CSLP Updates Summer Programming Survey To support CSLP’s vision to ensure vibrant summer reading programs are available to everyone through their library, the Statistics Committee is requesting your library’s data on your summer reading program. All public libraries that do summer programming are welcome to complete our survey, regardless of whether you used CSLP’s theme. Survey closes September 11th. Learn more and complete the survey here: https://www.cslpreads.org/stats/. Theme & Slogan Listening Sessions Help determine the Slogan for 2029's nature theme, and the Theme for 2030! Listening Session Option #1 Thursday, August 13 at 1pm EST/12pm CST/11am MST/10 am PST Join us on Zoom<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87115329143?pwd=V6XfiL3HS1TU4YzkTzsNcWjXgmh36N.1> - no need to register Listening Session Option #2 Tuesday, August 18 at 4pm EST/3pm CST/2 pm MST/1 pm PST Join us on Zoom<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82435533498?pwd=MaltrF2Qi9WnXyG6ETDsX9RVadOayw.1> - no need to register Save the date: CSLP's Summer Symposium will be Thursday, December 3rd. We'll host an in-person watch party or you will be able to register individually to join virtually. All public libraries in MI are members of CSLP thanks to the Library of Michigan, with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Resources PLA releases “Family Engagement for Spanish-Speaking Community Members” Workbook<https://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjQyMTU0NiZwPTEmdT0xMTE5NzY3NzM1JmxpPTEyMzA4ODU4Mw/index.html> PLA announced the availability of a new practical guide for engaging Spanish-speaking community members<https://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjQyMTU0NiZwPTEmdT0xMTE5NzY3NzM1JmxpPTEyMzA4ODU4NA/index.html>. Just in time for use in planning Library Card Sign-Up Month<https://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjQyMTU0NiZwPTEmdT0xMTE5NzY3NzM1JmxpPTEyMzA4ODU4MA/index.html> activities and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in September, the workbook provides case studies and planning tools to help library workers better engage Spanish-speaking families. The guide is available for free download in English<https://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjQyMTU0NiZwPTEmdT0xMTE5NzY3NzM1JmxpPTEyMzA4ODU4NQ/index.html> and Spanish<https://americanlibraryassociation.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjQyMTU0NiZwPTEmdT0xMTE5NzY3NzM1JmxpPTEyMzA4ODU4Ng/index.html>. Empowering Creativity: Exploring Makerspaces and Engaging STEM Programming in Libraries<https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1284&_zs=Fu5vg1&_zl=oG3rA> With Ellyssa Kroski. A 90-minute webinar. New date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 2:30 pm Eastern Makerspaces are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. While some libraries have long-established makerspaces, others are just getting started. In this webinar, aimed at those who are relatively new to makerspaces, we’ll look at how we can put these spaces to work in a practical way. Even if you don’t have a dedicated physical makerspace in your library, you can learn the theory behind makerspaces and programming that will work for you. MiLEAP's 2026 Michigan Community Schools & Family Engagement Conference September 29-30, 2026, Mount Pleasant In the first of its kind in Michigan, The Michigan Community Schools Coalition and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential are co-hosting a statewide event to spotlight both the work of the 10 Regional MiFamily Engagement Centers and 155 community schools dedicated to building, growing, and sustaining key family engagement and partnership practices across the state. Details and registration here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L54k75DQP2n6Xo9sWzrIlNg40706I4yG/view MiLEAP 2026-2027 Out-of-School Time (OST) Grant Information On July 21, 2026, Michigan Public Act (P.A.) 25 of 2026, Section 32n<https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2025-2026/publicact/pdf/2026-PA-0025.pdf> was signed into law with $135 million budgeted to provide in-person before-school, after-school, before-and-after-school, or during the summer programming to children in grades K-12. The new legislation defines the eligible applicants, the type of programming, and the priorities that the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) must use in a competitive grant process to award the funds across the state. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply<https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/education-partnerships/out-of-school-time-and-summer-learning/ost>. Questions? Contact MiLEAP-OST@michigan.gov. Children & Screens - Parenting Tip Sheet Before You Post: Tips for Sharing Your Child's Life Online: https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/before-you-post-ti... In the News... Working with Teens at tthe Library<https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2026/07/working-with-teens-at-the-library/> <https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2026/07/working-with-teens-at-the-library/> - ALSC Blog, 7/28/26 SLJ Survey: Cell Phone Bans Boost Reading, Library Use<https://www.slj.com/story/SLJ-Survey-Cell-Phone-Bans-Boost-Reading-Library-Use> - SLJ, 7/23/26 ALA Just Released Its First Comprehensive AI Guidance for Libraries. Here's What Every School Librarian Needs to Know<https://aischoollibrarian.substack.com/p/ala-just-released-its-first-comprehensive> - The AI School Librarian Substack, 7/30/26 Ready to Read Michigan Presents... Practical Puppetry for Powerful Programs! Adding puppetry to library programs can engage learners, promote inclusive environments, breathe life into timeless classics, lift up diverse stories, and ignite imaginations. But who has time for memorizing lines, the budget for exotic supplies, or the opportunity to implement long-term lesson plans? You can do it all without complicated puppet stages, formal scripts, expensive materials, or midnight oil! Experience practical puppetry activities in action. Learn what makes puppetry well-suited to library learning and which types of puppets are best-suited to different activities. Adapt a story, song, or game to include puppets. Practice your crafting and performing skills. Return to your own library inspired and prepared to add puppetry to your own programs. Participants will learn to: * Define puppetry and list five basic styles of puppetry. * Summarize the benefits of incorporating puppetry into library learning. * Consider the role of puppetry to create engaging and inclusive experiences. * Employ frameworks to match the type of puppet best suited to a given opportunity and adapt existing stories, songs, and content to puppetry. * Interpret and present an existing story, song, or fingerplay using puppetry. * Apply examples of practical puppetry in programs. Registration Details: This in-person workshop runs from 9:30 - 5:00 pm EST, with lunch provided. Space is limited and there is a $35.00 fee to attend, payment for either workshop location is due by September 7th. * Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Delta Township District Library<https://maps.app.goo.gl/8Lk3hPuKGboAsqBc6>, register here: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=11719& * Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library<https://maps.app.goo.gl/FedCQNFqQzGn1Zcv6>, register here: https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=11724& Enjoy the start of August! Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5@michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/> Join the MiYouth<https://liblists.org/postorius/lists/miyouth.liblists.org/> Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services. [A picture containing logo Description automatically generated] 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<https://mde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VO6y33yPJYG0t0>. For more information, visit www.Michigan.gov/mtoy.<https://www.michigan.gov/mtoy> [Michigan.gov/Vote logo Description automatically generated]<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/> Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/>.