Top 15 Reasons Thursday at WLA Rocks

Haven't registered yet? Oh my gosh, then here are fifteen more reasons just for Thursday alone to encourage you to join the adventure! All of these have huge youth services components. You simply CAN'T say this year's conference has nothing for you!

7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m
1. Bookin' It 5K Fun Run & Walk   
New Members ROund Tables are sponsoring. Registration is $15, and you get a T-shirt!

8:45-10 am
2. Creating Quality Library Programming for Boys
Discover ways to make boys feel welcome, how to fill your library with the stuff they want and how to take gender out of the planning process. Melissa Carollo, Reference/Teen Librarian, Waupaca Public Library; Katie Kiekhaefer, Head of Youth Services, Community Library (Salem Silver Lake, Twin Lakes)

3. Explore the Wakanheza Project™  
Explore strategies for creating welcoming environments and interactions for children, young people, families, and ourselves. Melissa Binder, Deputy Director, Head of Youth Services, New Berlin Public Library; Kelly Wochinske, Supervisor, Central Library Children's Room, Milwaukee Public Library

4. Why WeLead?   
WeLead proteges and their mentors explain what they learned and achieved while in the program, and why they think YOU should become involved.

10:45-noon
5. Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Children's Book Award  
The Children's Book Award Committee discuss this year's winner and also the books they selected to honor as Outstanding Books.

6. Reach Out and Read: Libraries and Clinics Collaborate on Early Literacy Promotion
Learn how libraries can partner with clinics and hospitals to promote reading at early ages and draw families into libraries. Attendees can brainstorm and share new engagement ideas. Ruth Sias, Reach Out and Read Program; Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, Assistant Profressor of Pediatrics, UW-Madison School of Medicine

7. The World We Live InCome hear about a successful ten-year library/community network that builds youth's awareness of themselves and encourages understanding of our many multicultural societies.

8. It’s Not a Trapeze Act: 20 Tips to Achieve Home and Work Balance
Learn time-saving, mind-saving and family saving tips to create peaceful effectiveness in your job no matter who your clientele is and how big your library - or bigtop. Rhonda Gould, Youth Services and Special Needs Consultant, Lakeshores Library System, Waterford; Marge Loch-Wouters, Head of Youth Services, La Crosse Public Library; Jennifer Thiele, Director, Marinette County Consolidated Library Service, Marinette

2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
9. College Access Programming for Teens
Discover how you can provide college access programming by utilizing free services and resources to hold your own workshops on test preparation, college applications, admissions, financial aid and scholarships.Laurie Bartz, Young Adult Librarian and Diana McDonald, Reference Librarian, Hedburg Public Library; Sharon Hunter, Supervisor, Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs, DPI

10. Prepare to Be Challenged!While most public libraries have some sort of process allowing patrons to challenge works in the library’s collection that they find objectionable, the controversy in West Bend, Wisconsin, provides an opportunity to reexamine this process. Jean Preer, Professor, IU-SLIS, Indianapolis

4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
11. Collaborating for the Common Good: Bringing History to Life @ Your LibraryUsing the example of one public library's experience with the National History Day program, learn how you can create successful collaborations with local schools, teachers and students while promoting library resources and research skills.
nita Doering, Senior Archivist, Linda Jerome, Teen Librarian Cindy Mischnick, Reference Librarian, La Crosse Public Library; Dayce McAndrew, Holmen Middle School

12. Do You Read On Wisconsin?
 Find out about Read on Wisconsin programming possibilities, and share ideas of your own, at this program that will also feature some of the current titles for youth. Megan Schliesman and Merri Lindgren, Librarians, Cooperative Children's Book Center, Madison

13. More Ways to Increase Circulation in Your Youth Department
Statistics show that many libraries are seeing decreases in circulation. Come hear our story about the strategies we've been using that have resulted in a significant increase in our youth circulation. Katrina Collins, Youth Services Manager, Jodi Leslie, Assistant Librarian & Deb Andrews, Assistant Librarian, Neenah Public Library

5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
14. WLA and WLA Foundation Business Meeting - get the scoop on association news

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
15. Awards Banquet - celebrate your peers!

And rumor has it there's a twitter pub crawl being scheduled for after the banquet. Apparently, this is one party you can't afford to miss whether you tweet or not!