We hosted a program from them last January on Steam Power-- covers their steam railroads and other devices that are/were powered by steam. We created a steam power craft kit for the participants to take-and-make and built one a the library for folks to try-- it really worked! It was a fun and entertaining program, parents and kids alike enjoyed it. As a caution: Scheduling was a bit challenging. We reserved the program in June with a staffer who ceased their affiliation by August, with no notice. Emails went unanswered for weeks. I finally tried a different address and got connected to staff that could help. Everyone arrived as agreed and the program was a success, so no harm, no foul-- just a nervous few weeks! On Fri, Aug 25, 2023 at 8:42 AM Kate Van Auken via Michlib-l < michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:

How awesome, Jim! Thank you so much for working on this for all libraries! I'm excited to share this with my members! Kate V

On Fri, Aug 25, 2023 at 8:07 AM Jim Flury <jflury@tln.org> wrote:

...

Good Morning,

Over the course of the past several months we have been working with MAP destination partner Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso https://michigansteamtrain.com/ to develop a series of FREE program opportunities for Michigan's public libraries. *SRI volunteer staff will travel to any public library in the state, free of charge, to put on the program of your choice from the list below.*

Below is a copy/paste of the TLN/SRI agreed upon email from SRI. All you need to do to request your free program is to send an email to info@michigansteamtrain.com In the email please include the name of your library, your contact information, which presentation(s) you might be interested in, and possible program dates. SRI will respond in a follow up directly to you.

Please let me know if you have any questions concerning these free SRI programs for Michigan's public libraries.

All Aboard!

Jim Flury

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*STEAM RAILROADING INSTITUTE (SRI)*

*FREE Interactive PowerPoint Programs for Michigan Public Libraries through TLN*

The Steam Railroading Institute is an official Non-Profit 501C3 Volunteer Organization that is the historic caretaker of the Famous No1225 Super Steam Locomotive! It was used for many of the visual and audio train aspects in the Christmas movie “The POLAR EXPRESS” with Tom Hanks. SRI is also an active new partner with the Michigan Activity Pass (MAP), helping to support this exciting program. They can be reached at the SRI’s website <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.michigansteamtrain.com&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=iJ7Qlye5mk59pQHpYKILwg&m=sSh1lBR7RuU-fhMRqZkf6yJDm7wdYLfxecRUVil1kFIxjMX9DUfb3f7fEehZA3kZ&s=ZE8bEURQaVERoED4BrSEJdhhnI5enQeZvtbQMyW0LSk&e=> www.michigansteamtrain.com <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.michigansteamtrain.com&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=iJ7Qlye5mk59pQHpYKILwg&m=GPn8cjzyBzYqRmQG1Qb7Nml9dCqtPgw43hUBcNVlA4hzbEfhr9CKkCqyKX7mDHqF&s=LxnvS99SEWe7BW4eEwABAch0trp8dFq5n0IfRZQS0dA&e=> ; where all their activities are illustrated, information also in real-time updates, volunteer opportunities if desired and much more! *CONTACTS for FREE POWEREPOINT PRESENTATIONS can simply be made** through Steam Railroading Institute by sending an email to: info@michigansteamtrain.com <info@michigansteamtrain.com>* . Please include your Library’s name, contact information, which presentation(s) you might be interested in, possible dates, and they will personally respond with a prompt call to you. From school students, FIRST GRADE to HIGH SCHOOL and other organizations both social and business; SRI will excite you by bringing the Super Steam Locomotive History to life. Sign up and get on-board for a special event to remember!!

*A listing of SRI Programs are shown below and our volunteers will come to your location anywhere in Michigan.*

1. The SRI Volunteer Organization, it’s purpose and passions

2. History of the Famous No1225 Pere Marquette Steam Locomotive and its role in the movie “The POLAR EXPRESS”

3. How Steam Train Engines Work

4. History of the Chicago & North Western No175 Steam Locomotive and its restoration (newest addition to our Steam Locomotive Family)

5. Train Robberies in Michigan and the Mid-West

6. Magic Man Behind the Scenes for the historic No1225 Steam Locomotive – Mr. Forest Akers (newest program in development)

Jim Flury Technical Services Manager The Library Network 41365 Vincenti Court Novi, MI 48375 248-536-3100, ext 133 Note New Fax Number: 248-716-5584 Note New Email Address:jflury@tln.org

-- Kate Van Auken, Director White Pine Library Cooperative 429 N. State St., Suite 207 Caro, MI 48723 (989) 793-7126 8-4 M-F _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l

-- Jean Fellows (she/hers) Programming Coordinator Grand Ledge Area District Library 131 E. Jefferson St., Grand Ledge, MI 48837 517-627-7014 *The Grand Ledge Area District Library is situated on ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples-- land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. For more information, see the article from Central Michigan University Library:https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/11/26/the-1819-treaty-of-saginaw/#:~:te.... <https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/11/26/the-1819-treaty-of-saginaw/#:~:text=In%20the%201819%20treaty%2C%20the,living%20on%20the%20ceded%20territory.>*