Monday, March 18, 2024

Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants Available

Thanks to Kristie Hauer at the WVLS Youth Services Information Exchange Facebook page for the tip!


Dollar General has a number of grants that libraries are eligible for.  They have a new grant portal for 2024 that you can use to apply for Youth Literacy grants

Per their webpage: We support programs in Dollar General hometown communities that are helping individuals of all ages take their next steps toward a bright future through literacy and education. Please review the information below to see if your organization meets the basic requirements for our grant programs.

  • Organizations must be a 501c3 nonprofit, school or library and be within 15 miles of a Dollar General store or distribution center. 
  • Selected grantees will be a direct service provider and fiscally responsible.
  • Funding supports literacy initiatives that are helping individuals learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency test or learn English.

YOUTH LITERACY GRANTS

Schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations who help K-12 students that are below grade level or having trouble reading are eligible to apply. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:
  • Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
  • Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
  • Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs

Deadlines for Youth Literacy grants are April 25, 2024 (grant announcement date: 8/22/24)

Find more information about the application process here.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Book Resumes Also on TeachingBooks

Yesterday, we highlighted a helpful national resource on "book resumes" that are a great source of information when books are challenged. 

Coincidentally, yesterday the Badgerlink Bulletin published a post highlighting TeachingBook's "Book Resume" resource free to all WI libraries with Badgerlink subscriptions.

They write: "Support for your title selections can put a strain on already-limited time. New to BadgerLink resource TeachingBooks are Book Resumes—immediate, authoritative information about the children’s and young adult books in your collections. Now within seconds, library staff can produce and share a consistent, comprehensive report that includes full professional reviews, information about state and national award recognitions, reading levels, book samples, and so much more."

Check out the helpful blog post to get the scoop on how to access this home-grown resource.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Free Tool for Defending IF

As seen in the Wisconsin Valley Library Service March 2024 Newsletter


In a world where people’s right to read is often threatened, various groups including librarians, educators, parents, and community advocates play a vital role in ensuring that diverse and thought-provoking books remain accessible to everyone. 

To help in this effort, Unite Against Book Bans has teamed up with the publishing community to create a helpful resource called Book Résumés. Book Résumés share concise summaries of  books that includes an overview of the plot or subject matter, insights from professional journals and critics, recognitions the book has received, a review of how the book contributes to learning and understanding, and information on how the title has been successfully retained in schools and libraries despite challenges. 

"When faced with demands for censorship, having a well-prepared summary and evidence-based argument to share with book review committees, elected officials, board members and community members can make a significant difference,” said Kristie Hauer, WVLS Public Services Consultant. “Because they detail each title’s significance, educational value, and impact, Book Résumés serve as a powerful tool for librarians, educators, and all who champion the right to read.”

Kristie said book summaries are available in PDF format and easy to download, print and share. 

Unite Against Book Bans collaborates closely with several publishers to create accurate and inclusive summaries of books. The initiative has garnered support from multiple publishers who recognize the importance of preserving diversity in literature. On February 20, Unite Against Book Bans released hundreds of book summaries. 

More summaries will be released in time for National Library Week in April. There is a also a WVLS Digital Byte on this resource. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

STEM Learning for Young Kids


A recent blog post from Jennifer Sullivan at Adventures in Storytime (and Beyond) blog , addresses how we can create a STEM mindset in our early literacy programming and practices with young kids at the library.  

I find her perspective especially valuable because in her career she was also a science education teacher and biomedical researcher. So when she writes about STEM, I always listen.

In this post she explores how to be successful with doing STEM with the very youngest kids. Jennifer writes: "As many of us know, "STEM" programming for school-aged kids and teens spread from the educational system to libraries a decade or so ago (although science and nature programs have been a part of library program for longer than that), and it should be no surprise that now it has trickled down into programming for preschoolers, toddlers, and even babies!

But, does this mean we are having toddlers do full-on chemistry experiments and microscopy as the images above might suggest? Absolutely not! For one, there is the obvious safety issues, for another many advanced STEM activities are not developmentally appropriate for younger children for other reasons. In fact, you do not have to have separate, official "STEM" programs at all in order to support STEM learning in young children! Many of the things we already do in storytime or other programs for the very young support STEM learning; we may just need to be more intentional about it and adjust our mindset."

Click here to read the full post. [Supporting STEM Learning in Young Children. Sullivan, Jennifer. Adventures in Storytime -and Beyond blog. February 25, 2024.]


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Girls Who Code Free Summer Programs

As seen in NFLS Nic News Friday February 23, 2024

These free virtual summer programs are open to 9-12th graders who identify as girls or non-binary. Any coding experience level is welcome! In addition to our free programs, we offer a financial support grant of up to $300 and laptop and hotspot access for eligible students.

This year, students can choose to learn new coding skills in game design, web design, cybersecurity, or data science and artificial intelligence. As they build computer science skills, students will learn about the many diverse careers in tech through virtual events with professionals in the field.
Regular-decision applications are due by March 22, 2024. Apply here. 

Please share this Summer Programs Flyer with 9-12th graders along with the blurb below:

Girls Who Code’s Free Virtual Summer Programs

​Ready to shape your future and join an empowering sisterhood? Become a coder this summer with Girls Who Code!

Girls Who Code’s free virtual Summer Programs empower you to build skills, community, and a professional network for your future, in the ways that work best for you. Choose your adventure with two free programs:

  • Curious to create your own computer games? In our two-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP), you’ll learn how to design your own games using p5.js, a JavaScript library for creative coding. Join classmates and our dedicated Teaching Teams in live virtual classrooms hosted by industry-leading companies like MetLife, Bank of America, Logitech, and Synchrony. We’ve got three rounds to fit your schedule: June 14 to June 28, July 8 to July 19, and July 29 to August 9.
  • Excited to explore the biggest topics in tech at your own pace? Our six-week Self-Paced Program offers tracks in Web Development, Cybersecurity, and – new for 2024 – Data Science + AI! From July 1 to August 9, you get to decide how and when to build your coding skills, and you can always ask questions in our Discord server or optional Student Hours.
  • The Self-Paced Program is for current 9th-12th grade girls and non-binary students with beginner to advanced coding experience, including program alums.
Apply here by the deadline, March 22, 2024. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to level up your coding skills, kickstart your future, tap into lifelong career support, and have fun along the way!

Need help? Learn more with our webinars, or FAQs, or email us at summer@girlswhocode.com

If you have any questions or need any other resources to encourage students to apply, please contact:

Rachel Pierce, Regional Outreach Coordinator
Rachel.Pierce@girlswhocode.com 

girlswhocode.com

 


CSLP Citizen Science Webinar Opportunity

 

SciStarter helps bring together millions of curious and concerned people in the world; the thousands of opportunities to engage in real-world research questions in collaboration with researchers, communities, organizations, and companies; and the resources, products, and services that enable people to pursue and enjoy these activities while learning and accelerating important research. Together, we can help answer questions that cannot be answered alone. When we’re all involved, the science is better.
Learn More Here
Community Driven Science Adventure(s) at Your Library this Summer!

Join SciStarter, STAR Net and the National Girls Collaborative Project to gain ideas and resources for connecting public engagement in scientific research with this year’s Collaborative Summer Library Program theme: Adventure Begins at Your Library™. From counting pollinators and taking photos of biodiversity to observing clouds and measuring light pollution, citizen and community science is a way for everyone to join in the adventures of science.

March 27, 2024 • 2:00-3:00 PM CST
Webinar Registration Here

Monday, March 11, 2024

Teen Taylor Swift Party


In a recent SLJ Teen Librarian Toolbox post, the ever clever Cindy Shutts shared her tips and takeaways on hosting a Taylor Swift Party.  From friendship bracelets to karoake and photo booths, it a program you can easily replicate!

Click here to read the post!

 

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!


Once or twice  a month on weekends, YSS posts round-ups of ads that are sent to us or that we come across. If you have a position opening up and would like to see it on the YSS blog, please forward the job ad link/descriptions to the YSS blog at the email address listed in the header above the day's blog post.

Here is another early March listing:

Mead (Sheboygan) Public Library      Associate Librarian (full-time)

The primary purpose of this position is to work as part of a team to reach the organization’s stated goals and objectives for the entire Mead Public Library public services effort. This role performs paraprofessional work serving library patrons directly or indirectly and has oversight and decision-making responsibilities.   This position interacts with the public to perform circulation, basic reference, and readers advisory services. This position may also be responsible for the creation and implementation of library programs and outreach events both at the library and at other locations in the community. Work is performed under the direction of the Public Services Manager or the Support Services Manager.

Job closes March 17, 2024.

For application, please stop here

Friday, March 8, 2024

Chair's Corner - February 2024 YSS Board Updates

This month's February YSS board meeting update is from Cathy Pescinski, our YSS 2024 Chair and Teen Librarian at Shawano County Library.

The YSS Board met February 26th by Zoom. Marge (our Supreme Blog Master) told us the blog had over 20,000 views last month (that's awesome!) and there will be two new people adding to the blog going forward. Marge is always open to new blog contributors, so please contact her (at the email address above in the blog header) if you would like to add some content or if there is specific content you feel would be helpful for you.

Laura Sauser (WLA Executive Director Extraordinaire) shared she will be sending out a survey from Wisconsin After-School Network about after school services, WAPL registration will be opening soon, dates for the 2024 Virtual Performer's Showcase are being explored, and Great Lakes Great Reads Speakers will be announced on Earth Day, April 22.

Jeni Schomber (DPI (Not) Undercover Operative) informed us Shannon Schultz, Public Library Administration Consultant, will be leaving DPI to take over the South Central Library System Director position, and Bruce Smith, Library Services Project Coordinator, retired on Feb 23, 2024.

Linda Jerome (WLA/YSS Liaison in Chief) said work is continuing on the virtual YSS conference for 2025.

The next YSS Presents webinar will be Libraries Without Limits: Insights from OTs, PTs and SLPs on Thursday, May 9, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration is open - Free for WLA Members/$25.00 for Nonmembers. https://wla.memberclicks.net/librarieswithoutlimits#! A survey will be coming out  to get input on topics for future webinars. 

A reminder for available resources:
  • Unite Against Banned Books - new resource/toolkit 
                BookRésumés - Unite Against Book Bans - Book Résumés

  • Reminder of WLA intellectual freedom toolkit as well
                        https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/intellectual-freedom-resources
Lastly, Anne Moser (Jedi Lake Librarian) is working on a list of books for Great Lakes Great Reads specifically for children and teens. 
 
Our next meeting is March 25th. If you have any questions, concerns, or input you would like to add to our meeting or about YSS in general, don't hesitate to reach out to me at cpescinski@shawanolibrary.org. We are here to represent all of you and to develop meaningful resources for the membership. 

Also, if any of these activities sound interesting to you, please consider running for a Board position this fall! Reach out to any of us for more information, stop us and say hi at any conference, or drop in on one of the YSS socials.

[Note: Want to read the January 2024 board meeting minutes that the YSS board just approved at their February meeting? YSS members (after logging in) can access the 2023 YSS board minutes as well as previous years’ minutes at the YSS page of the Wisconsin Library Association website. Do you want to read the minutes but are not a YSS member? Please consider becoming a member by joining WLA so you can stay updated on all the YSS action.] 

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Re-thinking Registration Webinar


Re-thinking Registration (IFLS webinar)   

Wednesday, March 20, 10-10:30 am  Register

Do you spend a lot of time creating and maintaining spreadsheets for registration? Does staff spend extra time finding and checking names on registration forms? Do you find yourself wondering why you are collecting names, phone numbers and other information? Do you even use that data? In an attempt to make her job and her co-workers' jobs easier, Kathy Larson (River Falls Public Library) has completely gotten rid of spreadsheets that track Summer Reading Registration and 1000 Books before Kindergarten Registration. If you are interested in ways to continue to count the numbers but are sick of spreadsheets this webinar is for you, and just in time for summer program planning!

Register

Note: because this webinar is shorter than one hour it will not count as a contact hour for the purposes of director certification.

This offering is also on the IFLS calendar.  Can’t come at that time?  No worries, you can look for the recording on the IFLS website:  https://iflsweb.org/knowledge-base/ifls-webinars-workshops-quicklinks/