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Summer Reading News

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11/12/2024
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Several plastic cups filled with different color paints and paintbrushes. Text overlay: CSLP 2025 Summer Symposium

Registration for the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s annual virtual Summer Symposium is now open! This year’ symposium will focus on ideas and tips for library staff planning Summer Reading Programs around the 2025 theme of “Color Our World.”

The symposium happens on Thursday, December 5 from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM and will feature keynote speaker Mychal Threets, who will share about the joy that books and libraries can bring to all of us. The symposium also features a session by Keturah Cappadonia and Haleigh Mikolajczyk from New York's Southern Tier Library System who will share ideas about how to add more sustainability to Summer Reading Programs.

Registration is free, and CSLP encourages public library staff to attend as many sessions as they can! Recordings of sessions will also be available so be sure to register for the symposium even if you can’t attend all sessions.  

10/31/2024
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From a distance, five people walking on a path in a forested park, where the leaves have turned orange for autumn. Text overlay: October News from CSLP

In the October newsletter, CSLP announced exciting news about upcoming summer reading programs. Thanks to all the suggestions and information collected from library staff around the country, CSLP state reps selected an official 2027 slogan and 2028 theme. 2027’s theme will be based on Mystery/Detective/Suspense, and the slogan to complement it will be Mysteries Await at Your Library, 2028’s theme will be based on Mythical Creatures. CSLP thanks everyone who shared their thoughts and ideas through surveys, listening sessions, and committee participation.

CSLP’s Outreach Committee is also excited to announce plans for creating an Outreach Toolkit to provide support and resources that will help libraries bolster efforts to build community relationships, serve community members, and expand services beyond the library building. CSLP is encouraging library staff to help build the toolkit by gathering different resources for outreach like library programs, articles, websites, and relationship building ideas. Please note that this toolkit is digital so resources should be able to be linked on a webpage. To help build this toolkit, library staff can submit resource ideas through CSLP’s online Outreach Committee Resources Submission Form.

The October newsletter also shared a summer reading program success story from New York! To wrap up their program, the East Greenbush Community Library celebrated the end of 2024’s Adventure Begins at Your Library by hosting “glow parties” which engaged three different age groups. The Head of Youth and Family Services at the library, Amy McCarthy, reported that the events were a huge success and 220 kids, teens, and adults, participated in the Baby Rave, Glow Up Party, and Glowing Away Party, all geared towards different age groups. These events included activities such as dance parties and glow in the dark fun, and the library did an amazing job utilizing materials they had on hand along with inexpensive materials such as black lights and highlighters, and neon art supplies. Check out more information about this summer reading success story in the CSLP’s October Newsletter.

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10/25/2024
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Child reading the page of a print/braille book. Text overlay: Print/Braille Children's Books for Fall

For the fall season, the NYS Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) has put together a fun list of autumn themed print/braille children’s books that are accessible to those unable to use standard print materials due to a visual, physical, or reading disability. The list includes fun reads that embrace the spirit of fall and the festivities of Halloween.

Although these books are enjoyable for all ages, this list is especially perfect for readers in preschool and early elementary school. The print/braille picture books are also great for inclusive story times! The NYS Library and TBBL encourages you to share and use this list and embrace the fall season through reading! For access to this list with more detailed information, please visit the TBBL News and Announcements blog

10/17/2024
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Close up of a bento box packed with rice, meat, and vegetables. Text overlay: Summer Meals and Libraries 2024

We want to pass along some great news about summer meals and public library participation in 2024! This past summer saw an increasing number of libraries working together with a variety of community partners to ensure that kids and teens have access to healthy food year-round. Our partners at Hunger Solutions New York have shared preliminary reporting numbers indicating almost 90 libraries acted as meal sites in 2024, which is a significant increase from 60 libraries in 2023. 

As trusted and valued community centers, many libraries find that offering meals and snacks to youth makes good sense for their summer programming, brings in new users and patrons, and aligns closely with their mission to serve and connect with their community in many different ways. 

Thank you to all New York libraries that supported Summer Meals and Summer Nutrition by acting as meal sites, partnering with schools or existing sites to offer Summer Reading activities, or promoting Summer Meals through outreach efforts or other activities. Children who have access to healthy food during the summer are better prepared to learn when they go back to school in the fall, which benefits families as well as the larger community.   

Find out how your library can become involved with Summer Meals by checking out Hunger Solution NY’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) page.

10/16/2024
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Children doing art at a table. Text overlay: CSLP Inclusion Webinar: Artful Connections

The Collaborative Summer Library Program’s Inclusion Committee will host a webinar on Wednesday, November 20 with presenter Stephanie Haines, who will talk about her vision for inclusive and inspiring communities. Stephanie is the Arts Education & Accessibility Program Manager at the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). In this role, she oversees IAC’s arts education research project Partnering Acts, Communities and Education, amongst other literacy programs.

Stephanie has over 15 years of experience in teaching artists and arts integration programming and is a visual artist working primarily in the mediums of painting and drawing. During this presentation attendees will learn about the fundamentals of accessibility through the lens of creative arts activities. Stephanie will cover what it means to be accessible, common adaptations you can make to creative tools and materials, and how you can be flexible and inclusive in your approach to planning arts experiences for a diverse community. 

Find more information on Artful Connections, or register to attend.

10/01/2024
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Close up of arms holding a newspaper. Text overlay: News from CSLP!

This month’s issue of the CSLP newsletter has tons of exciting news! The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) has officially announced 2025’s slogan as “Color Our World,” which features vibrant and whimsical artwork by Mike Mullan. 2025’s theme and artwork will allow libraries to create spaces where creativity and artistic expression can thrive. CSLP is also excited to share a sneak peek at their collection of tie-dye items that will be perfect summer reading incentives to complement “Color Our World.”

Read on for more highlights from the CSLP newsletter!

CSLP Committees

Don't forget: CSLP invites all public library staff members to consider joining a CSLP committee during the recruitment period happening now! The opinions and experience of library staff from all sizes and shapes of public libraries greatly improve and enhance the work of CSLP. Committee member duties vary and generally run for one calendar year. All the work performed by committees can be done virtually, and participation in more than one committee is possible. The deadline to apply for a CSLP committee is October 15 and the application can be found online. 

Summer Symposium

The CSLP Summer Symposium will take place this year on December 5 and will feature keynote speaker Mychal Threets. He will speak about his library program that aims to remind readers of the joy that books and libraries can bring to a community. The symposium also features other speakers sharing information on creative ways to promote summer reading and the 2025 art theme. Registration opens on November 5, so please plan to join some or all of the sessions!

Services to Incarcerated Individuals

Finally, this month’s newsletter also features the stories of different Summer Reading Programs offered to incarcerated individuals in New York state. Over 22,000 incarcerated individuals engaged in summer reading through different activities at Correctional Facility libraries. These engaging and educational activities included reading contests and book clubs. CSLP is proud to highlight how libraries and reading programs can have a positive impact on the lives of all individuals. 

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09/20/2024
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The slogan

Several poster and slogan images for the 2025 Collaborative Summer Library Program “Color Our World” have officially been shared and are ready to be previewed for libraries! 

The artist is Mike Mullan, and his colorful and playful artwork is sure to provide a great springboard for libraries as they start planning for the art theme in 2025. 

The preview provided by CSLP includes a sneak peek of children’s graphics, multigenerational graphics, and artwork which compliments the overall theme and slogan. 

Stay tuned for additional spot art and graphics in the 2025 manual, which will be available later this fall. 

09/16/2024
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Group of people putting their hands together as a team over a desk. Text overlay: Become a CSLP Committee Member

Are you interested in becoming part of the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)?

CSLP invites library staff members to use their voices and talents and volunteer as a CSLP committee member for 2025. Committee member obligations generally run for one calendar year, and all work is done through email or virtual meetings. Library staff members who become committee volunteers are not required to attend the Annual CSLP meeting. Library staff can also become volunteers for more than one committee, depending on their interests and availability. 

The deadline to sign up for 2025 CSLP Committees is October 15, and the application form is available online. To see what exciting committees are looking for new members and which committee best suits you, please visit CSLP’s committee page. CSLP encourages all library staff to consider joining a committee. Your input is extremely valuable and keeps CSLP and Summer Reading programs growing and thriving!

09/09/2024
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Overhead view of eight toy dinosaurs in a row. Text overlay: CSLP Theme and Slogan Results

The results are in! The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) state reps met for the annual meeting in late August and had a chance to cast their state vote based on the two CSLP listening sessions as well as feedback received from library staff via the CSLP theme and slogan survey. A big thank you to all library staff in new York state who took the time to share their thoughts on possible slogan and theme choices!  New York received 406 responses to the slogan survey and 138 responses to the theme survey.  

CSLP has officially announced the voting results for the 2027 slogan and 2028 theme. Votes at the annual meeting determined that 2027’s slogan choice is “Mysteries Await at Your Library” which will complement the overall theme of Mystery/Detective/Suspense. The 2028 theme will be Mythical Creatures (Unicorns, Dragons, Mermaids, etc.). 

Thanks again to all the library staff members who participated in CSLP’s survey and listening sessions to help shape and determine future Summer Reading programs.

Unearth a Story Program Contest

Speaking of future Summer Reading, CSLP is currently running a program submission contest for ideas for 2026 and Unearth A Story!  

Rawr! Unearth a Story Program Contest runs through September 20th, 2024.

The contest will run until September 20, 2024. CSLP is looking for ideas that are filled with all the dinosaurs, archaeology, and paleontology that you can muster!  CSLP Managing Editor, Alyssa Graybeal, will choose one program from each category (children, teens, and adults), and one contributor of early literacy books and songs that best captures the dinosaur theme. Program ideas submitted with photos (that the submitter owns the copyright to or are proven copyright free) have the highest chance of winning.

The winner in each category will get a coupon for $50 worth of merchandise in the CSLP online store. You can purchase some super fun and creative merchandise for 2025's Color Our World theme and there are some awesome new products that will be available when the CSLP store opens in October!

Full contest and submission details can be found on the CSLP website. Be sure to submit your awesome and creative dinosaur-themed ideas before the September 20 deadline for a chance to win the $50 CSLP gift certificate and have your ideas included in the program manual for Unearth A Story!
 

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08/19/2024
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Front entrance of the Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress

The National Library Service’s online Summer Reading program offerings have wrapped up, but you can still take advantage of an awesome virtual tour! Have you ever visited the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress? If not, a tour of this historic and fascinating building is just a click away.

As part of its 2024 Summer Reading Program, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is offering a free and fully virtual audio tour of the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. This tour can serve as an educational experience both for the blind and print disabled as well as those who can’t travel to the Library of Congress. The virtual tour offers in depth audio descriptions of the interior and exterior architecture of the building, as well as plenty of educational and historical facts about the building itself.

Check out the Library of Congress’s website to listen to the virtual tour of the Thomas Jefferson building at the Library of Congress
 

Field is required.