August Newsletter: Meet the New Interim Director!

August Newsletter: Meet the New Interim Director!

Check out what’s going on at the library in this month’s newsletter.

Featured: Interim Director Evaskis-Garrett

ELPL has welcomed Chrissie Evaskis-Garrett to the position of Interim Director! She has previously worked as the library’s Collections Team Leader. Her first day in her new role was July 28. 

Get to know Chrissie here:

Featured: One Grand Read

Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World, by author and birding advocate Christian Cooper. 

Cooper’s book is memoir, travelogue, and invitation to join the art of birding. Through his story, Cooper tells us not only about his birding journeys in places like Africa and Australia, but his journey to learn to claim and defend space for himself and others like him. 

Whether you’re a member of the ELPL Birders Club, or enjoy traversing the beautiful trails in the area, we know the community will flock to Cooper’s extraordinary book. 

Through September, One Grand Read will feature a series of free community programs inspired by the book’s themes, culminating with a special visit from Cooper at 3pm on Saturday, September 20 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Free tickets are available now to attend. 

Community members fly on over and check out Better Living Through Birding from ELPL or any of CADL’s 13 branches, or purchase a copy for your home library from Schuler or Hooked. 

Featured: Michigan Activity Pass

Make it the best summer ever with the Michigan Activity Pass! Use your ELPL library card number to get free or discounted admission to hundreds of cultural and recreational sites across the state. 

Go to the Michigan Activity Pass website and enter in your library and search radius. This will show you all the participating locations nearby and what deals they offer you. Then, you can enter your card number, and the pass will be sent to your email! 

Check out our Michigan Activity Pass travel guide here! This summer, our comms team is taking a roadtrip to show off some of the cool participating locations nearby! A new video will be uploaded each week throughout the summer. 

Featured: Empathy and Equity Box

A little goes a long way, especially for the Empathy and Equity (E2) Box at ELPL.The E2 Box is a community driven and accessible pantry for people to take what they need, leave what they can. This anonymous pantry is available to anyone and everyone, 24/7 right outside the library. 

Donations for our Empathy and Equity Box are always welcome. We are looking for nonperishable food, socks in all sizes, and personal care items. 

What items are acceptable for the E2 Box?

• Shelf stable beverages: instant coffee or tea, powdered or shelf stable milk, juice boxes, etc.
• Baking mixes: Waffle/pancake mix, muffin mix, bread mix, cookie mix, etc. 
• Breakfast foods: instant oatmeal, Pop-Tarts, boxed cereal, syrup, etc.
• Snack foods: Nuts, granola bars, protein bars, applesauce, chips, crackers, etc.
• Dried or canned foods: beans, dried or canned fruits and vegetables, canned soup or dried soup mix, peanut butter, jelly, protein powder, etc. 
• Personal care items: Toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash, lotions, shampoo/conditioners, disinfectant wipes, bandaids, period supplies, etc.
• Small items of clothes: socks, gloves, etc. 

Note: Food donations cannot be expired. Expired foods will be thrown away.

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.

• Touch a Truck (all ages): Tuesday, August 5, 6-8pm  
  • Explore a variety of vehicles up close! The first hour (6-7pm) will be a sensory-friendly time so visitors with noise sensitivities can enjoy the space before vehicles start showing off their horns and sirens. The library will close at 5pm to prepare for the event.
• Stories in the Garden (kids): Wednesday, August 6, 10-11:30am  
  • Teen volunteers will be reading stories to younger children- a magical time for fun and learning. Explore MSU’s 4-H Children’s Garden and listen to stories. Great for all ages!
• Scarlet & Violet Pokémon Switch Tournament (teens): Thursday, August 7, & Friday, August 8, 10am-12pm  
  • Battle, hang out, and talk Pokemon!
• Meet the Maker Studio (all ages): Tuesday, August 12, 5-6pm  
  • Curious about the ELPL Maker Studio and its 3D Printers, Laser Cutter, Cricut, and other resources?  Have creative ideas but not sure how to bring them to life? Stop in and learn more!
• The Enchanted Season - Lance Parrish and Tom Gage Author Visit (adults): Wednesday, August 13, 7-8pm  
  • In 1984, fantasy became reality in the Motor City. The Detroit Tigers turned a sportscaster’s sarcastic “Bless you boys” remark into a rallying cry. A key cog to this unforgettable season was Lance Parrish, the all-star catcher who slugged a team-leading 33 home runs. Hear from Parrish himself and award-winning Tigers scribe Tom Gage – who covered the 1984 Tigers for the Detroit News as they describe the stories behind their book The Enchanted Season. Registration required.
• Teen Summer Finale Party (teens): Thursday, August 14, 2-4pm  
  • Enjoy ice cream, games, and more!
• End of Summer Celebration Feat. Cameron Zvara (all ages): Friday, August 15, 2-4pm  
  • Celebrate the end of summer with another party at the library! Comedy Magician Cameron Zvara will be performing from 2-2:45pm. Raising Cane’s will be here with games and swag! This will also be the last chance to pick up summer reading prizes.
• Birders Club (all ages): Saturday, August 16, 10-11:30am  
  • Share photos, ID strategies, and stories!
• Stroller Stories (kids): Monday, August 18, 10:30-12pm  
  • We’ll walk to Valley Court Park and back from the library, and enjoy songs, stories, and scavenger hunts! Registration required. 
• Teen Art Series (teens): Tuesday, August 19, 2-4pm  
  • This week’s challenge is yarn canvas art!
• Capitol Acapella (all ages): Tuesday, August 19, 7-8pm  
  • Enjoy a free concert in the barbershop style.
• Community Craft Swap (all ages): Saturday, September 7, 1:30-3:30pm  
  • Declutter your house and pick up a new hobby!
• Teen Cooking Lab (teens): Monday, September 8, 3:30-4:30pm  
  • Taste test Oreos to find your favorite!

Spotlight: Job Hunting Resources

We’re hunting the most dangerous game: a job. Job hunting can be a grueling and disheartening process, and can take the wind out of your sails. Many people don’t even know where to start to give themselves a fighting chance, but the library has your back! Check out some of our free resources to help you on your job hunt: 

LearningExpress Library - Computer Skills Center- Many jobs today require some basic computer skills to be successful. Learn the basics of the internet, typing, and popular softwares with the computer skills center.

Professional Development Collection- Find academic articles and information specialized for librarians, teachers, and education researchers.

Vocational Studies Premier- Designed for two-year colleges, this resource offers articles for vocation programs. Subjects include: counseling, biotechnology, cosmetology, fashion design, forensics, graphic arts, health information technology, law enforcement, and veterinary assistant. 

Learn more on our blog about other resources to help your job hunt.

ELPL in the News:

• ELi: From Curious Beginners to Seasoned Spotters, East Lansing Birders Club Soars in Popularity
• ELi: ELPL Board Picks Chrissie Evaskis-Garrett as Interim Director
• WILX: Community art piece installed in East Lansing parking garage
• Fox 47: Happening Today: election day, BWL open house, and National Night Out

Up and Coming Dates:

• The library will close at 5pm on August 5 to prepare for Touch a Truck!
• The library will be closed August 31 and September 1 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:

• Free Teddy Bear Clinic
• Teen Cooking Club
• Community Craft Swap
• And more!

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