March Newsletter

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

Dyslexia-Friendly Books!

We have new dyslexia-friendly kids' books in our collection! These books feature a special font and tinted pages to help kids with visual processing difficulties read easier. Find them near the JE books in our kids' area, or browse the collection online: https://bit.ly/4bcFBl1

March is Reading Month - Celebrity Storytimes!

March is Reading Month, and we’re celebrating with Celebrity StoryTimes! Join us at 10:30am to read and play!

Come build essential social and literacy skills for children about to enter school! Centered around the "Every Child Ready to Read" principles, we'll learn as we read, write, sing, talk, and play.

March Reading Recommendations

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

• Women’s History Month (adults)
• Robotics Day 2026 (all ages)

Seed Library Returns!

Spring has nearly sprung, which means ELPL’s Seed Library is sprouting too! A wide variety of free seeds will be available to take home. From vegetables to flowers, try your hand at gardening! Seeds will be available to pick up near the Service Desk starting March 30!

Books and Bagels

Calling all students from 4th to 6th grade! If you’re looking for a group of people to discuss books with, look no further than the Books and Bagels book club. Join us on Saturdays for a lively and fun book discussion! Participants who register for Books and Bagels receive a free copy of the book to keep (while supplies last) and get to enjoy tasty free bagels courtesy of Big Apple Bagel.

Donations Needed!

Our Empathy and Equity Box (E2 Box) is in need of donations! This anonymously accessible pantry functions off one simple principle: take what you need, leave what you can. From pantry stable items, to hygiene products, anybody can access the pantry at any time, no questions asked. We are proud to be able to provide some relief to our friends and neighbors when they need it, and we are so grateful for everybody who helps by contributing donations. 

Please consider extending a helping hand by bringing donations to the library, so we can continue looking out for our community members. Place donations for our E2 box in the plastic bin inside the library to be sorted and distributed.

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.

Community Writing Contest Returns!

Our annual writing contest returns! Enter your fiction or creative non-fiction for the chance to win cash prizes, and have your writing featured on the library website! There are separate categories for kids, teens and adults. 

Submission Requirements: 

• Submissions must be 2,000 words or less
• No more than one submission per author
• No submissions that have been previously published in print or online
• Submissions must be in a Word or PDF document, in 12-point Times New Roman font, and double spaced.
• Label your file as FirstName_LastName_Title
• Please do not include your name or identifying information in the document itself, as the review process is anonymous.

Enter to win by April 6! Winners will be notified the week of April 20. 

Submit your work here.

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.

• Robotics Day (all ages): Saturday, March 7, 11am-1pm 
  • Engage your curiosity at science stations exploring robots and their operation, express your creativity with robot-themed arts and crafts (while supplies last), and meet and operate some real-life robots!  We'll be joined by local experts from MSU Extension, the MSU Office of Future Spartan Engineers, the ELHS Robotics Team, and more!
• Community Plant & Seed Swap (all ages): Sunday, March 8, 1:30-3:30pm 
  • Share garden seeds, seedlings, houseplants and outdoor plants with one another.
• Homeownership Education with MSU Extension (adults): March 10 & 11, 6-8pm 
  • Learn about the steps in the home buying process, mortgage loan basics, and how to maintain your investment! You’ll receive a certificate of completion good for one year, which satisfies the homebuyer education requirement for MSHDA loans and down payment assistance, USDA Rural Development loans, and many other lenders. Sign up for this free class online.
• Tax Education With United Way (adults): Saturday, March 14, 12-4pm 
  • Don’t pull your hair out trying to do your taxes on your own. Come by ELPL’s tax education event for a chance to learn how to do your taxes with the guidance of a certified tax preparer. Bring your tax documents and all relevant papers with you and we’ll make sure you feel confident in the return you file!
• Demystifying AI (teens): Monday, March 16, 3:30-4:30pm 
  • Keep hearing about Artificial Intelligence but want to learn more? Join us for a one-hour straightforward look at AI. This is an interactive session designed for teens to explore how these tools actually work. We’ll spend the hour digging into: 
    • Current AI tools, where they succeed and exactly where they fail.
    • A group discussion on the ethics of AI, from digital ownership and bias to the environmental impact and what the future holds.
    • Fact or Hype? Sorting through the extreme claims. Is AI a world-ending threat, a miracle tool, or just math?
  • The goal is to move past the noise and look at AI with a critical eye. Bring your questions, your skepticism, and an open mind.
• The People’s Panels (all ages): Saturday, March 21, 1-2pm 
  • Learn more about the largest publicly accessible comic collection in the entire world, right on MSU’s campus! Spend an hour with MSU Comics Studies Librarian Jason Larsen as he discusses the history of the collection, the unique place of comics within literature, the many ways in which the collection is used, and how the public can access this resource.
• Women’s History Month Film Screening - The Color Purple: Saturday, March 21, 3-5pm 
  • Celebrate Women’s History Month by watching the 2023 The Color Purple, a musical adaption of Alice Walker’s novel about the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s. Rated PG-13. Light refreshments provided.
• Family Activity Day(families): Sunday, March 22, 2-4pm 
  • Come join us for an afternoon filled with fun and educational activities with the MSU Friendshop! No registration necessary.
• Teen Movie Matinee - Hamilton Hangout (teens): Monday, March 23, 3:30-5:30pm 
  • Sing along to Hamilton and enjoy snacks!
• Mobile Device Basics - Android (adults): Thursday, March 26,10-11:30am 
  • This workshop goes over the basics on how to operate your Android mobile device. Registration required online.
• Cozy Sunday Cartoons (all ages): Sunday, March 29, 1:30-2:30pm 
  • Beat the winter slump and recharge with some retro 90s cartoons and fun cereal refreshments while supplies last. Show up in your coziest pajamas and wrap yourself in a blanket while doing some crafts.
• Bug Day (all ages): Saturday, April 11, 11-1pm 
  • Enjoy interactive activities and meet live bugs to learn more about these creepy crawly friends.
• Poetry Workshop with Joyce Benvenuto (adults): Saturday, April 11, 3-5pm 
  • Celebrate National Poetry Month with a poetry workshop led by local author Joyce Benvenuto.
• Michigan Climate and Health Adaptation with MDHHS (teens and adults): Monday, April 13, 6-7pm 
  • This presentation provides an overview of how climate change is affecting health, particularly from extreme heat and poor air quality. Presented in partnership with MIchigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Save the Date: National Library Week

Save the date for National Library Week, recognized this year from April 19-25. The 2026 theme is “Find Your Joy,” and we’re so excited to celebrate all the ways that libraries spark delight, wonder, and happiness in your life.

Our celebration will look a little different this year. For fourteen years, we ended the week with our annual fundraiser, Books, Bites, and Bids, which was created and organized by our talented and beloved former Community Development Coordinator, Phyllis. However, we're taking a creative pause this year! We're excited to experiment with new ideas and formats, exploring different ways to bring our community together in celebration and support. Watch this space for what's next!

Spotlight: Reading Resources

March is National Reading Month! This is a nationwide celebration that encourages everybody, from young ones to adults, to explore the joy of reading. Check out some of the resources available to you with your ELPL card to help foster good reading habits - whether it’s for a very young reader just starting their literacy journey, or an adult trying to rediscover their love of readings.

Kids:

Britannica Fundamentals helps your child stay curious with stories, an interactive map of the world that lets you learn about different biomes, math games, and a space to draw and let your imagination run wild! Perfect for building digital literacy in early learners.

PebbleGo is geared towards PreK to 3. Kids can learn more about animals and social studies while practicing their literacy skills. Children will develop their vocabulary, early research skills, and overall knowledge in this fun and interactive website.

Middle School and High School:

ReadIt! Is a database designed to build reading skills and improve study habits. Middle schoolers can find full text articles on a wide variety of topics including historic events from prehistory to the modern day, citizens’ personal and political rights, statistics, internet neutrality and more!

NoveList K-8 Plus can help you find just the right book by subject, age, awards won, books made into movies, and more. Find your next read with a simple search! Includes tools for teachers such as Lexile levels and Common Core standards.

Adults: 

Newspaper Source Plus includes millions of articles from newspapers, newswires, and news magazines. Offers television and radio transcripts and ongoing daily updates from popular new sources. Primary full coverage newspapers are The Washing Post and USA Today.

Hoopla allows you to check out books without leaving your house! Access books, audiobooks, comics, movies, music, and TV shows with a click of the button. No late fees, no hold lists, and just access to some of your favorite classics and newest books.

ELPL in the News:

• WKAR Celebrates PBS KIDS Day in 2026

Catch ELPL Next Month:

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

• Poetry Workshops
• Bug Day
• Sir Howard’s Birthday Party
• Teen Jewelry Lasering
• And more!

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