Google and Slate love Libraries

Google will now show E-book holdings at your local library!

I love any opportunity to show patrons how easy it is to find titles they want.  For youth services in particular, I like offering ebooks as a way to get popular sequels.

From the article:

"Google’s new e-book listings may actually help libraries. While the features lists local holdings of digital content, you still have to click through to the library’s own site to make use of it. What’s more, it doesn’t tell you whether the title you’re interested in is currently available. (Public libraries license finite numbers of any given e-book, just as they can only buy so many copies of a physical volume.) Accordingly, Google isn’t—at least in this case—pretending to have all the information that we need. That initial uncertainty may be a good thing, since the mere act of visiting a library’s site invites you to look at what else it offers, even if the thing you came in search of isn’t there."  

Leah Langby is 2017 WI Librarian of the Year

A hearty congratulations to Leah Langby, the newly announced winner of the WLA  Librarian of the Year Award. Her nominator wrote:

Leah Langby is the heart of youth services and library development in northwestern Wisconsin.  Leah’s many accomplishments include maintaining the youth services blog, “Keeping up with Kids” for seven years and being an active and vocal proponent of economically disadvantaged populations through her many collaborations. Care, commitment, passion and humility were frequent refrains in Leah’s nomination. Libraries all over the state are better because of Leah Langby, the 2017 WLA Librarian of the Year! 

YSS sends our very best congratulations to a wonderful friend, leader and peer!

Please come and celebrate her honor at WLA at the Dells Thursday Oct 19 evening at the Awards and Honors Reception 5:30-7pm!

Click here to read about all the other amazing WLA honorees!

Youth Services Workshop: Community Engagement

Wednesday, October 4, 2017 

9:00am - 12:00pm

Presenters: Alicia Woodland, Kristi Helmkamp, Shawn Brommer
New Berlin Public Library, 15105 Library Lane, New Berlin 53151

Join us and learn how libraries can reach out and become more involved in the community with children's and teen services.   Find some unconventional outreach programs that are irresistible and impactful; learn how you can take care of yourself while providing services to others; see and talk with some libraries who have done some projects that shows community involvement and engagement.  More information and registration is available at https://sewilibraries.org/event/youth-services-workshop-community-engagement/

Talking IS Teaching

Leah Langby writes in the IFLS blog, Keeping Up with Kids,  about an early literacy community of practice she is part of in the Chippewa Valley and an initiative they are working on:

There's a group of early childhood professionals (librarians, teachers, family literacy providers, childcare consultants, and more) in the Chippewa Valley working on an initiative to address the 30 million word gap identified by researchers Hart and Risely in 2003.  What's the 30 million word gap?  It is the difference in the number of words spoken to children, depending on their family/childcare situation, by the time they reach age three.  Some hear 30 million fewer words by age three than their counterparts.  The research suggests that kids from lower income families are more likely to hear fewer words.

They are using a valuable resource to help them get started: Talking is Teaching.

To read the rest of the KUWK blog post and link to resources, click here.

Program Ideas from the YSS Regional Meetup

Librarians are amazing people and it is a joy to get to spend time with them and to share ideas with our colleagues. YSS Members and other youth services librarians from around the state came to last Friday's YSS Regional Meetup co-hosted by the Beaver Dam Community Library and the Columbus Public Library. Besides talking about books and reading, one of the agenda activities was a program swap.

Here is a list of the programs that attendees shared:

• Bad Art Night - 20 minute challenge using leftover craft materials; family friendly
• Booktrailer Filmmaking - using 21st century skills to create booktrailers for teens by teens
• Pokémon Club: What Would (insert character's name) Read  Bookmarks
• Afterhours Family Fort Night - reading together in their forts; family friendly
• Bottle Flipping Olympics - masking tape the only supply required, stations were set up with skill challenges, see YouTube for amazing bottle flipping videos
• Marauders Map Scavenger Hunt - adaptable to other themes, scalable event
• Kindness Rocks - very popular in libraries and in communities
• Emoji Magnets - popular with teens, but good for all ages
• I Survived The Library - various challenges taken from the themes of the I Survived series
• Enamel Pins with Shrinky Dinks - white works better than clear plastic for this
• Touch a Truck - arrange for a firetruck, heavy equipment, police car, etc. to be available for exploration in the library parking lot
• Footloose Friday - about six songs on a playlist, encourage adults to participate with their child
• Paperbag Robots - using grocery sacks and other assorted leftovers and recyclable supplies
• Book Boogie - based on the book "Is Everyone Ready for Fun?"
• Parent & Child Book Club - send invite letters with reading specialists to good readers
• Craft to Go or Discovery to Go Kits - circulate leftover storytime or program crafts or activities in a barcoded bag with instructions and list of any supplies like tape or glue needed to complete; reuse the barcoded bag for other to go kits whenever they're available

If you'd like to contact the librarian that shared a specific program for more details, send an email request to Sarah Cournoyer at sarah (at) beaverdamlibrary (dot) org and she'll send you the contact information.

What's Up at WLA Conference Friday Oct 20?

WLA conference planners are UNSTOPPABLE. You must stay for Friday!!  Here's what's in store for youth programs!

8:45- 9:30 am

Connecting with Communities: Digital Marketing and Beyond!!!
Cole Zrostlik, River Falls Public Library

You know people love your library, but where are they when it's time to try your new maker program, meet a local author or attend your after-hours teen program? Harness the enthusiasm of your most loyal library users to attract a broader audience to your programs. Learn how to translate real-life community connections, data, and personal observations into a digital strategy that will engage patrons and save you time, energy and worry. Attendees will learn about writing with personas, short and simple survey data, free digital marketing tools, and to embracing and harnessing the connections of community partners to advocate for their libraries and advertise their programs.

Group Problem Solving with Evidence-Based Case Discussion
Leah Langby, Indianhead Federated Library System, Eau Claire; Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison; Sue Abrahamson, Waupaca Area Public Library

Birth to Three practitioners in Wisconsin developed Evidence-Based Case Discussions to help each other resolve complicated situations with the children and families they serve. The technique is extremely useful for helping untangle knotty library problems as well-it has been used successfully to help librarians feel empowered to address situations ranging from moving forward with a stalled early literacy area to staffing challenges to working with a demanding patron. We will demonstrate how this process works with a real library situation, and send participants home with the tools they will need to implement this powerful technique in their own libraries.

Serving Youth in Juvenile Justice Programs

René Bue, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville; Laurie Bartz, Hedberg Public Library, JanesvilleYouth who are incarcerated spend a lot of time in their cells with little to do. Learn how the program provided by Hedberg Public Library to the juveniles at the Rock County Youth Services Center not only provides entertainment but also an opportunity to learn and grow. You will receive information to take back with you so you can consider doing this type of program at one of the other centers close to your library.

9:40-10:25 am
Fear Not: Coding for the Rest of Us!
Andrea Stepanik, Brown County Library, Green Bay; Gillian Dawson, Brown County Library, Green Bay
Do you cringe at the thought of running coding programs for children and teens? Fear not! Learn how librarians at the Brown County Library have implemented coding events using tech-focused STEM Kits. From Code-a-pillars for toddlers to Coding Escape Rooms and Arduino microcontrollers for t(w)eens, we've got you covered! With options for every budget and ages 3-18, you'll leave inspired to start coding programs at your library!

Reach One Teach One

Ehryn Barthelm, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota; Sarah Joynt, Rochester, MN, Public Library
Join us for an interactive session about the reality of what teens and young adults are thinking about, dealing with and experiencing related to sexual health, sexuality, and gender expression. Learn about some best practices and resources for connecting with teens and providing them with important information about sensitive topics.

10:35-11:20 am

Authors on Authors: An Insider Look at Today's Middle Grade Fiction

Sally Pla, San Diego, CA; Lindsey Becker, Paddock Lake, WI; Darcy Miller, Prairie du Sac, WI
A survey of the latest in middle-grade coming-of-age literature, from the perspective of three debut middle-grade authors with Wisconsin roots. We'll talk about our personal writing journeys, about connecting with kids, and the special importance of libraries to middle graders.

Today is the last day for early bird registration. Don't delay!!

WLA Early Bird Registration ENDS Monday!

Monday, September 25th is the deadline for Early Bird Registration for the WLA Conference.

Save $45 or more by registering now.
And, register now to get the chance to win a $50 gift card to Double Cut Charcoal and Grill (at the Kalahari).

Don't Wait.
Don't Hesitate.
Save Money.
Register Today.

YSS Powerhouse Presents: STEAM Programming for the STEAM-Anxious

Wednesday, October 4

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Are you intrigued by the push to do library programs that feature science, technology, engineering, art and math, but intimidated by the technical skills you do not possess?  Feeling pressure to put together some STEAM offerings but worried that you will just pass on your anxiety about math?  Worried to try something only to have it fail miserably?  Or just not that interested in the STEAM craze, but getting requests from your community?  Julie Kinney (Marathon County), Jenna Gilles-Turner (Chippewa Falls), and Emily Zorea (Richland Center) will share tips and ideas to bolster your confidence and interest, and put STEAM programming in your grasp.

Register HERE.

Fall=Learning!

Every fall, I for one get that excited "back to school" buzz!  You too?  Looking for great online courses you can take to freshen up your programming, selection or work life in general?

Check out the fabulous resources offered locally from your system, via online learning spaces, or from regional universities.  Here are a few coming up:

http://www.ala.org/alsc/elearning/courses

http://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/children.html 

https://ischool.wisc.edu/continuing-education/

Share your favorite resources for learning on the job in comments!

Literacy Calendar

YSS has decided not to write it's own literacy calendar for the upcoming year, but will instead use and promote the calendar created by Reading Is Fundamental (RIF.org).  The calendar is available in both English and Spanish!  Check out the link below to explore this great resource.

https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/calendars

Opportunities for You to Get Involved with YSS at WLA

Looking for a way to be more involved? Attending WLA? YSS has three volunteer opportunties available to members!

YSS Preconference Assistance
Time: Tuesday, October 17 12:00-5:30 PM

Volunteers will be working virtually with Tessa Michaelson Schmidt prior to the preconference with logistics, marketing, and event preparations. Volunteers must also register to be at the preconference, and to help in-person with setup of the preconference, put together any handouts, greet participants as they arrive, help keep program running smoothy and assist with any clean up.

WLA Street Team
Time: Phone meeting before WLA (time to be chosen by volunteers) and various times throughout the conference.

Volunteers will be working with YSS board memebers to set up the YSS booth, assist with YSS social on Thursday evening at 7:15 PM, assist with coordination of get-to-know you game that is top secret and cannot be disclosed on this google sheet. You do not have to attend ALL of WLA to participate.

YSS Booth
Time: Throughout WLA

Sit at the YSS booth, greet those who stop by, answer questions, encourage membership and volunteering opportunties and meet great people! The YSS booth is located in the exhibit hall next to the CCBC.

If you are attending WLA, are a YSS member AND would like to help out please sign up for a spot HERE!  If you aren't able to volunteer, stop by the YSS Booth and say hello.


Questions? Email Terry Ehle at tehle (at) lesterlibrary (dot) org

Take Charge of Your Professional Development and Growth

If you are looking for ways to grow your professional development and competencies, here is a resource developed by 2016-2017 ALA President Julie Todaro’s presidential initiative task force to assist school librarians. They could be informative for public librarians, too. See more of "Libraries Transform: The Expert in the Library" rubrics and resources HERE.

You can also find links to the competencies for both the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), as well as other resources and webinar recordings on the WI Department of Public Instruction's Youth and Inclusive Services page HERE.

And remember all of the awesome opportunities available at the WLA Conference and Preconference on October 17-20 at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells, too.

Many library systems have a page on their website dedicated to continuing education. One such is the South Eastern Wisconsin (SEWI) Area. You can view their list of onsite and online opportunities HERE.

What's Up at the WLA Confernce Thursday Oct 19?

More Youth stuff! Plus keynote, and awards and honors and exhibits and silent auction..and....well, you get the picture. The Dells is the place to be!

7:00-8:30 am
YSS Business Meeting. Be there (yawn) or be sqaure!

10:45-11:30 am

Creating &Telling Tales of Suspense: Enabling Tweens & Teens to Adapt and Tell Urban Legends

Rebecca Oshlag, StoriesGalorious, Batavia, NY; Rachel Oshlag, StoriesGalorious, Batavia, NY
This session will take you through the steps of a three-part series that you can use in your library to assist young adults to locate, easily prepare and tell stories designed to raise the maximum number of goose bumps in their listeners. By the end you will have your own story to tell and take back. You also will be able to set up the workshops for young adults in your library.

Free Is Key - Community, Access and the Public Good

Dawn Wacek, La Crosse PL; Katherine Elchert, Rice Lake PL; Terry Ehle, Lester PL Manitowoc
This panel will explore the gamut of their approaches to fines and fees in libraries. Options to consider include everything from one-day amnesty programs to fully fine free libraries! They'll explore why they fine, why we ought to break free, and how you can make it happen in your library no matter the size. 

1:30-2:05 pm

Using the Five Practices in School-Age & Teen Programming: Including Partner Collaboration & Evaluation

Kymberley Pelky, Oneida Community Library
This session will share ideas on incorporating the five literacy practices in lifelong learning, specifically for school-age and teen programming. The five practices are read, write, talk, play and sing. Along with these ideas, suggestions on how to collaborate with partners will be given for each practice. Finally, ideas on measurable outcomes, assessment, and evaluation will be presented along with handouts for attendees to take back with them to foster their own ways of incorporating these ideas into their programs, services and practices.

What Teens Want Parents to Know about Social Media

Julie Kinney, Marathon County Public Library, Wausau
After attending a program about managing your digital footprint, the presenter went to her Teen Advisory Group and asked them what they thought was important for parents to know about social media and how teens use it. Together, they created a powerpoint presentation that highlights statistics that show parents what teens are concerned about, what they use social media for and what programs they use. This program will look at how the teens contributed information, what they contributed and what the final presentation looks like.

2:15-3 pm

Burr/Worzalla Children's Book and Notable Author/Illustrator Winner

The Children's Book Award Committee of the WLA Youth Services Section examined and evaluated 2016 titles by authors and illustrators with a Wisconsin connection. Come hear about this year's honorees and meet Sarah L. Thomson, the creator of this year's winning title, Deadly Flowers: A Ninja's Tale. 

3:45-4:30 pm

Circulate Anything: How to Increase Access and Circulation with Nontraditional Collections

Minetta Lippert, Dwight Foster PL, Fort Atkinson; Jane Oliver-Purton, Delafield Public Library
American Girl dolls, crafts, science kits, board games, knitting needles and more. Libraries can circulate so much more than just books and movies. Nontraditional collections can boost circulation numbers and enable families to engage in interesting experiences that they might not be able to afford otherwise. Additionally, we will discuss the logistics of implementing nontraditional collections, including cataloging, packaging and counting pieces. What nontraditional collections could you add to your library?

School and Public Library Collaboration

Jennifer Bernetzke, Schreiner Memorial Library, Lancaster; Michelle Uppena, Lancaster Community Schools
Lancaster's school district and public library have worked together time and time again to enrich the lives of the students in their community. From early literacy offerings to second grade field trips to get each student his/her first library card, all the way through high school study hours during finals week, the school and library work together tirelessly to ensure that each student has access to the resources and learning opportunities he or she needs to be successful. Join Lancaster School District's Library Media Specialist and Schreiner Memorial Library's director to learn about some of the collaborations that have developed in their community.

Sing, Sing a Storytime: Integrating Music Into Your Storytime

Lori Bell, Middleton Public Library
After a short introduction outlining the basic research into the importance of music in early literacy development, the majority of the presentation will focus on the practical realities of using music in a storytime. Lori will address the use of technology, instruments, a capella singing, and rhythmic chants, and provide solutions for various scenarios. Participants will leave with resources they can use right away at their next storytime.

4:40-5:25 pm

Libraries Are for Everyone: Creating a Welcoming and Affirming Environment in the Library

Jenni Frencham, Columbus Public Library; Mo Frencham, PPD, Inc., Madison; Jenna Friebel, Oak Park (IL) Public Library
This program will highlight practical ways that a library can become a welcoming and inviting place for the LGBT+ community through policy, collection development, programming, and daily interactions with patrons.

Storytelling 101: Techniques for Telling

Rebecca Oshlag, StoriesGalorious, Batavia, NY; Rachel Oshlag, StoriesGalorious, Batavia, NY
This hands-on workshop, conducted by professional storytelling duo StoriesGalorious, is an introduction to the art of storytelling. It will include basic techniques related to selecting, learning, practicing and telling stories. Opportunities for practice and discussion will be provided. The workshop will end with the identification of various applications of storytelling in libraries.

6:30-7:30 pm
YSS Booktalk and Social

Early bird registration continues until 9/25! Take advantage of great rates for a power-packed conference!

iPhones, tablets, and talking, oh my...

This recent (ish) study has been floating around Facebook lately and being shared in local parenting groups.  How are you recommending families use handheld devices?  We recommend various educational apps and ways to include screen time as a part of a balanced (and realistic) home life.  But we don't often do much in the way of "shoulds" as far as time or limits.

  

"By their 18-month check-ups, 20 percent of the children had daily average handheld device use of 28 minutes, as reported by their parents. Using a screening tool for language delay, researchers found that the more handheld screen time a child’s parent reported, the more likely the child was to have expressive speech delays."

http://www.aappublications.org/news/2017/05/04/PASScreenTime050417

http://leader.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=2647387

POSTPONED: YSS Powerhouse Presents: Where Are They?! Getting Out to Get Teens In

Please note that this webinar has been POSTPONED until early 2018.

A webinar hosted by the Indianhead Federated Library System and sponsored by YSS.
 

Friday, October 6, 1:00 pm

Are you struggling to get teens in your doors?  Let YSS members Alicia Woodland (Appleton) and Emily Sanders (Williams Bay) share their stories about doing programming where the teens are and turn your struggle into success.

Register HERE.

Free Webinars on Supporting Immigrant/Refuge Families

The National Center for Families Learning has scheduled two free webinars (September 28 and September 29) entitled: Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families.

The first webinar with Margie McHugh:

Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families, Part 1 (webinar)

Thursday, September 28, 2017, 1:00 PM CDT

Join NCFL and Margie McHugh with the Migration Policy Institute for a discussion of what you can do to help families at your organization. Ms. McHugh’s work focuses on education quality and access issues for immigrants and their children from early childhood through K-12 and adult, post-secondary, and workforce skills programs.

The second webinar is with Judy Mortrude:

Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families, Part 2 (webinar)
Friday, September 29, 2017, 1:00 PM CDT
Join NCFL and Judy Mortrude with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) to increase your awareness of the national data and policy conversation; learn how to advocate for a spectrum of issues impacting immigrant/refugee families; learn how to better support families at risk in our current environment; discover ways to use federal and state laws/funds to the greatest impact; and find out how to promote family literacy’s role in two-generation solutions.

 For more information and registration links, stop here

Still Time to Sign-up for YSS Regional Meetup - South Central Area

There's still time to sign up if you haven't done so yet. We hope you'll join us from whichever part of the state you're in and be inspired. Stay tuned for future meetups in your part of the state, too!



YSS Regional Meet Up - South Central Area
Friday, Sept. 22 | 12:00-4:00 PM
No Cost

Starts at:     Beaver Dam Community Library, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Ends at:     Columbus Public Library, Columbus, WI 53925
(The drive between libraries is approximately 15 minutes.)

Agenda:
12:00 pm     Lunch and welcome at Beaver Dam Community Library
12:30 pm     Program Swap, Discussion, and BDCL Tour
3:00 pm       Columbus Library Tour and snacks....

Please bring a Teen/Tween, STEAM, passive, or other successful program to share. Bring a friend or colleague that isn't a YSS member yet and let them see the benefits YSS membership has to offer.

Please RSVP and indicate your lunch preference here.

Questions? Email Sarah Cournoyer at sarah (at) beaverdamlibrary (dot) org

What's Up at WLA Conference Wednesday Oct 18?

SO. MUCH.GOOD.STUFF. Ok, here's the run-down of youth -focused programs but of course there are mounds more (keynote; exhibits; WLA membership meeting; SLIS/SOIS reunions; Foundation Fundraiser Trivia)

10:45-11:30 am
Community Conversation and the Power of Story: Supporting Transgender Youth in Public Libraries
Shauna Koszegi, Sun Prairie PL; Catherine Baer, Rosemary Garfoot Public Library, Cross Plains
Public libraries have become an important venue for community discussions on sensitive topics. By providing education and reliable information, we can foster dialogue and transform our communities. Librarians in a variety of communities are finding success by partnering with schools, local government and organizations. This session will present some of those success stories, providing tools and resources to help you develop successful programming around topics that may be outside of your comfort zone.

Plan Less, Program More! How to Collaborate with Regional Libraries to Bring Larger Scale Youth Programs to Your Communities
Rebekah Palmer, Osceola Public Library; Martha Kaempffer, St, Croix Falls Public Library; Jerissa Koenig, Amery Area Public Library
Youth librarians in small libraries are often solely responsible for planning, promoting, implementing and evaluating youth programs. With time constraints it can be challenging to do this successfully. In an effort to share planning responsibilities and to increase program output, three librarians from small, regional libraries are working collaboratively to offer larger scale youth programs to their communities. Hear how they combined their strengths to bring three Harry Potter parties to their respective libraries.

11:40-1:10 pm

YSS Luncheon with Andrea Davis Pinkney

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of more than 30 books. She has been named “One of the 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business” by The Network Journal. With more than three decades of corporate diversity experience, including her work as a Senior Editor at Essence magazine, and as the founder of her own African American branded entity at the Walt Disney Company, Andrea is uniquely qualified to impart insights and inspiration on fostering workplace diversity and communicating diversity in popular media. Andrea Davis Pinkney will discuss the role libraries can and do play in creating welcoming and inclusive communities, and how her work as a book creator supports these efforts.

1:20-2:05 pm

LibraryNOW: Library Cards for All!

Joan Johnson, Milwaukee Public Library; Lisa Chatman, Milwaukee Public Schools; Steve Heser, Milwaukee County Federated Library System, Milwaukee; Petra Duecker, Milwaukee Public Library; Victoria Sanchez, Milwaukee Public LibraryDreaming of issuing library cards to your entire school district? Now you can. Hear how 65,100 students received digital cards that give them access to all public library e-resources, simply by using their student ID number. Learn how to collaborate with your school district and library system, craft a data-sharing agreement, design an education program for students and teachers, create a student-friendly brand, and gather data to measure your success.

2:15-3 pm

Coding Initiative Update   Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Department of Public Instruction, Madison

Have you found your coding path? Or are you still searching for an intersection between public libraries and computational thinking? The Coding Initiative in Wisconsin Public Libraries is a multi-year project facilitating the whys and hows of coding for library staff and library users of all ages. This session will highlight the online Coding Pathways tools and feature coding stories from libraries around the state. Coding newbies and veterans welcome!

Publish and Promote: Sharing your Successes and Stories with Children's Services Colleagues
Sharon Verbeten, Editor, Children and Libraries, Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), DePere, WI
Scoring your library successes is one great accomplishment; sharing those stories is even better-for both your library's promotion as well as for the good of the profession. Sharon Verbeten, editor of the ALSC journal Children and Libraries, will discuss best practices for submitting research articles, essays, short features, photographs, interviews and more, to this national peer-reviewed journal as well as to other venues.

Revolutionary Ideas: Fan Days, Cons and Large Scale Interactive Programs
Katie Guzek, Brown County Library, Green Bay; Clare Kindt, Brown County Library, Green Bay; Angela Zuidmulder, Brown County Library, Green Bay
Don't throw away your shot to plan and present a large scale event! Looking for quality over quantity? Planning a signature event? Brown County Library has held several successful large scale interactive programs for teens and adults. Look to local and even national organizations for contributions for a successful event no matter the size of your library or budget! Examples will include fan days for Hamilton, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jane Austen and Library Comic-Con.

Virtual Teen Advisory Boards: Taking Your TAB to the Next Level
Keri Whitmore, Franklin Public Library
Having trouble getting teens to join your Teen Advisory Board? Getting only a couple of kids at your monthly meetings? Go virtual! The Franklin Public Library TAB was struggling to get new members and maintain the membership they had. The solution: we decided to use a virtual social chat app called Viber to communicate. This allowed members to become more informed and active without having to dedicate an hour a month to meetings. This program will present the steps of transitioning from a TAB that meets physically to one that uses a virtual chat app as its main form of communication. It will demonstrate the ease of use of the Viber app and give resources and ideas to make your TAB a more dynamic, creative and productive group, utilizing social media/social chat groups that the teens are already familiar with. Since switching to Viber, the FPL TAB members are volunteering more, doing more community service projects, and are more excited about how they can help the library and how the library benefits them.

3:45-4:30 pm

C'mon, C'mon, Let's Work Together: Cross-Community Youth & Teen Collaborations

Katherine Schoofs, Aram Public Library, Delavan; Emily Sanders, Barrett Memorial Library, Williams Bay  Do you have nightmares remembering team projects from the past? Do you break out into a sweat even thinking of trying to juggle multiple schedules? What if we told you that collaborative endeavors could be both beneficial and, dare we say it, FUN? Join Katherine and Emily as they tell you all about their wonderful, wacky adventures in collaboration

Diversify Me! Incorporating Diverse Titles into Your Collections, Displays and Programming
Jenni Frencham, Columbus Public Library
Literature can provide essential windows (into other worlds) and mirrors (into their own world) for children, yet many of our library collections, displays and programs do not reflect the diversity of today's world. This session will cover simple, effective ways you can evaluate your library's collection for diversity, begin collecting more diverse titles and incorporate those titles into displays and library programs.

4:40-5:25 pm

K-12 Science and Health Education Resources: NLM's Online Playground
Bobbi Newman, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region, University of Iowa, Hardin Library for Health Sciences, Iowa City
This presentation will introduce free K-12 resources from the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Resources span a variety of subjects including biology, health careers, chemistry, environmental health, forensics and medical technology, general health, genetics, health information tutorials and HIV/AIDS.

Ukulele Strum Along  Mariel Carter, Marinette County Consolidated Library Services, Marinette

In this session, Mariel will use her ukulele and three chords to teach librarians to strum simple children's songs and nursery rhymes on a ukulele. Librarians will benefit by learning songs to liven their existing story time sessions and places to find free resources to continue beyond the basics. In addition, librarians will have the tools they need to teach these skills to adult patrons, so that parents and caregivers of young children can be equipped and motivated to continue singing nursery rhymes and songs at home. Participants are welcome to bring a ukulele to play along.

Early Bird registration is on until 9/25. Take advantage and join the fun and learning!

YSS Ballot Candidates: Vice-Chair/Chair Elect

Check out who is running for YSS Vice-Chair/Chair Elect!

Katie Kiekhaefer:  When I started my career as a children’s librarian ten years ago at a small library, I relied heavily on the support of children’s librarians in the state and the professional development opportunities provided through the work of YSS.  Attending YSS-sponsored presentations at WLA and YSS Powerhouse webinars taught me new skills that I could bring to my library and opened my eyes to the wonderful work being done by children’s librarians in the state, and I have also been lucky enough to present at WLA and as part of webinars because of YSS.  

      I believe it’s time for me to give back to YSS, and I believe my 10 years of experience in youth services will serve me well as chair-elect of YSS.  Having worked in small libraries and in rural communities at the beginning of my career, I would bring a unique perspective to the YSS board.  Most recently, I’ve served as co-chair of the Youth Services Committee of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System, where I worked with my co-chair to run meetings, schedule professional development opportunities, and foster a sense of community among youth services staff.  It would be an honor to be chair-elect of YSS, and I am thankful for the opportunity to run.

Two truths and a lie about Katie:

I'm a huge sports fan and have been active in a fantasy football league for the last 8 years.

When I'm not reading children's and YA lit, I love to read non-fiction.

I once applied for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame librarian job.

Dawn Wacek:  I am the Youth Services Manager at the La Crosse Public Library.  Prior to this, I worked for 12 years in youth services and managerial roles in libraries in South Carolina and Wisconsin.  My passions are improving access through the abolition of fines, and improving customer service--in particular to children and teens in the library.

       I'd love to serve as your YSS Chair Elect, because I think the YSS team has done so much to move the profession forward, to welcome new librarians to Wisconsin, and to help educate and illuminate new ideas in librarianship.  I have some experience working in the divisions and sections as both a former YSS Director at Large and the current Past Chair of WAPL.  I feel statewide service is an intricate part of both improving my own professional skills and network and also giving back and helping to lift up and connect other librarians so that we make Wisconsin librarianship stronger together.

Two truths and a lie about Dawn:

I started my path to librarianship when I couldn't get a job in my local library because they required an advanced degree--I was shocked!

I'm a vegetarian who eats bacon.   A BAD vegetarian.

I once peed on a bat.