Great keynotes; fun special events (an opening evening buffet, a night at the movies, reception at the Oshkosh library) are just a few treats at the WAPl spring conference.
But there is also incredible content - especially for youth-serving library staff. Check out the youth oriented sessions below and then get in on early bird registration that's open until 4/4/25). Registration costs include breakfasts and lunches!
Wednesday, Apr 30
5:00-7:00pm
South of the Border Buffet (included in your registration)
Forward Together: Building Bridges to Serve Hispanic/Latine Communities Through Creative Partnerships
You've Gotta Break a Few Eggs: The Case for Making a Mess
Toys left out all the time, an unstaffed art room, splatter painting indoors, a sand table out on the floor for an entire month...and much more. These things really happen in the Youth & Family Services department at the Kenosha Public Library! Join the presenters to learn how making a mess can benefit patrons, why they embrace it, and how they manage it. You'll also get a ton of fun programming ideas that range from slightly untidy to totally catastrophic! Heather Thompson, Shawn Wolf
South of the Border Buffet (included in your registration)
Catch up with your colleagues, make new friends, and create new connections in a relaxed setting. Enjoy a "South of the Border" buffet and a cash bar. Pre-registration is required.
Thursday, May 1
10 am
10:30-11:30 am
Book Talk 101 Engage, Excite & Empower Readers
As a librarian, you already understand stories—now it's time to share that magic! Learn to create quick, compelling, and irresistible book talks that captivate your audience in under a minute. Whether or not you've read the book, you'll learn the skills to confidently present a title and make it come alive. Then, explore how to turn book talking into a powerful tool for building strong, lifelong readers within your community, with a focus on outreach to schools. Walk away with practical tips, strategies, and a new enthusiasm for connecting readers with the stories they’ll love! Terry Ehle Discover how the Chilton Public Library partnered with a local non-profit and church to create innovative programs and services for the Hispanic/Latine community. This session will explore the collaborative process, including overcoming challenges, aligning goals, and securing grant funding. Learn about bilingual programming, cultural celebrations, and family literacy initiatives that enhanced community engagement and equity. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and inspiration to build impactful partnerships in their own communities, regardless of library size. This session demonstrates how creativity, persistence, and collaboration can help libraries move Forward! to better serve diverse populations and overcome outreach challenges. Rebbecca Barry, Maria Mason
Toys left out all the time, an unstaffed art room, splatter painting indoors, a sand table out on the floor for an entire month...and much more. These things really happen in the Youth & Family Services department at the Kenosha Public Library! Join the presenters to learn how making a mess can benefit patrons, why they embrace it, and how they manage it. You'll also get a ton of fun programming ideas that range from slightly untidy to totally catastrophic! Heather Thompson, Shawn Wolf
12:00-1:00 pm
Luncheon Keynote - Marcia Bjornerud (included in your registration)
1:15-2:15pm
Community Engagement: Taking YOUR Library Beyond Its WallsLibraries play a vital role in every community, but waiting for people to discover us isn’t enough—we need to meet them where they are. Community engagement is about fostering connections, building trust, and becoming a visible presence in the lives of those we serve.m This session highlights the significance of community engagement in a library’s success, offering actionable ideas for connecting with your community, real-world examples of triumphs and challenges, and practical tips to enhance your library’s impact and involvement. Attendees are encouraged to share experiences, ask questions, and engage in collaborative discussion. Alex Coggeshell, Susie Menk
Equipping Families to Support Learning
Parents are children’s first educator! Libraries are ideal partners to equip families in guiding early learning. Parents will benefit when they are provided with encouragement, knowledge, skills, awareness, and resources that empower their engagement. Library programing that embraces young learners also needs to empower those that are the dominant influencers in the lives of children--be that family members, babysitters/caregivers, or educators. It takes community collaboration for all youngsters to be school ready! Bev Schumaker2:30-3:30pm
Screen Smarts
This session explores effective ways to integrate PBS KIDS digital media into library programming to engage families and young learners. Participants will learn practical strategies for incorporating culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate media into storytimes, STEM activities, and family engagement events. The session also provides tools for navigating conversations about screen time, empowering caregivers to balance digital and real-world experiences with confidence and compassion. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to enrich their programs and foster meaningful, screen-smart learning experiences for all. Mouna Algahaithi4:00-5:00pm
6:00-8:00pm
Networking Reception - Oshkosh Public Library ($20 -preregistration is required)
Friday, May 2
7:30-8:30
Native American Cultural Awareness of WI Tribal Communities (breakfast)
8:45-9:45 am
Creating Interactive Audio Experiences for Young Library Patrons
Engage young patrons with interactive audio devices like Tonieboxes, Yoto Players, and Wonderbooks. This workshop provides practical strategies for selecting, cataloging, and promoting these tools to enhance accessibility and engagement. Learn how to set up devices for library use, package them for circulation, and create effective displays. Gain insights on managing replacement fees and tips to streamline set up process. Walk away with actionable ideas to make these devices a hit in your library. Anna Dinkel, Teresa Douglas, Becca Feirer, Emily VincentLooking for ways to keep your Summer Library Program (SLP) energized and transformative? This session will inspire you with tips and strategies to align your programming with ALA’s sustainability values. Bring environmentally sound, economically feasible, and socially equitable practice to your library through hands on program and policy fun! Through the exploration of arts and science activities, community collaborations, summer self care, and more, learn how a sustainability mindset and your community's unique characteristics can transform your SLP and nurture community resilience. You'll leave with creative ideas of ways to strengthen summer engagement and lead your library to a more just and sustainable future. Dawn Tevis
Improving Accessibility @ Community Events
Libraries play a vital role in community engagement- ensuring community events are accessible to people with disabilities is critical. In this session, you’ll learn best practices for planning inclusive events that meet the needs of all participants, how to advocate for accessibility, and what to do when a new need arises. Attendees will explore strategies to find community partners to aid in your inclusive efforts and discuss common challenges in creating truly welcoming spaces. The presenter will share accessible event planning guides will be shared to help you apply these strategies effectively. Join us to ensure your library’s community events are both welcoming and accessible to everyone. Chelsey Myhre FosterReflecting on WI Public Library Standards: Reimagining a Stronger Future Together
How do you assess library services in your community? Last revised in 2018, the Wisconsin Public Library Standards remain a useful tool for library planning and reflection. Yet we know that dramatic changes to how libraries serve their communities are driving a need for new conversations about how we demonstrate the value of our work and plan for the future. Join Wisconsin Library Services Team staff in an interactive discussion about the current standards, what’s missing from them, and how they should address youth and inclusive services. Let’s talk about how future revisions can help move our libraries forward! Jeni Schomber, Teresa Schmidt10:00 -11:00am
Global Tales & Local Hearts: How Libraries Can Help Raise Multicultural KidsJoin bestselling author Ajanta for a dynamic workshop empowering children’s librarians to create inclusive library spaces. Explore strategies for selecting diverse stories, and integrating multicultural books, activities, and digital resources. Engage in interactive discussions and hands-on activities to make diversity a joyful part of learning. Discover practical ways to transform your library into a vibrant hub where every child feels seen and valued. Walk away with tools to create welcoming, culturally rich environments that inspire young readers. Come ready to transform your library where every child can see themselves reflected in the stories they hear and the faces they meet. Ajanta Chakraborty
The presenter will explore how libraries can use historical fiction to engage communities, foster intergenerational learning, and build partnerships. Attendees will gain practical strategies for implementing history-themed programs, hosting immersive events, and using storytelling to inspire lifelong learning. This session will provide actionable tools to help libraries connect readers with history in creative ways while strengthening their role as community hubs. Presenter Eileen Schnabel is author of the Kep Westguard historical fiction series.
11:15-12:15pm
Badgerlink Resouces for Youth ServicesBadgerLink is Wisconsin's Online Library, providing a foundational collection serving all Wisconsin residents, including Wisconsin's librarians and staff that work with youth. Join this discussion highlighting the resources available in the BadgerLink collection that apply specifically to development of youth programming and collections for young readers, as well as professional learning content to keep you up to date with the latest research in the field of youth services. Jen Champoux
12:30-1:30pm
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