FYI,

 

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is excited to announce its 2026 program for public libraries with the all-ages theme of dinosaurs, paleontology, and archaeology and the slogan Unearth a Story™ featuring artwork by Tom Bonson. CSLP member libraries across the country chose this theme because these topics are high-interest areas, offering rich opportunities to spark curiosity, imagination, and learning across all age groups.

 

The slogan Unearth a Story™ was chosen to align with this theme in a way that invites layered interpretation. Whether readers are digging into a good book, uncovering hidden histories, or exploring the past, the slogan underscores the joy of discovery that reading brings. It also emphasizes that every person and every community has stories waiting to be found and shared—through books, programs, and local knowledge.

 

Each public library in New Jersey has access to the CSLP manual online. The CSLP manual is an ideabook of programs, booklists, printables, and other resources that you may use in planning and producing your summer library program. It also includes a collection of posters, banners, art spots, and other graphics files to accompany the Unearth a Story™ theme. 

 

The 2026 CSLP manual also features a chapter of Celebrating America 250™ program ideas for all ages. 

 

Please share these instructions and the access code with staff members at your library as appropriate, including branch staff if you have multiple branches/locations. I will also send out a printed flyer with this information, a cover letter and the printed incentives catalog as part of the regular packet of information I send out every year through the statewide delivery service as soon as I receive the printed catalog.

 

To access the CSLP manual, you may:

1. Use this direct link: https://programs.cslpreads.org/2025-color-our-world?password-protected=login&redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fprograms.cslpreads.org%2F2025-color-our-world OR
2. Go to the CSLP homepage, navigate to “Manual Downloads” in the top menu bar, and click on “2026 Unearth a Story:Desentierra una Historia™”

 

Your access code is NJ26&WY14

Use the menu on the blue horizontal bar, or the Quick Links section on the right-hand side of the page, to navigate and explore the manual. Please contact me if you have any questions or do not see what you are looking for.

 

CSLP membership and manuals are provided at no cost to New Jersey public libraries. This service is supported by the NJ Library Network Funds through the New Jersey State Library. NJ public libraries may use these themes and materials to plan summer library programs and for programming throughout the year. NJ public libraries are never required to use CSLP themes or materials.

 

The CSLP shop is open for 2026. You may also browse the product line in the Unearth a Story™ product catalog (PDF). In addition to publicity items, décor, incentives, and t-shirts, the CSLP manual is available for purchase in paper format. Purchases from the CSLP shop are at the library’s discretion and are the library’s responsibility. Custom ordering is available at: https://shop.cslpreads.org/custom-orders/.

Please review the CSLP Intellectual Property Rules (Rules of Use). Of note:

1. You may use CSLP artwork and slogans on all online and paper items created in-house or through other vendors. 
2. You may share a limited number of art files with your nonprofit partners (e.g. schools, parks, government agencies, etc.) for their use in supporting and promoting your SLP. The copyright (©CSLP) and/or trademark (TM) symbols must not be removed from the files.
3. Do not share the manual or artwork files with anyone not employed at your library, except as described in #1 & 2 above and in the CSLP Intellectual Property Rules. Email me if you need clarification! To request permission to create customized non-paper items or items for resale, ...@cslpreads.org" style="color: #2199e8; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">contact the CSLP Executive Director.

CSLP retains ownership of all art provided by the artists for its programs since 2017. Public libraries may use current or past (2017-2026) CSLP artwork for your SLP or any other programming throughout the year, now or anytime in the future. When you log in to the CSLP website using the 2026 manual access code, you can also access the complete manuals and artwork from 2020-2025. The 2024 and 2025 manual and artwork are in the same place as the 2026 manual. The earlier manuals are here.

~Sharon 

All the best,

 

Sharon Rawlins, MLS (she/her/hers) Youth Services Specialist Library Development New Jersey State Library P.  609-278-2640 x116    E.  ...@njstatelib.org%0b" style="color: #2199e8; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">sraw...@njstatelib.org W.  www.njstatelib.org   185 West State Street P.O. Box 520, Trenton, NJ  08625