Traverse Area District Library - August 2025 Newsletter ** What's new? ------------------------------------------------------------ Happy peak summer! Welcome to the 293 new cardholders who joined us through July 29 :) CLOSURE Sep. 1! Libraries will be closed on Monday September 1 for the Labor Day holiday. 1) A summer for the books! Thank you to everyone who joined us for Color our World this summer, we set a new record for summer reading signups! Read on for more pics of all the summer fun :) 2) Law Clinic - Do you have some basic legal questions? We'll be hosting a drop-in Law Clinic every third Thursday of each month. Details below - 3) Are you a library superfan?! We're looking for volunteers for guest cameos in an upcoming library video. You must be available to be at the library 9/4 or 9/5. If you're interested here's the form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10CA-W0dooejqFrKOpB-D9SCWqaxUZ-KN8aLv9DmgqQQ/preview) ! Signup deadline is Aug. 15. 4) It's planning time again! We're starting out on another three-year strategic plan, and input opportunities are coming up - reserve a Community Conversation spot (https://www.tadl.org/events/month/2025/08?keywords=community%20conversation) or watch for our online survey (coming soon). 5) 8/8 - Find the Bookmobile (and some of your favorite librarians) downtown at Friday Night Live! Click to skim what's new at TADL: New Fiction (https://bit.ly/36KpU4N) New Non-Fiction (https://bit.ly/36KQVVH) New in Large Print (https://tinyurl.com/tadllargeprint) New Audiobooks (https://bit.ly/2I3Ry2o) New DVDs (https://bit.ly/3nv66bv) New Music (https://bit.ly/34Ai4Iw) New Things (https://www.tadl.org/things) Image for Laurel Premo Concert Aug. 8 Can't make the concert? Listen now on TADL Waves (https://waves.tadl.org/albums/laurel-premo-golden-loam) ! Youth (https://www.tadl.org/services/youth) A quick look at our color-wonderful summer! Thank you to everyone who helped make our library summer special :) https://youtu.be/eXYDA_ccXAI All we can say is - wow! What a summer - we were dazzled by all the creativity and color readers brought into our library world. Not only did everyone create - and set a new TADL record for summer signups, they also read lots of books! Our readers took on our lofty 2M minute reading goal and passed it with ease. Color us impressed! Back to School Resources Day - Fri. 8/1 There's still LOTS of summer left BUT...it's never too early to drop in and learn about all the great things we have to support your learners! We'll be showcasing our Parent-Teacher collection, STEM kits, reading and literacy programs, and more! August Events & Programs Feeding America West Michigan sack lunches for kids & teens, Mon - Fri 11 am to 12:30 pm * Storytimes - Tuesdays at 11 am * 8/7 + Outdoor Explorers (ages 5-8) with the Woodsy Dude, 11 am (Must register (https://www.tadl.org/event/outdoor-explorers-ages-5-8-woodsy-dude-20745) ) + Wilderness Explorers (ages 9-12) with the Woodsy Dude, 2 pm (Must register (https://www.tadl.org/event/wilderness-explorers-ages-9-12-woodsy-dude-20746) ) * 8/13 + Trees Please (for elementary aged learners), 11 am + Open Spot Inclusive Theatre Workshop for Youth & Teens, 5 pm * 8/14 - STEAM Program with 4-H, 11 am * 8/21 - Summer Solar Workshop Series: Cook a solar s'more, 2 pm (Must register (https://www.tadl.org/event/summer-solar-workshop-series-cook-solar-smore-23575) ) Who won summer 2025? Once all the numbers are in we'll be contacting the elementary schools later this month to let them know which schools had the highest participation in our summer reading program. Who will be putting the 2025 TADL Golden Book trophies in their display cases?! We can't wait to find out either! Teen (https://www.tadl.org/teen) ** Upcoming Special Event - Teen Lock-In! ------------------------------------------------------------ Sign up now for the Friday night lock-in 8/1! Laser tag, capture the flag, games, crafts, music, movies and lots and lots of fun (+food). We have tons of activities planned to keep everyone entertained all night. For those needing a break from the constant activities, we will have space dedicated to quiet and rest. Register for the Lock-In today - registration closes at 10 pm! (https://www.tadl.org/event/teen-lock-22784) Feeding America West Michigan sack lunches for kids & teens, Mon - Fri 11 am to 12:30 pm 8/13 - Open Spot Inclusive Theatre Workshop * Youth & Teens - 5 pm * Older Teens & Adults - 6:30 pm 8/14 - Freestyle Writing Workshop, 5:30 pm (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/freestyle-writing-workshop-21565) ) 8/25 - Anime Club, 4 pm 8/26 - Tie Dye at Up North Pride Community Center, 4:30 pm (314 E. Eighth St.) Adults (https://www.tadl.org/adults) New Feature - Legal Clinic (Once each month, Starting Wed. 8/20) Representing yourself in a divorce or custody case? There's help! Get forms, help filling them out, and speak with licensed attorneys about your case for no charge. Be sure to bring any paperwork you may have regarding your case. LSNM is a nonprofit law firm that is partnering with private attorneys to provide guidance to those who are representing themselves in their divorce or custody cases. For more information, phone (231) 941-0771, or find them online at https://lsnm.org (https://lsnm.org/) Book Groups & Author Events * 8/7 - NEW! - Stay Golden Book Club (https://www.tadl.org/event/stay-golden-book-club-new-24277) , 9:30 am (The Orphan Daughter (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?query=orphan+daughter) by Cari Noga) * 8/14 - Freestyle Writing Workshop (https://www.tadl.org/event/freestyle-writing-workshop-21565) , 6 pm * 8/19 - Queer Tales (https://www.tadl.org/event/queer-tales-book-club-17693) , 7 pm (The Memory Librarian (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/search?query=The+Memory+Librarian+by+Janelle+Mon%C3%A1e) by Janelle Monáe) * 8/25 - Books & Brewskis (https://www.tadl.org/event/books-brewskis-45) , 7 pm, Silver Spruce Brewing (The Vaster Wilds (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/details?id=48478452) by Lauren Groff) * 8/26 - Tuesdays @ Two (https://www.tadl.org/event/tuesdays-two-book-club-38) , 2 pm (This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! (https://catalog.tadl.org/main/details?id=48063864) by Jonathan Evison) Health & Wellness * 8/1 - Tai Chi (https://www.tadl.org/event/tai-chi-20117) , Noon * 8/14 - Ageless Grace (https://www.tadl.org/event/ageless-grace-23000) , 10 am * 8/15 + GTB Health Fair, 11 am - 2 pm (Peshawbestown) + Chair Yoga (https://www.tadl.org/event/chair-yoga-18952) , 11:30 am + Tai Chi (https://www.tadl.org/event/tai-chi-20118) , 1 pm * 8/25 - Ageless Grace (https://www.tadl.org/event/ageless-grace-17088) , Noon * 8/27 - Medicare 101 (https://www.tadl.org/event/medicare-101-22392) , 6 pm Let's Learn Together! * 8/2 - Spanish Language Conversation Meet-Up (https://www.tadl.org/event/spanish-language-conversation-meet-20036) , 10:30 am * 8/6 - French Language Conversation Meet-Up (https://www.tadl.org/event/french-language-discussion-group-17713) , 6:30 pm * 8/18 - Food Preservation (https://www.tadl.org/foodpreservation) , 6 pm * 8/19 - Mind Your Money (https://www.tadl.org/event/hold-financial-programs-seniors-22824) - Understanding Credit & Score, 11 am * 8/28 - Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society monthly program (https://www.tadl.org/event/grand-traverse-area-genealogical-society-17862) , 1 pm Just for Fun TADL Stitchers - Every Tuesday evening at 6 pm (Join us to work on your own needlecraft project.) * 8/3 - Books to Movies (https://www.tadl.org/event/books-movies-17880) , 1 pm (Mickey 17) * 8/8 - Live Music! Laurel Premo Concert (https://www.tadl.org/event/updated-laurel-premo-concert-draft-24646) , 6 pm * 8/13 - OpenSpot Theatre Inclusive Workshop (https://www.tadl.org/openspotteensadults) , 6:30 pm - Open to teens and adults. * 8/25 - Anime Club (https://www.tadl.org/event/anime-club-23761) , 4 pm - Open to teens & adults Image of vintage telegram about a fair attraction Local History Collection - August Feature: The Northwestern Michigan Fair It is fair time again in northern Michigan! While the LHC Petertyl Interns are working diligently on the Arnell Engstrom collection, the LHC staff has curated an exhibit and forthcoming article highlighting fair amusements and concessions straight from Engstrom’s files. Experience the Northwestern Michigan Fair and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the work of Engstrom (Fair Secretary) between 1930-1950! ** Friends of the Traverse Area District Library Fall Book Sale ------------------------------------------------------------ The Fall Book Sale will be the weekend of Oct 24-26 - details will be posted on tadl.org/events! Save the date! Learn more about our Friends group, visit their page - tadl.org/friends East Bay Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/eastbay) What a fun summer - filled with color and creativity! Ongoing * Sing & Stomp Wednesdays - 11 am * Sing & Stomp Fridays - 10 am * Free sack lunches for kids & teens from Feeding America West Michigan - Tues - Fri, 11:30 am to 1 pm * 8/1 - Chair Yoga, 11:30 am * 8/5 - Adult Coloring Night, 5:30 pm * 8/8 - Tai Chi,12 pm * 8/16 - Cardio Drumming + 11 am Session (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-i-25017) ) + Noon Session (Register (https://www.tadl.org/event/cardio-drumming-east-bay-ii-25018) ) * 8/19 - French Language Discussion Group, 5:30 pm * 8/26 - Book Club, 6 pm Kingsley Branch Library (https://www.tadl.org/kingsley) Our world is way more colorful thanks to the beautiful new park playspace! Thank you to all the heroes who joined us on our summer quest :) Ongoing Free sack lunches for kids & teens from Feeding America West Michigan - 11 am to 12:30 pm Mon-Fri * 8/14 - Everyone Has a Story, 5:30 pm * 8/27 - Afternoon Book Club 2 pm * 8/28 – Monarch release party 1 pm From the Director’s Desk with Library Director Michele P. Howard I can’t believe it’s already August! With all the warm weather and water, it’s easy to tune out the world and disappear into a good book or chill to some great music. While I fully support that activity, I do have some good news to quickly share! A new EPIC-MRA statewide survey (following up on a March 2023 poll), reveals that Michigan voters increasingly oppose book bans and strongly support public libraries. How much of an increase? Key findings: * 79% approve of Michigan libraries' work (up from 71%) * 75% trust librarians' collection decisions (up from 70%) * 50% now say books should never be banned (flipped from 42% in 2023) * 84% support current library policies on age-appropriate shelving One new polling question in 2025 was, “In your opinion, where would you say children and teenagers are able to get materials that are objectionable?” As you would suspect, 57% blame the Internet, 25% blame social media, 5% from friends and 4% feel that children get objectionable materials at schools and libraries. With only 4% of the surveyed feel that libraries provide objectionable materials to children, libraries still see attacks on our freedom to read. Clearly this is a minority (albeit a loud minority) who oppose libraries. The majority of Michiganders trust and support their public libraries, as evidenced by our busy days here at TADL. This summer we set a new record! As of this writing we have 3,952 readers signed up for the Color Our World edition of Summer Reading Club. Congratulations community! We beat the previous record from 2019 (Universe of Stories) but how long will our new record last?! I’m thinking next year's theme of Unearth a Story (Dinosaurs) is going to give our shiny new record a run for its money. Summer Reading Club may be over but there is still a lot to do at the library. Our ADA 5th anniversary celebration will continue, there’s live music coming up, and we’ll also be out and about - including a stop at Friday Night Live Aug. 8. Last but certainly not least, we're starting our next three-year strategic planning process. I hope you'll take a moment to complete our survey (when it appears on the homepage) or join an upcoming Community Conversation (https://www.tadl.org/events/month/2025/08?keywords=community%20conversation) ! I hope you have a great book to add some color to your day, Michele ============================================================ ** Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TraverseAreaDistrictLibrary) ** Link (http://www.instagram.com/notjustbooks) ** Website (http://tadl.org) ** YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/TADLnotjustbooks)