Summer Reading News

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. 

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!

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!  

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!