YSS Breakfast Club at WLA

Image by MarkOblivious from Pixabay

Attending WLA? 

If yes, join us Friday Nov 8 for a Youth Services Breakfast Club meetup in Hall B&C on the 1st floor from 8-9:00 am. Tables will be marked for YSS Breakfast Club. 

Meet up, socialize, make some new connections, meet new friends, exchange ideas, learn more about WLA’s Youth Services Section, and have breakfast! 

No special registration required. 

Don't Delay - YSS Webinar on Nov 14

 

Free for WLA members; $25 for non-members 

Visit the YSS page on the WLA website to learn more and register here 

Islands of Brilliance is a Milwaukee-based non-profit that uses art and creative technologies to empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals and open pathways to employment and independence. The Fellowship is one of the newest programs from IOB, which focuses on transition-age participants in six mid and small-size cities across the state. In this webinar, three staff members will share insights about The Fellowship program design and implementation, as well as key insights about supporting and engaging neurodivergent youth and young adults within community spaces.

Presenters:
Dr. Kate Siekman: Director of Learning and Outcomes
Kate has 12 years' experience in education and autism therapy. With teaching licenses in alternative and special education and a doctoral degree in occupational therapy, Kate has cultivated a passion for alternative access to learning. Kate seeks the best educational experiences for the students and families she serves, using her creativity in pedagogy to deliver dynamic student outcomes.

Natalie Derr: Lead Creative Technologist
Artist and experimental creative Natalie Derr aims to use her background in Digital Studio Practice and Painting and drawing as a tool for creative intervention in the exploration of students' identities. As IOB’s Creative Technologist, Natalie is passionately curious about our diverse imaginations and how to exercise empathy by sharing artwork.

Mark Fairbanks: Cofounder and Executive Director of Islands of Brilliance
Mark leads a devoted team of education and design professionals at Islands of Brilliance. Since the launch of the program in the fall of 2012, along with his wife Margaret he has guided the organization through constant evolution and growth.

Prior to Islands of Brilliance, a 27-year career in advertising, design, and digital saw Mark working for notable creative boutiques in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Chicago. During this period his work appeared in The One Show, Communication Arts, Graphis, and The Obies, while also receiving acclaim in Adweek, Creativity, and The New York Times. He was a member of the Creative Alliance, a cohort of notable agency creatives and agencies working on social impact initiatives during the final two years of the Obama Administration.

STEAM Fellows Opportunity

 - As seen on wispublib via Anne Moser. DPI's Chris Baker chimed in and encouraged libraries to apply

Hello!

Do you and/or other colleagues in your district have experience teaching STEM/STEAM? The Department of Public Instruction is looking to hire 15 STEAM fellows (PK-12) who will engage in professional development, collaborate with regional and statewide partners, and implement STEAM-related initiatives in their schools and communities. Fellows will participate in collaborative learning experiences, curate educational resources, develop a plan to locally engage underrepresented students in STEAM education, and share their learning with others. The fellowship aims to foster innovation, equity, and excellence in STEAM education across Wisconsin.

Fellowships highlights:

  *   $2,000 stipend
  *   Grow your own practice with free professional learning
  *   Support others to grow their practice by sharing what you've learned

Click here to learn more and apply (Applications due November 8): 

DPI STEAM Education Fellows Application (ed.note: this may show up attached to my lochwouters account. Just hit "switch account" and put your info in!)

Please, share this announcement with your colleagues.

Thanks and hope you have a great weekend,
Kevin

Science Education Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

CCBC Starred Review Days - November 18-22

As seen on wispublist - this is a chance to do hands-on book examination right at WI's own CCBC! 

This fall, the CCBC will be holding CCBC Starred Review Days November 18-22.

For that week, we set up all of the c2024 books we have received to-date that have received a starred review in one more professional journals in our conference room for easy hands-on book examination.

Starred Review Days Schedule:

• Monday, November 18, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Tuesday, November 19, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Wednesday, November 20, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Thursday, November 21, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Friday, November 22, 8:30 am – 2 pm

Registration required.  (The registration form will ask you to indicate which day or days you are coming, and how many people are attending.)

 

Location and parking information.

 

Questions?  Email schliesman@education.wisc.edu

 

We hope to see you!

 

All the best,

Megan

 

  

Megan Schliesman, Librarian (she/her)

Assistant Director

Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
225 N. Mills Street, Room 401
Madison, WI  53706

 

608/262-9503

schliesman@education.wisc.edu

 

https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/

 

Tips and Info from DPI's Oct 25, 2024 Newsletter

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is chockfull of great resources. If you are a WI youth library staffer and you don't receive this weekly missive in your email inbox, please contact Jeni  (jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) to be placed on the list! 

Here is the information from the Oct 25, 2024 edition

Check out the important reminders and resources below:

Building Equity Based Summers (BEBS) Cohort starting in January 2025

• Wisconsin is participating in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant-funded national initiative Building Equity Based Summers (BEBS). 
• The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Library Services Team is looking for six public libraries to participate in the 2025 BEBS Cohort. Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members. Libraries are encouraged to have staff from across departments and can include Youth Services, Adult Services, Programming, Outreach, or Administrative staff. 
• BEBS participants will work with co-facilitators Jeni Schomber, DPI Public Library Consultant, and Kelly Wochinske, Milwaukee Public Library, Public Area Service Manager - Youth, Education, and Outreach, and each other to consider summer programs and services  through an equity-based lens.
• The application to participate will open on Monday November 11th. This is expected to be a competitive process and not all applications will be selected. More details coming soon!

Children's Wisconsin Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) 

• Triple P teaches families with children 0-16 years of age how to spend less time battling challenging behavior and more time building close relationships. You’ll develop positive parenting skills to manage stress and encourage healthy habits, and that can mean more good days for your family.
• Please consider sharing this FREE resource with your library families. 

Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) - Call for New Leadership

• Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy is seeking new leadership! This is an exciting opportunity to connect with early literacy leaders statewide, empower fellow professionals, and affect great change. 
• The Steering Committee may now include up to 4 members from outside the state of Colorado in addition to Colorado members.
• Submissions must be received by Friday, November 1st, 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 are late October listings:

Re-posting

Elm Grove Public Library     Youth Services Librarian    (part-time)

The Elm Grove Public Library is accepting applications for the position of part-time Youth Services Librarian. Elm Grove is a beautiful village in eastern Waukesha County, with a lovely park, pond and walking trails immediately outside the library’s front door. The library is known for its strong customer-service focus and community relationships.

The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting with developing and providing youth library programs and services; assisting with youth department collection maintenance; and providing reference, computer assistance and readers’ advisory services at the reference desk.
This position is 12 hours per week plus one eight-hour Saturday approximately every six weeks. This would be an ideal position for a new librarian or for an experienced librarian who has the desire to work specifically in a part-time role.

Master of Library Science degree from an accredited program is required. Previous youth services and public library experience desired. A successful applicant will be required to undergo a drug screening and a background check. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Please send resume, cover letter, and Village of Elm Grove application form to the Elm Grove Public Library, Attention: Sarah Muench, 13600 Juneau Blvd, Elm Grove, WI 53122, or email application materials to Sarah Muench at muench@elmgrove.lib.wi.us.  

______________________________________________________

Oak Creek Public Library                Substitute Librarian (Part-Time) 



Salary    $20.14 Hourly              

Job Type       Casual Part Time: less than 1200 hrs/yr-No Benefits

Opening Date          10/23/2024

Closing Date        Continuous

Summary Description

Located along the western shore of Lake Michigan, Oak Creek is in the midst of a development boom and is one of the fastest growing cities in southeastern Wisconsin. In two decades, the City’s population grew over 25 percent, and substantial growth and development is projected into the future. Adding vibrancy and a sense of place to the community, the City’s Drexel Town Square features a modern mixed-use development anchored by a civic center plaza, City Hall, and Library facility. The City’s elected leadership strategically invests in Oak Creek’s future as demonstrated projects already underway.
 
The Substitute Librarian provides excellent customer service to library patrons, performs clerical work relating to library services, and assists in other support tasks as assigned. Hours vary as needed to suit the needs of the library, will include weekday evenings (5:00-8:15pm) and Saturdays (9:00am-4:15pm).  

Duties, Functions and Supervision/Accountability

Provide high quality, approachable customer service to patrons via various communication methods and maintain confidentiality in all interactions and communications with patrons.

Prepare informational and promotional materials about library events and resources.

Participate in the maintenance and inventory of the library collection.  

Develop feasible, realistic solutions to problems or questions.

Maintain and prepare library statistics as requested.

Follow and enforce library policies and procedures.

Serve as Librarian-in-Charge as required.

Qualifications

·         Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution or equivalent education or experience or currently enrolled in an MLIS program at an ALA accredited institution.

·         Knowledge or training related to reference services and strong communication and public service skills required. 

Please include a resume & cover letter with your application. To apply for this job, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oakcreekwi/jobs/4704014-0/substitute-librarian.

 

Year 5 PBS KIDS Library Cohort Applications Open

The PBS KIDS Community Learning Cohort is an exciting opportunity that blends professional development, hands-on learning, peer-to-peer connection, and program implementation into one dynamic series!

Library staff who participate in the cohort will receive a stipend to cover program costs.

Apply by NOVEMBER 15, 2024. Limited spots available!

To find out the details,
please stop here!

Encouraging Movement in the Children's Room

Image by press 👍 and ⭐ from Pixabay

A recent ALSC blog post by Erika Hogan addressed ways to incorporate movement in the range of your youth services. Erika writes: " 'Don’t sit down!' That might not be a sentence you’ve used with children at the library outside of often, but the value of movement-based activities in children’s services isn’t restricted to storytime. 

What follows is a brief intro to how movement can make a difference in children’s services. Recent research suggests that whole body engagement is great for stress management, encouraging physical awareness, and mindfulness. Like play, movement can make a meaningful impact when working with a variety of age groups."

To read her suggestions, please stop here.

Tips and Info from DPI's Oct 17, 2024 Newsletter

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is chockfull of great resources. If you are a WI youth library staffer and you don't receive this weekly missive in your email inbox, please contact Jeni  (jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) to be placed on the list! 

Here is the information from the Oct 17, 2024 edition

CLEL Beyond Bilingual: Making Storytimes ELL-Friendly FREE webinar

 

• Tuesday October 22^nd at 2 p.m. CST
• Presented by Jessica Ralli and Rachel G. Payne (Brooklyn Public Library)
• Libraries are seeing a growing number of immigrant families at their programs, but what do you do when storytime leaders and storytime families don't speak the same language?  Learn how Brooklyn Public Library has developed simple strategies and techniques to make storytimes for young children friendly to parents and children who are English Language Learners by creating visual schedules, incorporating simple props, using translated resources, using Plain Language, and more!
• Learn more and register

 

Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Youth Services Section (YSS) 2024 Virtual Performers Showcase

 

• Tuesday December 3^rd starting from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• The 2024 Virtual Performers Showcase, presented by the WLA Youth Services Section, will connect performers with members of the Wisconsin library community through live virtual demonstrations and marketing materials offered by magicians, puppeteers, storytellers, musicians, and anyone who presents library programs for children, youth, teen, and family audiences.  
• $20 for WLA members and $40 for non- members.
• A digital directory of performers will be made available to attendees for future reference. Can’t attend the live virtual event? A recording of the showcase will be available to registered attendees for 60 days after the event. 
• Learn more and register

Throw-It Thursday - The Occult, Paranormal and Beyond

Ashley Borman, Technical Services Librarian at the Clintonville (WI) Public Library, is back with another weeding tips column.

Here’s a question – does one need to worry about weeding the Occult, Paranormal, and Divination materials in one’s library? Answer: of course! While this section tends to do most of the work itself, it is still good to go through it occasionally to see what you still have and what (if anything) hasn’t been checked out.

What do I mean when I say this section tends to do most of the work? I’m sure you can figure it out. This section tends to be a high traffic collection in most libraries. Things get checked out, lost, damaged, and used so much they might be falling apart. Then it’s time to replace and maybe find some newer books on whatever specific topic the item might be about. 

This also tends to be one of those areas that people steal, either because they don’t want people to know what they are reading, or because they don’t think these items should be on the shelves to begin with. Whatever the reason, we hope they will show up again eventually, but that doesn’t always happen.

The circled area in the picture is where our books
 on the occult and paranormal live.
Compared to the rest of the shelves, these are pretty empty!

So the best way to “weed” this section is to go through periodically and see what you have and what is missing. Check the condition of what you do have and see if it needs to be replaced. If a book in this section looks brand new, check the circulation statistics. Maybe it is not a good fit for your collection, and you could find something your patrons like more about the topic. 

Whatever you do, happy weeding!

Power Up Virtual Conference Registration Open

This Madison WI-based conference has been held biennially since 2017 (except in 2021 during COVID). This is the first time it is being offered virtually. It has the same great sessions as the in-person conference and the sessions are varied to appeal to youth library leaders whatever their position within the organization. You don't have to be a manager to be a leader. All library staff can step up to the plate and use leadership skills. This is a great chance to hone yours!

Power Up:

A Leadership Conference 

for Youth Service Managers & Staff

When: February 13-14, 2025

Where: Zoom, Virtual Conference 

Cost: $225 (sliding scale options) 

Conference Schedule

Register today: go.wisc.edu/w2uvnu

Join youth services managers and staff for two days of online learning. Sessions will focus on leveling up your leadership skills, best practices for serving your community, and how to best support your team. Each concurrent session will be presented live, and recordings will be available to registered attendees for 3-months.

Keynote Speaker - Kyle Lukoff
Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright To See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became A Brother also won the Stonewall, and his book Call Me Max has been banned in schools across the country. He is the recipient of the 2025 Children’s Literature Lecture award, and has forthcoming books for all ages on a variety of topics. While becoming a writer he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian.

In addition to Kyle's keynote, Power Up 2025, will offer a diverse array of sessions including: 

• Leading Staff Through Change to Elevate Youth Services
• The Right to Inclusion: How Libraries can Extend Privilege's to the Underserved
• Belonging at Work: An Inspiring Environment for Neurodivergent Employees
• Crafting Communication: Tools for Effective Youth Services Management
• And more! 

--

Questions? Email ce-info@ischool.wisc.edu

Calling All Early Literacy Advocates

This just in from CLEL. It’s a great opportunity to get involved on a national level and meet and work with other early literacy advocates.

Did you know that CLEL (Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy) has no paid employees and is powered by an all-volunteer Steering Committee? We need your help for next year! Consider applying today. 

NEW for 2025 - up to 4 Steering Committee members can be from outside of Colorado!

Learn more and apply: https://www.clel.org/announcements/call-for-new-leadership/

Update on Upcoming Free Webinars on Video Game Collections

Hello again, colleagues!

I wanted to remind folks about an upcoming webinar opportunity that might be of value to you or others in your networks. On October 30th, from 10:00-11:00 am CST (11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST), the Indiana State Library will be hosting myself, Jenna Gilles (Youth Services Associate, Chippewa Falls Public Library, WI), and Jamie Hein (Library Director, Clintonville Public Library, WI), as we collaboratively present about selection and acquisition best practices for video game collection development.

We also now have information to share about part #2 in this webinar series, where we'll be presenting about the "nuts and bolts" of video game collection development — like implementing the materials in your library collections, displaying them, and maintaining them. The second webinar will be on December 11th, from 10:00-11:00 am CST (11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST).

This event is co-sponsored by the ALA's Games & Gaming Round Table. Info about both of the webinars below; share far and wide – and add them to your calendar, today!!

__________________________

Video Game Collections in Libraries, Pt. #1: The "Why", "What", and "How" of Selection & Acquisition

• Date & Time: Wednesday, October 30th, 10:00-11:00 am
• Link to Event/URL to Attend: https://isl.libcal.com/event/13140847
• Description:
• For years now, media usage data has shown that video games have led the entertainment industry by a massive margin, handily securing the crown as the most popular recreational medium on the planet. In the United States, 61% of Americans report playing video games for at least one hour every week; 29% of game players are 50 or older, and the average age of video gamers in the U.S. is 36, with a near-even split of 53% identifying as male, and 46% identifying as female.
  
  The point? These impressive statistics represent an enormous opportunity for libraries in the U.S. to capitalize on – and illustrate that librarians ought to prioritize intentionally developing robust video game collections for their users to access; game collections can meaningfully help libraries reach a broader base of patrons, create exceptional new pathways for materials circulation, resonate with additional user identities, and help foster a 'community of practice' surrounding games in the library space. On top of this, video game collections help libraries showcase an earnest desire to remain relevant, accessible, and cutting-edge to their public.
  
  In this first presentation in our series about video game collection development, you’ll hear from multiple librarians about the “why”, “what”, and “how” of video game selection and acquisition; we will highlight both philosophical and pragmatic best practices for developing video game collections – from advocacy data, to funding tips, to selection resources, to acquisition schedules, and more. A follow-up webinar in the series will focus on things like processing, borrowing rules, policy, and collection maintenance. You won’t want to miss these presentations!

Video Game Collections in Libraries, Pt. #2: Processing, Cataloging, Displaying, & 'Best Practices'

• Date & Time: Wednesday, December 11th, 10:00-11:00 am
• Link to Event/URL to Attend: https://isl.libcal.com/event/13276612
• Description:
• In part one of our Video Game Collections in Libraries webinar series, we discussed important considerations and helpful advice that a librarian would want to bear in mind when initially developing (or strengthening) a video game collection for their space; we showcased data that could be utilized to advocate for a robust game collection, offered budgeting tips for funding borrowable games, highlighted resources & tips to help with video game selection decisions (for novices and experts alike), weighed in about video game release & acquisition schedules, and even touched on the equity and accessibility benefits of offering said collections to your community.
  
  So - once you’ve acquired the games themselves for your collection… what then? Have no fear! In this second part of our series, we’ll return to tackle the functional, “nuts and bolts” methods and best practices of ongoing video game collection management. This webinar will delve into processing recommendations (like labeling, marking, & barcoding), cataloging considerations (e.g., how long should games’ checkout periods be?), displaying the collections to be browsable for patrons (where in the library? How should they be organized? Should you ‘care’ about ratings?), procedural standards for keeping your games ‘safe’ (and easily navigable for staff!) - and more. "
  
  We aim to illustrate that – with a bit of diligence and learning for staff and patrons alike – the ongoing facilitation of video game collections in libraries ought to be no more burdensome on day-to-day operations than offering any other collection, all while allowing libraries to better meet the needs of entirely new user groups – and increase circulation!

__________________________

These events will be recorded, and will eventually be uploaded as a resource to the Wisconsin Games + Learning + Libraries Cohort on WISELearn; that said, if you attend the event, you can take part in the last fifteen minutes' Q&A. 

Thanks so much for spreading the word; we look forward to sharing with you all!

~Chris

Chris Baker (he/him/his) Public Library Consultant, Games & Learning Consultant Library Services Team, Division of Libraries and Technology Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 201 West Washington Avenue | Madison WI 53703 608-264-6709 | chris.baker@dpi.wi.gov | dpi.wi.gov

Jumpstart Your SLP Programming with YSS Performer's Showcase

 

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM  (Event time is subject to change.) Get a jump start on plans for your summer reading program!     The 2024 Virtual Performers Showcase, presented by the WLA Youth Services Section, will connect performers with members of the Wisconsin library community through live virtual demonstrations and marketing materials offered by magicians, puppeteers, storytellers, musicians, and anyone who presents library programs for children, youth, teen, and family audiences.      This Zoom event will give you the chance to: Sample performances from a variety of library performers who offer entertaining and educational public programs for children, teens, and families. Interact with performers in live Q & A sessions after each demonstration. Communicate with other attendees through the conference website - a great way to connect with other libraries that may be interested in partnering with you to bring a performer to your area. A digital directory of performers will be made available to attendees for future reference. Can’t attend the live virtual event? A recording of the showcase will be available to registered attendees for 60 days after the event.     Registration is $20 for WLA members, $40 for non-members.   Registration closes Nov 25, 2024   Host a team watch party!  Group discounts are available for three or more attendees from the same library.   Visit the event webpage to learn more.     The first 20 participants to register will be entered into a drawing for a free registration!                                                          Learn More including how to register