October Virtual Program: The Public Land Survey System: Carving Michigan Out of the Northwest Territory
Thursday, October 1, 2026 - 6:30PM-7:30PM, Zoom
Register for this Program
The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) was established by the Land Ordinance of 1785 to create a standardized method for surveying and dividing public lands in the United States, primarily in territories west of the original colonies. Learn how the PLSS divides land locations into a grid system of townships and sections. Review key strategies for applying the PLSS to your family history research. .
Registration is required for all Zoom sessions. Find the full schedule of 2026 Virtual Programs with registration information at Michigan.gov/LMPublicPrograms.
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October 3, 2026 - Mid-Michigan Local History Conference
Historians, librarians, archivists, students, and all other local history practitioners are invited to join us on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing, MI for the Mid-Michigan Local History Conference. Featuring a keynote presentation and 2-tracks of breakout sessions, learn from fellow practitioners and enjoy opportunities to engage with other organizations around the Mid-Michigan region. This event is FREE to attend, but registration is required. Find registration information and full conference details at Michigan.gov/MMLHC. Direct questions to Librarian@Michigan.gov or 517-335-1477.
For those registered to attend as well as those coming as exhibitors and speakers, please review the following pages for more specific relevant to you before attending the conference:
The Mid-Michigan Local History Conference is sponsored by the following organizations:
Additional support is provided by the Library of Michigan Foundation.
Michigan Author Award Nomination Form - Coming in October
The Library of Michigan and Michigan Center for the Book will soon be accepting nominations for the 2027-2028 Michigan Author Award recipient. The nomination form is expected to go live in Mid-October. Learn more about the Michigan Author Award and see past recipients at Michigan.gov/MiAuthorAward.
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2026 Michigan Notable Books Author Conversations Videos
Library of Michigan staff and other individuals connected with the Michigan Notable Books program have started recording Author Conversations videos with authors from the 2026 Michigan Notable Books list. The videos (typically 45-60 minutes in length) allow viewers to explore the backgrounds of the authors, uncover their creative processes and hear readings from book selections. They also offer opportunities to engage with authors when individuals were unable to attend one of the author tour events.
The recording and editing process will take place throughout October, with videos becoming available starting in November. Viewers are also encouraged to explore conversations with past Michigan Notable Books authors. Recordings from 2020 through 2025 are available on YouTube as part of a growing collection of Author Conversations. Learn more about the Michigan Notable Books program at Michigan.gov/NotableBooks.
 Coming soon - 2026 Michigan Notable Books Author Conversations.
Michigan Soon Featured in "American Stories: A Reading Road Trip" From PBS Books
Michigan will soon join a growing collection of episodes from the "American Stories: A Reading Road Trip" series that spotlights the literary treasures across the United States. Produce by the Library of Congress, its Affiliated Centers for the Book, and PBS Books, each episode focuses on a different U.S. state or territory, showcasing the profound influence that local writers, poets, and storytellers have had on the cultural identity of their region. Each program also includes unforgettable authors, books, bookstores, libraries, and the real-life locations that inspired great works.
Library of Michigan staff have been compiling information on our state's iconic authors, unforgettable books, hidden-gem bookstores, amazing libraries, and the real-life locations that inspired great works to be included in Michigan's episode. Filming will commence this fall, and the episode is scheduled to be released in December. Learn more about the series and see past episodes featuring other U.S. states or territories by visiting: PBSbooks.org/ReadingRoadTrip
 Learn more about the video series that explores the vibrant literary heritage of the United States.
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