Building Community-Based Summers: Tri-State In-Person Workshops
-
Thursday, November 5, 2026 - from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm at the
Main Library, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 N. Michigan St, Toledo, Ohio. Free Parking is available.
-
Thursday, November 19, 2026 - from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm at the
Meijer Branch, Jackson District Library, 2699 Airport Rd., Jackson, MI 49202. Free parking is available.
Both workshops will cover the same BCBS content; register for the date and location of your choice. Registration is free.
Description:
Over the last few years public libraries in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio have participated in cohorts of the
Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) national IMLS project. Through learning sessions and activities, BCBS helps libraries develop new thinking and strategies about summer services in four key areas: Rethinking Internal Systems, Fostering a Culture
of Learning, Centering Community, and Reflecting Continuously about summer services and their impact.
These BCBS Workshops are being offered to any IN, MI, and OH library workers who are interested in evaluating and reassessing their summer services.
Attendees will participate in a variety of activities to help them view their summer services through fresh eyes at a critical time of the year as they plan for next summer. The facilitators will share a brief history and background about BCBS for those unfamiliar
with the project, and details for those who wish to be trained more deeply regarding the BCBS learning topics and strategies. The workshops will also include much time for discussion and sharing, to learn what libraries are planning to better reach all their
communities and to provide ideas and strategies to address challenges.
Who should register?
To support your ability to implement BCBS strategies in your community, we highly encourage 2 or more staff members from your library or system to register and attend the workshop. Staff working in any department, especially
those with a focus on public programming, are welcome to attend.
Facilitators:
Bringing extensive experience with BCBS, facilitators Cathy Lancaster (Library of Michigan), Katy Hite (State Library of Ohio), Janet Ingraham Dwyer (State Library of Ohio), and Beth Yates (Indiana State Library), will offer
key insights. They will discuss how applying BCBS framework processes enables libraries to design more adaptive summer services and programs tailored to local needs and community perspectives.
Learning Objectives - Participants will be able to:
-
Explain briefly the history of the Building Community- Based Summers (BCBS) project and its four key principles
-
Identify their library organization’s “why” of summer services
-
Name examples of strategies that other libraries have implemented to build greater community involvement into their summer services
-
Identify one or two action steps your library could take to help build more community voice into your summer services
Feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions.
Thank you,
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
Follow us: Facebook
| Twitter
|
Instagram
Join the
MiYouth Listserv,
created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services.
Do you know an outstanding Michigan educator? Nominate them for 2027-28 Michigan Teacher of the Year!
The Michigan Teacher of the Year Program is accepting nominations through September 23.
Nominate an educator using the
online
form. For more information, visit
www.Michigan.gov/mtoy.
|
Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at
Michigan.gov/Vote.
|