• Activities and Resources of the Michigan Center for the Book

The Center for the Book's mission includes promoting reading, authors and Michigan's literary heritage. To do so, we create and maintain resources such as the Michigan Authors &

Illustrators database, a searchable record of Michigan authors present and past. We do projects such as the Literary Landmarks, which draw attention to notable literary places in Michigan. We sponsor activities by other groups such as the Michigan Author Awards, which bring readers in touch with Michigan authors. These activities bring the wonder of Michigan's literary world to people at home and in libraries across the state.

• Michigan Read Posters

The Michigan Center for the Book is excited to announce its Read posters for Michigan! This set of posters of Michigan celebrities reading has been sent to all public and school libraries. Our goal is to have the posters draw attention to Michigan literature and libraries and influence children and young adults to read.

The poster models share in our goal of encouraging reading and graciously volunteered their time and images. The models for the posters are

• Nate Robertson of the Tigers
• Sparty from Michigan State University
• Johnathan Rand, Michigan young adult author
• Jim Benton, Michigan young adult author
• Gisjbert van Frankenhuyzen and Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen, Michigan children's illustrator and author
• Kathy-jo Wargin, Michigan children's author

A limited number of additional copies are available by request. The Library of Michigan and the affiliate libraries of the Center for the Book are proud to offer these posters to Michigan libraries.

• Preserving Michigan's Literary Heritage
The Center works with local groups and Friends of Libraries USA to fund Literary Landmarks in Michigan. The program encourages the preservation of historic literary sites and Michigan's literary heritage.

• Michigan Author Award
The Center cosponsors the Michigan Author Award with the Michigan Library Association. Renowned children's author Sarah Stewart is the 2007 winner! Since 1992, the program has honored 16 Michigan authors for outstanding contributions to Michigan literature.

• How to Find Michigan Authors
The Center collaborates with the Michigan Association of Media in Education on the Michigan Authors & Illustrators database. The database lists authors who live in Michigan, were born in Michigan or works that are set in Michigan. The entries include book lists, awards, biographical information, book covers and availability for programs.

• Adult Bookmark series for the Summer Reading Program
The Center provides a bookmark series suitable for adult readers for the Summer Reading Program. Printable bookmarks with theme appropriate reading lists are available on the Library of Michigan Youth Services page and on the Center's Michigan Book Lists page. Quark files are available on request. For 2008, we have "Pollinate Your Mind!" bookmarks.

• Promotions and Sponsorships
The Center participates in events and sponsors activities to encourage public interest in Michigan authors and promote Michigan libraries.

Events include being an exhibitor at the annual National Book Festival in Washington, DC. In 2008, the Festival will be on Saturday, September 27th. Webcasts of authors are available at the Book Festival web site. We also present at the Ann Arbor Book Festival and the Kerrytown Bookfest.

Sponsorships include providing support for the Library of Michigan's Michigan Notable Books program, the Michigan Library Association's annual Michigan Author Award.

The Center for the Book also manages the Letters about Literature program in Michigan in collaboration with the National Center for the Book and Target.