The Library of Michigan Goes to National Book Festival
Reference/Michigan Collection Librarian Mindy Babarskis attended the 2022 National Book Festival in Washington D.C. This year's festival theme is "Books Bring Us Together." As the exhibitor representing the Michigan Center for the Book and the Library of Michigan, she enjoyed promoting Michigan literature and meeting attendees with Michigan connections (see photo collage below).
Founded in 2001 by First Lady Laura Bush and then-Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, the Library of Congress National Book Festival is an annual literary event that brings together best-selling authors, poets and illustrators with thousands of readers for book talks, panel discussions, book signings and other engaging activities. Over the last several decades, the Festival has become one of the most prominent literary events in the nation [information taken from the website National Book Festival -- History].
The Michigan Center for the Book selected "R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul" as the 2022 Great Reads from Great Places Michigan title for the National Book Festival. Visit https://youtu.be/VIUapj3s5sY to watch the Author Conversation between Mindy and "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" author Carole Boston Weatherford.
Although the National Book Festival is over for 2022, there is plenty of great content available on the event's website: https://www.loc.gov/events/2022-national-book-festival/about-this-event/. We look forward to the next one in 2023!
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 A collage of images from Mindy's time at the 2022 National Book Festival, including photos with attendees with Michigan connections.
New Online Newspaper Titles
Several additional historical newspaper collections of Michigan papers have been added to the list of databases for Library of Michigan library cardholders. Now available are:
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The Bay City Times from 1889 - present
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Kalamazoo Gazette from 1837 - present
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The Saginaw News from 1881-2018
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The Sault News (including both The Sault Ste. Marie News from 1888 - 1900, and The Sault News from 2001 - present)
All these new collections are both browsable and keyword searchable. Access them and many other online Michigan newspapers from the past and present by going to the "Online Resources for Library Cardholders" page at www.Michigan.gov/LMdatabases.
 Front pages of newspapers from Saginaw, Kalamazoo, and Bay City in September 1922.
#HelpLMFind: Fraternal Order Assembly/Conclave Proceedings
The Library of Michigan has recently acquired several volumes of the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar of Michigan from the 1930s. Publications like these provide a wide range of information related to Michigan fraternal orders. They often include:
- Agendas and lists of primary participants at the yearly conclave or encampment
- Transcriptions of speeches
- Annual reports from committees within the order
- Election results of officers
- Directory of Subordinate Commanderies
- Memorials for deceased members
- And much more!
These publications are excellent resources for both family history researchers and scholars interested in the historical activities of the Knights Templar in Michigan. The Library of Michigan is always looking to acquire more volumes like these published by either the Knights Templar or other fraternal orders from the state of Michigan. Interested donors with Michigan fraternal order assembly/conclave proceedings can contact the Library of Michigan at 517-335-1477 or Librarian@Michigan.gov. Find a list of other items accepted by the Library of Michigan at www.Michigan.gov/LibraryGift.
 Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar of Michigan volumes from the 1930s.
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