November Newsletter: 🦖 Dino Day, Poetry Night. & Cozy Reads

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November Newsletter: 🦖 Dino Day, Poetry Night. & Cozy Reads: Your November Library Adventure Awaits!

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

Featured: Meet Michigan Poet Laureate Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd

We’re so excited to welcome Michigan Poet Laureate Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd to East Lansing! On November 14, Dr. Boyd will come to ELPL for a special after-hours event. From 7-8:30pm, she will read selections of poetry, followed by a reception and book signing, with books available for purchase. 

Dr. Boyd’s reading at the library will serve as the keynote address to the Poets' Roundtable Conference, which will be held the following day at the Library of Michigan in Lansing, where Dr. Boyd will also offer a workshop. 

This event is presented in partnership with the MSU Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, as well as the Lansing Poetry Club. The event will be livestreamed on the library’s Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

Featured: Library Card Design Contest Deadline Extended!

We’re extending the deadline for our library card design contest! You now have until 11:59pm on Friday, November 7 to enter. Dig out your crayons, your paints, your collage supplies, your yarn, or whatever other creative medium you prefer, and submit your art for the chance to be featured on our library cards.

You must be eligible for an ELPL library card to enter (including current non-resident cardholders). Winners from the kid, teen, and adult categories will be announced by Friday, November 21. Find out more and submit your design here.

Featured: Empathy and Equity Box

If you need food assistance this November, the library is here to help. Located near the front entrance, our Empathy and Equity Box is a “take what you need, leave what you can,” community pantry. Food, hygiene products, and small clothing items like socks and gloves are available 24/7, no sign-in required.

Are you looking for a way to help your neighbors? We are always accepting donations! Drop off your items in the bin inside the library’s lobby; we go through all donations to make sure nothing is expired or broken, and continually store and restock items to make sure the E2 box never runs too low. 

Featured: Dino Day 2025

Life finds a way at this year's Dino Day! Come to the library on November 22 for this open-house style event to learn all about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. This year will feature new educational activities alongside Jurassic classics. 

In the weeks leading up to the event, dinosaurs are taking over the library! Keep up with their hijinks all month long here.

Featured: Giving Tuesday

Celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving following days like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a day to support non-profit organizations and give back to your community. As you make your giving plans this year, please consider the library!

Want to support ELPL while also supporting local businesses? This Small Business Saturday, we're asking you to buy gift cards from Schuler Books, Big Apple Bagels, and Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing, and donate them to the library for Giving Tuesday! Please drop off your gift cards at the service desk, and the library will put them to good use for our programs. By purchasing and donating gift cards, you will be helping to support your local library AND support local small businesses. Double win!

Featured: November Reading Recommendations

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

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.

Spotlight: National Family Literacy Month

Grab your family and a couple of good books, because November is National Family Literacy Month! Starting back in 1994, the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) worked with Congress to designate November 1 as National Family Literacy Day. Their goal was to encourage caregivers to take an active role in their children’s reading and learning to improve children’s educational outcomes. Since then, the entire month of November has been dedicated to bringing families together to mutually foster the joy of reading. 

It’s never too early to nurture an appetite for reading in even the smallest of library patrons. One of the ways caregivers can start preparing kids to learn to read is with Every Child Ready to Read, an initiative to help libraries and caregivers utilize a set of five practices (Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, Playing) that help develop pre-reading skills. Following this framework can improve the early literacy skills of children and set them on the right path to learn to read by the time they hit school.

We use these principles in our weekly StoryTimes; stop by the library to practice together! You can also cultivate these skills at home; here are some ideas on how to incorporate early literacy into your daily activities:

Talking: Children learn language by listening to how adults around them talk; as they listen to spoken language, they pick up on new vocabulary and gain important general knowledge about the world. Some practices for Talking include:

  • Ask them questions about books you read together. Ask them what they see on the page, what they think will happen next.
  • Talk often around your child! Narrate your life from everyday activities such as chores or errands.
  • Ask open-ended questions.

Singing: Helps children develop listening skills and pay attention to rhymes and rhythms. Singing also slows language for children, helping them distinguish different sounds that make up words. Some practices for Singing include:

  • Clap out, tap on a drum, or sing your child’s name to allow them to hear words slowed down.
  • Bounce your babies while reciting nursery rhymes so they can feel the natural rhythm of language.
  • Use music to teach your child about following directions. Start music, start dancing. Stop music, say “freeze” and stop moving. Try without saying words aloud!

Reading: The family that reads together, learns together! Reading together is one of the most important activities to get children ready to read on their own. You can help children increase their vocabulary and their background knowledge. Some practices for Reading include:

  • Reread books that your children already love, as they learn something new each time.
  • Don’t skip “hard” words when reading aloud; break down the syllables with your child and get them to practice saying it loud. 
  • Pick a letter of the alphabet and talk about the sound it makes. “D makes the duh sound.” Throughout the rest of your day hunt for things that start with that letter.

Writing: Writing and reading go together like peanut butter and jelly; it helps children understand that written words stand for spoken language. Letting your child explore by making marks, scribbling, drawing pictures, and telling stories helps them learn to communicate and practice reading skills. Some practices for Writing include:

  • Have children help you cook. They can write a list of ingredients needed on a list. Run your finger over each step to show that you are working in order.
  • Encourage your child to draw a picture of a character from their favorite story and write their own story about the character.
  • Give your children shaker eggs to help improve your child’s grip and fine motor skills, which allow them to hold a pencil and write.

Playing: When children play and pretend, they’re thinking symbolically, which helps them to understand that spoken and written words can stand for real objects and experiences. Playing also helps children to express themselves and put thoughts into words and practice narrative skills. Some practices for Playing include:

  • Use everyday things to make learning fun! Use tissue boxes and paper towel rolls to build.
  • Jumping the ABCS to hear all the letters of the alphabet. One jump for every letter of the alphabet. Moving around helps children learn.
  • Dress up in clothes and play pretend. Pretending helps to build narrative skills and encourage social and emotional development. 

Looking for more resources to bring the love of literature to your family? Check out these helpful databases! 

English Language Arts Skills from LearningExpress Library offers tutorials on reading and writing aimed at grades 9-12 to help students become better readers and writers. Students can:

  • Gain skills in reading informational texts and literature.
  • Improve their grammar, vocabulary, and spelling
  • Watch micro-lessons to better understand specific topics
  • Read ebooks and articles to further practice skills
  • Take self assessment to test their knowledge

Literary Reference Center includes 14,000 short stories and 54,000+ poems. Covers information on thousands of authors and their works as well common literary themes, forms, styles, techniques, periods, and movements.

NoveList Plus/NoveList K-8 Plus: Help readers find their next read. Features lists of award winning books, books discussion guides, reader ratings and reviews, and tools for teachers such as Lexile levels and Common Core standards.

PebbleGo teaches K-2 students early research skills by providing non-fiction reading materials about animals and social studies. Students can learn how to take notes and cite their sources.

Read It! is a tool for middle and high school students and adults to help build reading skills and improve study habits. Includes topics on important figures, literature, ancient civilizations, important historical events, etc. 

ELPL in the News:

Upcoming Dates:

  • The library will close November 3 for a staff inservice day.
  • The library will close at 6pm on November 10 and remain closed on November 11 for Veteran’s Day. 
  • The library will close at 6pm on November 26 and remain closed November 27-28 for Thanksgiving.

Catch ELPL Next Month:

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

  • Let’s Make Gingerbread Houses!
  • Capital Acapella
  • PT Strummers Holiday Concert
  • Computer Basics Workshop
  • And more!

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

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