Resources
Lost Opportunity: Afterschool in Demand, But Out of Reach for Many
The new America After 3PM survey shows that parents of nearly 30 million children — more than half of all school-age youth — want afterschool programs. Yet more than 77% of these children are not enrolled in a program due to cost, transportation or lack of
availability. Read the report:
https://lnkd.in/gAkqbzX8.
Afterschool Alliance Survey
As the 2025-2026 school year is underway, the Afterschool Alliance is conducting
this survey to understand the supports afterschool and summer learning programs are currently providing, the challenges they face, and what their needs are to better help the children and families they serve. Your answers will provide valuable information
to share with funders, policymakers, education leaders, and the public when discussing the importance of increasing investment in afterschool and summer programs that foster learning, connection, and belonging.
Applying
Early Literacy in Storytime Settings
A PCI Webinar from the Library of Michigan with support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Wednesday, November 12
2:00 - 3:00 pm ET
Storytime isn’t just fun—it’s foundational. In this session, we’ll explore how to intentionally apply early literacy practices to storytime sessions in meaningful, engaging, and developmentally supportive ways. Learn how to align your book choices, songs, activities,
and interactions with the five early literacy practices (talk, sing, read, write, play), and better understand the “why” behind what we do. We'll explore how to share early literacy concepts with caregivers in ways that feel approachable and encouraging, making
storytime a shared journey toward lifelong learning. Whether you’re refreshing your approach or looking to build more intentionality into your storytimes, this session will help connect the dots between storytime fun and meaningful impact.
In the News...
Collaborative Summer Library Program Updates
Universal Design: Inclusive Approaches to Public Librarianship
Free CSLP webinar! - November 13, 2025
2:00 pm ET
Presenter: Rachel C. Hawkins
This webinar will address the Universal Design for Learning framework, how to use it, and why it matters. It will cover how to proactively utilize UDL principles when developing inclusive library programming. Upon completion of this webinar, participants will
be able to:
✓ Understand the concept of Universal Design for Learning and its principles in the context of your library’s instructional programs.
✓ Apply Universal Design for Learning to programs in your library.
✓ Develop library materials that are accessible and inclusive.
Summer Symposium
Thursday, December 4, 2025
11:00 am - 4:30 pm EDT
Attend the virtual symposium live
from your own desk, at your library.
Registration to attend live is open! Can't attend live? Save seats for those wishing to attend live by completing this
request for recording form which allows you to view sessions in your own time, at your own pace, if you cannot attend live.
New this year - you can register to join us in-person at the Library of Michigan as we connect & collaborate together as we watch the symposium:
Unearth A Story™: Connect & Collaborate
Thursday, December 4, 2025
10:00 am - 4:30 pm ET*
Library of Michigan - Lake Erie Meeting Room (2nd Floor)
The dinosaurs are coming in 2026! Join us as we gather to view the Collaborative Summer Library Program's annual virtual Summer Symposium all about Unearth a Story™. We will start the day with a conversation around summer library programming best practices,
before tuning into the opening Keynote Speaker (announcement coming soon). Between sessions we will "unearth" ideas on programming, so feel free to bring craft supplies, materials, or stories to share. This event will be limited to 50 participants.
*Limited snacks will be provided, lunch will not be served. Please plan to
pack your own lunch and beverages for the day. We do have water bottle refill stations on site.
The
Unearth A Story(TM) 2026 Product Catalog is now available and the CLSP
online store is open. The 2026 manual codes to access the online manual was emailed to library directors via LibPass. Directors, please share those codes with your summer library program planning staff. If you wish to receive the manual code directly from
me, and are not a director, you can complete
this form to request the code using your official library email.
CSLP Membership is provided to MI libraries by the Library of Michigan and supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Thank you,