FYI,

CSLP 2029 Slogan & 2030 Theme Listening Sessions Tomorrow and Next Week

Any public library staff member participating in the CSLP Summer Library Program is invited to join the conversation to refine the 2029 slogan (nature theme) and suggestions for the 2030 theme.

We encourage all members that have an interest in wordsmithing to join the call to discuss your favorites slogan and theme suggestions.

Listening Session Option #1

Thursday, August 13 at 1pm EST/12pm CST/11am MST/10 am PST

Join us on Zoom - no need to register

Listening Session Option #2

Tuesday, August 18 at 4pm EST/3pm CST/2 pm MST/1 pm PST

Join us on Zoom - no need to register

CSLP Sponsoring Building Community-Based Summers National Cohort – Deadline to Apply is Monday, August 17th

The Collaborative Summer Library Program is excited to launch the fourth national cohort for Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) in Fall 2026!  

BCBS is designed to help member public libraries identify the “whys” behind their summer services, build strategies to engage community voices, and create and provide inclusive summer services for all members of their communities. The discussions and activities will focus on how to connect with communities experiencing marginalization to design and implement summer library services. Selected participants will have the opportunity to engage with a nationwide cohort of library staff to dig deeply into inclusive summer services.

Participation 

Each participating library is encouraged to send a team of two staff members from across departments including youth services, adult services, programming, outreach, and administrators. Participation in the BCBS initiative will require, of all team members:

• Consistent attendance and active participation using cameras, shared whiteboards, and breakout rooms. 

2. Participation in six sessions including an introductory orientation, four learning sessions, and a wrap-up/review session. An optional discussion session will also be scheduled.

3. Additional work will be required within your library and community to begin to consider and assess your existing and planned summer programs and services through an equity lens. Expect to spend approximately 1-2 hours/week doing this work, in addition to the virtual sessions.

Dates/Times

• Sessions take place Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20, and 27 and November 10 and 17, 2026. An optional open discussion session will be scheduled on November 3.

2. Sessions are 2 hours long: 1:00-3:00 pm ET / Noon-2:00 pm CT / 11:00 am-1:00 pm MT / 10:00am-Noon PT

Learn More and Apply

CSLP member libraries are invited to learn more about BCBS and the upcoming cohort and apply by 8:00 am ET on Monday, August 17, 2026 to be considered for the Fall cohort. Accepted participants will be notified in early September. 

Questions?  Contact ...@cslpreads.org" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.3; color: #2199e8; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> b...@cslpreads.org  

2026 CSLP Summer Library Program Survey Open

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) has created a survey so they can better assess the usefulness of the materials offered by the program on a national level to better serve you, the CSLP public library members!

The survey opens today and the deadline to complete the survey is September 11, 2026.

If you would like to preview the survey before filling out the survey, you can find it here: Annual Survey 2026.pdf. Customized questions for NJ start at number 37.

The link to complete the survey is: https://forms.gle/1PTXSYiWMRSvto2p6

All the Best,

Sharon Rawlins (she/her)

Youth Services Specialist

Library Development
New Jersey State Library

P.  609-278-2640 x116 

E. sraw...@njstatelib.org

W. www.njstatelib.org

185 West State Street

P.O. Box 520, Trenton, NJ  08625

NJ250: Living Documents, Evolving Rights - New Jersey Through Three Constitutions
https://www.njstatelib.org/nj250