ merchandise can be sold year-round, so the May 1st deadline does not apply to that line of merchandise. Please send questions to custserv@cslpreads.org<mailto:custserv@cslpreads.org>. Thanks so much for your business! [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/736c5ec3-8849-47b...] Board Member Updates[https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/f06b1b75-3814-be0...] [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/58bd923c-c420-a21b-7bff-5869b393226a.jpg]Let’s thank Kate Greene Smith for her Presidency. She assumes the role of Past President and will continue to serve and mentor our incoming Board members. A new strategic plan, great enthusiasm, a keen sense of humor, and a dedication to the mission of CSLP have marked Kate’s presidency (to name a few highlights!). [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/e3f1468f-0812-3c77-d339-6c45840ce876.jpg]Let’s also thank Donna Throckmorton for her year as Past President. She moves off the Board and is due to retire from the Arizona State Library in early 2026. Not only has she served in executive leadership roles, but she has also been an excellent Arizona State Representative. Donna has mentored everyone on our Executive Committee and will go down in Board history as one of the most organized people we’ve ever had the privilege of working with. [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/_compresseds/05c55e61-88...] Katie Perkey, Board Member at Large, completed her term on the Board despite relocating to Maine and subsequently changing jobs. Through all that, she remained with CSLP to see out her term. She’s provided invaluable feedback as a frontline librarian, and we cannot thank her enough. Matt McLain, with Salt Lake County Library, was elected to our Treasurer position after completing the term of a former state representative. He will continue as Treasurer for a full term, bringing many years of administrative experience in public libraries, as well as extensive experience with CSLP. Fun fact: this is his second time serving as Treasurer, and he’s also a Past President. Anna Foote and Jean Jansen stepped up as Co-Chairs of the Vendor Committee in May 2025, succeeding the former Chair, Jasmine Rockwell (now Jasmine Boogaart). The Vendor Committee plays a vital role in Board discussions about our product offerings, so we appreciate their willingness to jump in. We welcome Sara White, Youth Services Consultant at the Washington State Library, as the new Chair of the Vendor Committee to the Board. Evan Michael Bush, Board Member at-Large, was elected to another term on the CSLP Board. We couldn’t be happier to benefit from his rich experience as the State Rep for the Georgia Public Library Service. Evan has the most brilliant ideas, and he keeps us at our best at meetings with his songs and dances! Angela Germany, of the West Baton Rouge Parish Library, has served as the Manual Chair Board Liaison for the past 2 years, providing a positive line of communication between the manual committees and the CSLP Board. While her term as Board Liaison has come to an end, she will continue in her position as Early Literacy Manual Chair in the coming year. We are excited to announce Lindsey Trammell, with Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in FL, as the new 2026 Manual Chair Board Liaison. [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/ae35280e-a7be-93e...] Welcome to the Board Jennifer Redford, State Rep for the Idaho Commission for Libraries, will be our President-Elect. She will be learning the ins and outs of the role from our 2026 President, Abby Chumin of the Indiana State Library, Talking Book and Braille Library. What a dream team they will make for CSLP! Former State Rep of South Carolina, Leigh Ramey, will become a Board Member at-Large. Not only will she bring her experience as a State Rep, but she’s now a frontline User Experience Librarian at Beaufort County. We’re looking forward to working with her in this new capacity! Committee Chairs Committees<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=5f62f1257b&e=c18caf2bb6> keep the work of CSLP moving forward. Without the leadership of our Committee Chairs, we would be hard-pressed to accomplish as much as we do as a national nonprofit organization with only 3.5 staff members. Of course, they are also the key to making CSLP as collaborative as possible. Member input is our super fuel, and we want to thank these outgoing Chairs for their time and commitment: [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/45b048f5-c71c-b13...] * Vendor Committee Co-Chairs, Anna Foote and Jean Jansen * Children’s Manual Chair, Christina Jane Stuck * Teen Manual Chair, Lindsey Trammel (staying on for another term) * Outreach Committee, Jennifer Redford * Social Media Committee, Cari Hillman * Theme & Slogan Committee, Sara White and Rachel Milburn. Rachel will continue with a new Co-Chair. Welcome New Chairs * Outreach Committee Co-Chairs, Trisha Hutcherson & Tammy Kruger * Social Media Chair, Katie Rothley * Children’s Manual Chair, Danielle Welsh * Theme & Slogan Co-Chairs, Rachel Milburn & Jeni Schomber There’s so much great work to be done to keep our summer reading programs strong, and we can’t thank all of these volunteers enough! [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/ae95c419-eae8-254...] The Collaborative Summer Library Program is excited to launch a third national cohort of Building Community-Based Summers<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=7a97afb56f&e=c18caf2bb6> (BCBS) in Spring 2026! BCBS is designed to help member libraries identify the “whys” behind their summer services, build strategies to engage community voices, and create and provide inclusive summer services for all members of their communities. The spring 2026 cohort will gather for online learning sessions once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks in March-April 2026. BCBS is open to applicants from CSLP member libraries. There is no charge to participate. Applications will be open from Monday, January 5 through Monday, January 26. [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/b4ff28e1-ea60-d13...] Blooming Poems Chapter 2 "Fresh Dirt" Page 86 [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/b2243ed5-a542-4eba-8faf-bcf13871f8ac.jpg]Unearth a Story™ is full of program ideas for dinosaurs and beyond! Chapter 2, titled "Fresh Dirt," has an origami program that integrates poetry. The program, "Blooming Poems," on page 86, uses the classic origami paper fortune teller to create a poetic flower! After creating the fortune teller to serve as the bloom of the flower, add words and phrases on the petals and a green pipe cleaner as the stem. The flowers make a fun display that can also be used to create a poem, using the classic fortune teller game to determine what words from the petals to use. Adaptation for adults: Omit the poetry and, instead, provide instructions to create a variety of origami flowers to create an origami bouquet. [https://mcusercontent.com/043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405/images/912c4a4f-fdef-2115-3322-f440575946c8.png]<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=cabf7143ba&e=c18caf2bb6> Partner List<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=3bf136b7df&e=c18caf2bb6> Was this forwarded to you? Click here to sign up for your own copy of the newsletter!<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=c78e2041e1&e=c18caf2bb6> [Facebook]<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=af8ff90efa&e=c18caf2bb6> [Pinterest]<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=f594d2c8bb&e=c18caf2bb6> [Website]<https://cslpreads.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=043a7515ceb3ad45bdd2dd405&id=e3b8890026&e=c18caf2bb6> Copyright © 2025 Collaborative Summer Library Program, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.