The Department of Literacy hosts the Local Authors' Panel each spring as an opportunity for local authors to share their craft in DPSCD's classroom libraries. Each year, the department: 

• Collects applications from local authors who wish to have their work featured in DPSCD classroom libraries 

• Assembles a panel of teachers to review the submitted titles for craft, relevance and quality  

• Provides principals with a list of approved titles and purchasing instructions should they wish to supplement classroom libraries using their school-based budgets 

How to Get Involved

Are you an author? Do you have a friend or family member who'd love an opportunity to have their work featured in classroom libraries?   

One way to get involved is to share this opportunity with local authors in your network, or to apply yourself if you have a published book available for purchase. Interested authors should apply by January 9, 2026, using this form.  Additionally, four physical copies of each title must be submitted to the Division of Literacy, 9th Floor, Fisher Building, 3011 E. Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202, by that date. Each author can submit up to three different titles. 

Are you a passionate teacher about classroom libraries? Do you want to help recommend texts to schools interested in purchasing supplemental library books?  

District teachers and staff can get involved by reviewing books for possible inclusion in a catalog of texts that principals can purchase from their budget this school year by joining a selection group. If you would like to review and recommend texts, please apply here by January 16, 2026. 

DPSCD Staff selected to participate will attend a 60-minute, virtual, after-school training session on January 28, 2026. Selected staff will also have a period to review titles as well as solicit further input from students following the initial training session. The total time commitment will be less than six hours. 

To avoid a conflict of interest, only staff who are not submitting texts for review are eligible to participate in the selection group.