Dear Library Community, Wayne State University is conducting the Michigan School Census: A Michigan Literacy and School Library Study with funding provided in the FY26 School Aid Budget. Each school received a unique link to respond to a survey as part of the study. It is very important to have a response from *every* Michigan school building to help build an accurate portrait of Michigan’s school libraries and the needs of our schools—information that can inform future funding discussions and priorities. Schools without a library are an essential part of that picture. Here <https://waynestateprod-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/mischool2026_wayne_edu/IQCCLDGvVWX9Q7Y6uEWmxyQqAcUR01r-ceZegcFkr9IT_4U?e=oWMGGo&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJTdHJlYW1XZWJBcHAiLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJTaGFyZURpYWxvZy1MaW5rIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXcifX0%3D> is a video from State Representative Glanville encouraging all schools to respond to the survey. *Here is a Heat Map of the Responses by District* <https://sage-marzipan-cfdb0b.netlify.app/> *What can you do to help support this study?* *Reach out to our local schools (principals or school library staff) and encourage them to respond, if they have not already, by the deadline --which is October 15th.* Let me know if you have any questions, --Kathy Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA Adjunct Faculty,* Wayne State University, School of Information Sciences* School Library Consultant, *Kent ISD* Advocacy Co-Chair, Past-President 2014, *Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL)* Past-President, 2022-2023, *American Association of School Librarians (AASL)* Retired School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach, *Plymouth-Canton Community Schools* *SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century 2013-2022ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year2012 State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner* kathyL <kathyL@mimasl.org>@mimasl.org <kathyL@mimasl.org> "Every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian" --American Association of School Librarians <https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/aasl/content/advocacy/statements/docs/AASL_Position_Statement_Effective_SLP_2018.pdf> (AASL)