July Newsletter: Disability Pride, Summer Road Trips, and Writing Contest Winners!

July Newsletter:

Disability Pride, Summer Road Trips, and Writing Contest Winners!

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

Featured: Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month! Each year, this month is recognized in June to commemorate the July 26, 1990 passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This month celebrates the history of the Disability Rights movement and disabled self-advocacy. It also proudly proclaims that disability is a natural part of the human experience, and that disability isn’t something to be ashamed of. Disabled people make up the largest minority group in the world, and it’s one which most people will become a part of at some point in their life. Disability Pride Month celebrates the diversity, resilience, creativity, and culture of disabled communities.

You can celebrate with this book list! This features a sampling of books for kids, teens, and adults.

You can also learn more about the history of Disability Pride Month with this video.

Libraries are for everyone!

Check out some of the things we offer to make sure our library is accessible to everyone:

• Designated accessible parking spaces and senior parking spaces.
• Virtual library tour courtesy of AbleEyes so visitors can familiarize themselves with the space before visiting. 
• 24/7 holds pickup lockers and books by mail for patrons who may have difficulty coming into the library. 
• Reference assistance via email, mail, and phone. 
• Reservable study spaces for a quiet working environment. 
• Two non-circulating sensory kits for use within the library, which include sound reduction headphones, fidget toys, and other items to help with sensory regulation. 
• The library can assist you in ordering talking books and listening devices from the Braille and Talking Book Library through the State of Michigan. 
• Library staff are trained in principles of trauma-informed service, and our Whole Person Library Committee continuously looks for ways to make the library more welcoming and accessible for every patron. 

Featured: Writing Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our annual Writing Contest, co-hosted by the Community Writing Center & East Lansing Public Library! 

Read the winning pieces here!

Featured: Farewell Director King

Director Kevin King has accepted a new job as a library solutions strategist, and his last day with ELPL will be July 25. We wish him all the best in his new position! 

Director King says: "Although my time was short, I am proud of the work this team has accomplished. We have created a Strategic Plan that is based on community feedback, added staff, reorganized into more efficient teams, constituted a Leadership Team, restarted the community read program, and addressed many outdated policies and procedures. This work was not possible without the best library staff in Michigan and a supportive community. I appreciate the patrons, partners, and organizations I have been privileged to meet and work with during my time at ELPL."

The Library Board met on July 3 to discuss interim leadership plans. Stay tuned to our website and social media for more details about the director search.

Featured: Stay Cool at the Library

Michigan has seen some pretty brutal heat waves recently, and we wanted to remind you that we’re an official cooling center! Stop in to enjoy our AC, drinking fountains, and seating to rest. If you need a place to beat the heat, you are more than welcome at the library! 

During very hot and humid weather, you may be at risk for dangerous heat-related illnesses. Some groups, including children, older adults, chronically ill people, pregnant people, and people taking certain kinds of medications, are particularly vulnerable. Because heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the US, it’s important to take it seriously and know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Learn more about heat-related illnesses here. 

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: Expanding hoopla!

Tuesday, July 1, we discontinued CloudLibrary and moved all our titles to hoopla. By consolidating our resources, we can expand your hoopla access!

You'll now have 10 flex borrows (one user/one copy titles) to use on a rolling basis, in addition to your 10 instant borrows per month (unlimited users can read one copy at the same time)! We're also raising our collective daily check-out cap so more readers can enjoy books per day.

We will continue to offer materials through both Libby and hoopla. Since Libby is provided through Woodlands Co-op, a resource-sharing group that we’re part of, this service will not be affected by these changes. Learn more on our blog.

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.

• Teen Art Series (teens): Tuesday, July 8, 2-4pm            
  • We’ll be making shadow drawings!
• Meet the Maker Studio (all ages): Wednesday, July 9, 11am-12pm            
  • Drop by the Maker Studio for their open house. Learn more about the Maker Studio and its equipment such as the Laser Cutter, Cricut, and more!
• Bubbleman Ron (kids): Wednesday, July 9, 2-3pm            
  • Watch a professional Bubble-ologist make amazing bubble creations!
• Author Talk - Tim Mulherin, This Magnetic North (adults): Thursday, July 10, 6-7pm:            
  • What happens when a place is so beautiful and everyone wants to go and nobody wants to leave? Author Tim Mulherin explores the good and bad of this phenomenon in his book “This Magnetic North”.
• Kids Drawing Workshop with Mark Crilley (kids): Friday, July 11, 2-3pm            
  • Learn from a professional and practice your own drawing skills!
• Stories in the Garden (kids): Wednesday, July 16, 7-8:30pm            
  • Explore the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden, and stop to listen to stories as you come across each volunteer reader!
• Stroller Stories: Monday, July 21, 10:30am-12pm            
  • We’ll walk from the library to Valley Court Park, and enjoy songs, stories, a scavenger hunt, and more! Sign up at elpl.org.
• Teen Escape Room: Friday, July 25, 2-3pm and 3-4pm            
  • You’re playing your favorite video game when you get trapped inside! Can you escape before your device powers down, and you’re stuck for good? Register for one session.
• SHARK DAY: Saturday, July 26, 11am-1pm            
  • Come to the library for a fun-filled open house all about sharks!
• Touch a Truck: 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. 

Spotlight: Summer Reading Challenge Begins!

We had an incredible summer reading kick-off party! Check out some of the photo highlights:

If you haven’t signed up for the challenge yet, it’s not too late! The summer reading challenge is open to kids, teens, and adults. At every level, you’re guaranteed to earn a cool prize, and you’ll also be entered to win raffle prizes! 

Sign up Here!

ELPL in the News:

• LSJ: ‘Better Living Through Birding’ chosen for Greater Lansing shared reading experience
• WKAR: Monthly East Lansing Public Library event takes story time outdoors
• WKAR: Pumpstock festival brings American roots music to East Lansing
• WILX: Do I Get Credit For Reading This?
• American Libraries: Tools of Empowerment

Up and Coming Dates:

• The library will close at 6pm on July 3, and remain closed Friday, July 4.
• Reminder: we are closed on Sundays through the summer!

Catch ELPL Next Month:

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

• Touch a Truck
• Stories in the Garden
• End of Summer Celebration Feat. Cameron Zvara
• And more!

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