August 2026 Newsletter

 This month: One Grand Read, Summer Reading Wrap-Up, and Library Privacy

Save the Date: One Grand Read

Join us for One Grand Read, the community reading program uniting the Greater Lansing Area in pursuit of good books! This year’s selection is There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib. 

Hanif Abrurraqib is a genre-defying poet, essayist, cultural critic and memoirist. Interspersed with reflections on the Columbus, Ohio basketball scene, Abdurraqib has crafted a remarkable love letter: to his father’s bald head, to his neighborhood, to a beloved teacher, to the art of looking cool, to the joy of Black children, to a city that doesn’t always love him back, and of course, to basketball and its legendary players. He also writes candidly of being unhoused, of encounters with the police, of the complexities of religion, and of what it means to succeed. Told in magnificent poetic prose, this eloquently meandering and conversational masterpiece is for anyone who has ever loved a people or a place.

This fall, One Grand Read will feature a series of free community programs inspired by the book’s themes to connect the community through conversation. ELPL will share a kids’ movie day, a book club discussion, a memoir writing workshop, and more! Our friends at CADL will also be hosting some stellar events, including visits from Zeke the Wonder Dog and a history talk. The program will culminate in a special visit from Hanif Abdurraqib on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 2pm, offering attendees the opportunity to hear directly from the author! Check out the full schedule of One Grand Read events here.

You can check out the book from ELPL, CADL, or MSU Libraries, or purchase it from participating bookstores. Happy reading!

Learn more about One Grand Read.

Summer Reading Wrap-Up

That’s a wrap on Summer Reading! As of writing, this year we had 1,737 total people register, which beat last year’s record number of 1,683. Together we’ve read over 1,182,307 minutes! The readers in our community are incredible!

Just a quick reminder that the last day to track your reading and pick up prizes is August 8! We’ll also have our end-of-summer party that day; stop by the library from 2-4pm for your last chance to retrieve earned level prizes, play games, enjoy activities, and more!

August Reading Recommendations

Looking for your next great read? Check out some of our recommended reading lists for August:

• Dog Days of Summer (all ages)
• International Cat Day (all ages)
• If You Like The Odyssey (teens and adults) 
• From Myth to Screen (all ages)
• Read Then Stream (teens and adults)

Featured: Upcoming Programs

Library programs are free and open to the public; you don’t even need a library card! Unless otherwise noted, no registration is required.

• Stories in the Garden (all ages): Wednesday, August 5, 10-11:30am  
  • Explore the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens, and stop to listen to a story as you come across each volunteer reader!
• Touch a Truck (all ages): Thursday, August 6, 6-8pm  
  • Explore fire trucks, buses, and other vehicles up close and personal. The first hour (6-7pm) will be a sensory-friendly time, so visitors with noise sensitivities can enjoy the space before the vehicles start showing off their horns and sirens. The library will close at 5pm to prepare for this event. 
• Clothing Swap (all ages): Saturday, August 8, 10:30am-12:30pm  
  • Find new-to-you clothes and drop off your old ones! You don’t have to bring something to take something.
• End of Summer Reading Party (all ages): Saturday, August 8, 2-4pm  
  • Celebrate the end of Summer Reading with a party! It’s the last chance to retrieve earned level prizes, play games, activities, and more! 
• Author Talk - Derek Wilks (adults): Saturday, August 15, 1-2pm  
  • Join author Derek Wilks as he talks about his debut novel On Deck, a high stakes, enemies to lovers romance set in the heart of America. 
• Teen Ice Cream Social (teens): Tuesday, August 18, 2-4pm  
  • Celebrate the end of summer with ice cream and games!
• Heartfulness Meditation Class (adults): Tuesday, September 1, 5:30-6:30pm  
  • An instructor from Heartfulness will talk about the benefits of meditation and guide participants in a meditation practice. Suitable for beginners!
• Community Craft Swap (all ages): Saturday, September 5, 1-3pm  
  • Discover a new hobby and connect with other crafters as you declutter!   
    • Items must be in clean and usable condition.
    • You don’t have to bring something to take something.
    • We ask attendees to be respectful and only take one carrying trip’s worth of craft supplies - what you or a helping friend can carry in one trip.
    • Leftover unclaimed craft supplies will be donated to the library or to local charities.
• Seed Saving Workshop (adults): Saturday, September 5, 10:30-11:30am  
  • Participants will learn about seed saving, and do hands-on activities including experimenting with putting chia seeds and beans in water and watching how they change, as well as a lima bean dissection. A live demonstration of tomato seed saving will follow. Registration required.
• Community Writing Group (adults): Tuesday, September 8, 6-7pm  
  • Share your current writing projects, and group members will provide feedback.
• Senior Open House (adults): Wednesday, September 9, 10:30-11:30am  
  • Curious about what programs and services the library offers that are beneficial to older adults? Come join us for an informal open house in the library’s cafe. Coffee and pastries will be provided. 
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Party! (kids): Saturday, September 12, 10:30am-12:30pm  
  • Come sign up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and celebrate previous finishers! Learn more about the program and enjoy a fun dance party for ages 0-5 and families. Snacks provided while supplies last.
• One Grand Read Book Group (adults): Monday, September 14, 7-8pm  
  • Join us for a discussion of this year’s One Grand Read selection: There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraquib, genre defying poet, essayist, cultural critic and memoirist.

Spotlight: Libraries and the First Amendment

Libraries are all about freedom of information! Here are some of the ways we protect your First Amendment Rights to access and share information.

Sustainability Update:

• Staff economic development sessions were provided by MSU Extension. Topics included spending plans and credit.
• Cliff Walls, the City of East Lansing's Environmental Sustainability and Resiliency Manager, attended the ELPL all-staff meeting to provide recycling education.
• We are 70% of the way through the SLI Certification process!

Upcoming Dates:

• The library is closed on Sundays through the summer!
• The library will be closed September 6-7 for Labor Day weekend. This will end our summer Sunday closures.

Catch ELPL Next Month:

Be on the lookout for more excitement in September! ELPL will be sharing featured reading lists, book displays, and programs throughout the month. Some of the library programs will include:

• One Grand Read
• Library Card Sign-Up Month
• Craft Swap
• And more!

For more information, visit the library’s website or follow ELPL on social media!