
Events
Check out our upcoming and past events!
Cover Image: Wild Life by Ellie Harold
Upcoming Events
- The Fresh Coast Bookshelf 2026

Coming this January!
The Fresh Coast Bookshelf 2026
brought to you by Library of the Great Lakes
–The Fresh Coast Bookshelf program is a curated selection of books across age range and genre that celebrate the Great Lakes
Coming this January!
The Fresh Coast Bookshelf 2026
brought to you by Library of the Great Lakes

The Fresh Coast Bookshelf program is a curated selection of books across age range and genre that celebrate the Great Lakes
Starting in January, applications will be accepted from public libraries for a chance to be awarded a Fresh Coast Bookshelf at no cost, which will also include a ready-made full-color display kit with poster, bookmarks, stickers and more to help highlight and feature these fantastic Great Lakes books!
Program open to all public libraries within the 8 U.S. States and 2 Canadian Provinces in the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Ontario and Quebec)
Awardees will get 12 curated titles to build their very own Fresh Coast Bookshelf!
Check back on Nov. 17th, when we’ll reveal the first four titles on the shelf…
Post Image: October Saugatuck by John Shultz
- “Great Lakes, Great Read” continues throughout the summer!

Great Lakes, Great Read continues throughout the summer!
Please contact authors for Zoom appearances.
Past Events
- Library of the Great Lakes GLGR Book Tour
Great Lakes, Great Read author Sally Cole-Misch could be coming to a community near you!

The Library of the Great Lakes is launching a Great Lakes, Great Read book tour this fall!
Partnering with local libraries and organizations, we will customize a program that is right for you.
To learn more about the GLGR Book Tour, contact us or support the program directly.
To host your own author visit (in-person or virtual), visit the Great Lakes, Great Read website.
Check out a few of our book tour programs:
Thursday, September 12th, 2024
L’Anse, MIEvent Details
![Flyer title:
THE LIBRARY OF THE GREAT LAKES PRESENTS
SALLY COLE-MISCH
In collaboration with the KBIC Natural Resources Dept., Michigan Tech, and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
[Image of Sally Cole-Misch sitting outdoors in front of a lake.]
Join award-winning author Sally Cole-Misch as she discusses her novel, The Best Part of Us, selected as this year’s Great Lakes Great Read.
KBIC Elder Kathleen Smith will conduct a water ceremony prior to the event at 11 AM at the L’Anse Library.
Another visit will take place at the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College. This event is open to the public, lunch is provided.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
11 AM–2 PM
770 N. MAIN ST, L’ANSE
Questions? Contact Cecelia Waara at:
cwaara1@kbocc.edu
Learn more at greatlakesgreatread.org
[Image of the book cover: The Best Part of Us by Sally Cole-Misch, featuring a peaceful lake and mountain scene.]
[Great Lakes Great Read logo at the bottom: A green wave-like design and blue text reading “Great Lakes GREAT READ.”]
Small print at bottom:
The Great Lakes Great Read is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Great Lakes Writers’ Collaborative.](//libraryofthegreatlakes.org/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
Sunday, September 15th, 2024
Copper Harbor, MI
Monday, September 16th, 2024
Hancock, MIEvent Details
![Flyer title:
2024–2025 LSSI All Team Kick-Off
Connect, Understand, & Cherish
Dinner & Dialogue with
Author, Sally Cole-Misch
[Background image: Clear water and shoreline of Lake Superior]
[Logo in top right corner: Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, with a stylized map of Lake Superior and the text:]
CONNECTING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
in the stewardship of Lake Superior and its watershed.
Main body text:
K–12 teachers & community partners are invited to attend Connect, Understand, & Cherish, the LSSI All Team Kick-Off and Dinner & Dialogue featuring author Sally Cole-Misch, 2024–25 winner of the Great Lakes Great Read award.
Reconnect with team members, meet new educators and community partners, and learn about upcoming professional learning and mini-grant opportunities.
Date: Monday, Sept 16th, 2024
Time: 4:00 pm (Eastern) Dinner
4:30 – 6:00 Meeting & Book Signing
Location: CCISD – Conference Room B
809 Hecla St. Hancock, MI
virtual meeting option available
[Yellow box on right side reads:]
Teachers in attendance will receive a copy of the book,
The Best Part of Us.
[Photo of Sally Cole-Misch near bottom]
[Logo at bottom: GREAT LAKES GREAT READ with stylized lake and book image]
Footer:
Dinner & SCECHs will be provided
Visit Our Website
www.lakesuperiorstewardship.org
Register:
solutionwhere.com/ww/ccisd
OR: https://forms.gle/Wm3nRcP5L5wLmsGSA
Bottom line of flyer:
This program is presented in partnership with the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and the Library of the Great Lakes.](//libraryofthegreatlakes.org/wp-content/plugins/a3-lazy-load/assets/images/lazy_placeholder.gif)
- Book Connections! Michigan’s Monroe County “One Book, One Community” Kick Off Event
Update:
We had a great time at this year’s kick off event! Check out a gallery of images below, and download our Book Connections reading list here to continue exploring the Great Lakes!
Thank you to Sally Cole-Misch– learn more about her work at sallycole-misch.com, and check out The Best Part of Us on our digital bookshelf!
During the event, we completed an Elder Wisdom Mapping activity. To learn more about this activity and how to replicate it, check out our new Elder Wisdom Mapping webpage.









See Pre-Event Information ▸

The Library of the Great Lakes in partnership with Monroe County OBOC 2024 is proud to present Book Connections with Michigan writer Sally Cole-Misch.
Join us on March 12th, 2024 from 6pm-8pm in the MCCC Library to hear from Sally Cole-Misch about her book The Best Part of Us. There will be community booths and a book signing.
Monroe County Community College Library: The Library is located in the Campbell Academic Center – Building “C”. MCCC Library Campbell Academic Center 1555 S. Raisinville Rd Monroe, MI 48161
Registration for the talk is encouraged. By registering, you can pick up your free copy of The Best Part of Us at Monroe Community College Library while supplies last.
Sally Cole-Misch is a writer and environmental communicator who advocates for the natural world through work and play. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, a master’s degree in environmental education and international water policy from the University of Michigan, and a certificate in fiction writing from Stanford University. Throughout her career, she’s focused on communicating our essential connections with nature — particularly the Great Lakes — and the role each of us can play to restore, protect, and enjoy all that nature gives to us. Sally lives in Michigan and enjoys hiking, skiing, kayaking, sailing, gardening and reading, a hearty laugh with friends, the wonder of surprise, and the optimism that nature’s beauty always provides.
Learn more about Sally and The Best Part of Us at sallycole-misch.com.






![Flyer title:
THE LIBRARY OF THE GREAT LAKES PRESENTS
SALLY COLE-MISCH
In collaboration with the KBIC Natural Resources Dept., Michigan Tech, and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
[Image of Sally Cole-Misch sitting outdoors in front of a lake.]
Join award-winning author Sally Cole-Misch as she discusses her novel, The Best Part of Us, selected as this year’s Great Lakes Great Read.
KBIC Elder Kathleen Smith will conduct a water ceremony prior to the event at 11 AM at the L’Anse Library.
Another visit will take place at the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College. This event is open to the public, lunch is provided.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
11 AM–2 PM
770 N. MAIN ST, L’ANSE
Questions? Contact Cecelia Waara at:
cwaara1@kbocc.edu
Learn more at greatlakesgreatread.org
[Image of the book cover: The Best Part of Us by Sally Cole-Misch, featuring a peaceful lake and mountain scene.]
[Great Lakes Great Read logo at the bottom: A green wave-like design and blue text reading “Great Lakes GREAT READ.”]
Small print at bottom:
The Great Lakes Great Read is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Great Lakes Writers’ Collaborative.](https://libraryofthegreatlakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Sally-Cole-Misch-Flyer-Updated-791x1024.jpeg)

![Flyer title:
2024–2025 LSSI All Team Kick-Off
Connect, Understand, & Cherish
Dinner & Dialogue with
Author, Sally Cole-Misch
[Background image: Clear water and shoreline of Lake Superior]
[Logo in top right corner: Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, with a stylized map of Lake Superior and the text:]
CONNECTING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
in the stewardship of Lake Superior and its watershed.
Main body text:
K–12 teachers & community partners are invited to attend Connect, Understand, & Cherish, the LSSI All Team Kick-Off and Dinner & Dialogue featuring author Sally Cole-Misch, 2024–25 winner of the Great Lakes Great Read award.
Reconnect with team members, meet new educators and community partners, and learn about upcoming professional learning and mini-grant opportunities.
Date: Monday, Sept 16th, 2024
Time: 4:00 pm (Eastern) Dinner
4:30 – 6:00 Meeting & Book Signing
Location: CCISD – Conference Room B
809 Hecla St. Hancock, MI
virtual meeting option available
[Yellow box on right side reads:]
Teachers in attendance will receive a copy of the book,
The Best Part of Us.
[Photo of Sally Cole-Misch near bottom]
[Logo at bottom: GREAT LAKES GREAT READ with stylized lake and book image]
Footer:
Dinner & SCECHs will be provided
Visit Our Website
www.lakesuperiorstewardship.org
Register:
solutionwhere.com/ww/ccisd
OR: https://forms.gle/Wm3nRcP5L5wLmsGSA
Bottom line of flyer:
This program is presented in partnership with the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and the Library of the Great Lakes.](https://libraryofthegreatlakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024LSSIKickOff_091624-2-791x1024.png)











