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| Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash |
An up-to-date spot for library staff serving youth around Wisconsin to find relevant news, events, and resources. Links should be correct at the time of publication. If a link is incorrect, please contact the blog administrator within a month of publication. Links on older posts may have changed. Any YSS member wishing to write posts, please e-mail us at yss.wla@gmail.com.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Down with Dewey?
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Tips and Info from DPI's June 26, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter
Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is an email newsletter chockfull of great resources we've come to rely on. 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 June 26, 2025 edition
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Friday, June 27, 2025
Wisconsin Science Fest Bioblitz Coming!
Good day awesome librarians!
The 15th annual Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF) will be held in our state in October 16-26, 2025. Again, this year, the Wisconsin Water Library at UW-Madison is assisting the WSF to support libraries’ participation in the WiSciFest Bioblitz – a community science event that collects data on biodiversity in Wisconsin. Libraries are a perfect fit for hosting a mini bioblitz and the Water Library is here to help.
A bioblitz gives community members the opportunity to explore and record the surrounding flora and fauna and can run for one hour, one day or for the whole run of the science festival. Hosting a bioblitz is easy and the Wisconsin Water Library (co-hosts a Great Lakes Bioblitz in the spring) have put together some resources for you.
- A bioblitz resource guide contains important information you need to host your own bioblitz.
- A free, one-hour informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 11:30. This is an opportunity to learn the basics of community science and how you might participate. The webinar is designed for both new and experienced bioblitzers.
Click to register for the webinar.
I hope to see in September and watch your observations roll in during the October event!
Take good care,
Anne Moser
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
How To Train Your Dragon Read-alikes
Emily Drabble over at BookTrust writes, "A knee-jerk reaction for fans of How To Train Your Dragon might be to suggest more books with dragons. For the dragon-obsessed child this might work. But other children may find these new dragons slightly less interesting than Toothless (and how come the new dragon doesn’t speak Dragonese?) We have to remember that children didn’t only read the series simply because there were dragons in it!"
Stop here for her list of read-alikes! [How to Train Your Dragon: what to read next. Emily Drabble. BookTrust blog. Undated.]
Then soar over to OverDrive for more read-alikes! [How to Train Your Dragon read-alikes to captivate young readers. Overdrive blog. June 16, 2025.]
Monday, June 23, 2025
What to Suggest when all your Elephant and Piggie books are checked out
What to Suggest when all of your Elephant and Piggie Books are Checked Out
Saturday, June 21, 2025
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.
This position will primarily focus on Youth Services while also working as part of a collaborative team at all public service points and with patrons of all ages; standard scheduling includes at least one Saturday per month and one evening per week. Job closes July 5, 2025
Responsibilities
- Maintains circulation of library collections.
- Coordinates makerspace (Imaginarium) activities, programs, equipment purchases, and maintenance.
- Coordinates digital media production studio (Mead Radio) activities, programs, and equipment purchases.
- Schedules and coordinates book displays and exhibits.
- Provides customer service, reader's advisory, and limited research services.
- Instructs and assists patrons with technology and equipment to include but not limited to public computers, makerspace equipment, digital media production studio, online library catalog, and digital resources.
- Handles/counts cash and performs cash transactions.
- Leads ad hoc teams or projects; participates in and leads staff committees.
- Collaborates with Public Services team in the planning, development, and delivery of programs in the library and community.
- Reports building malfunctions, safety, and security matters to management, safety specialist and/or maintenance staff.
- Develops and maintains cooperative relationships with community organizations.
- Interprets, explains and applies library policy and procedures to respond to customer concerns.
- Prepares invoices for payment.
- Provides input to managers in the improvement of library policies, plans, and goals.
- Attends library conferences and workshops.
- Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences or closely related field required.
- Minimum of two years direct experience working with the public or in a direct customer service role (such as retail or hospitality) and community engagement or public service experience required.
Qualifications & Skills
- Demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to interact with the diverse local community
- Basic knowledge of library services and procedures
- Ability to think analytically and to develop new or revised systems, procedures, and workflows
- Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment
- Resilient to changes in the library profession and work environment
- Ability and willingness to learn, adapt to new technologies, flexible when faced with changing situations, and ability to work in an ambiguous environment
- Ability to effectively communicate ideas and information both in written and oral form, effectively read and understand written information
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions
- Ability to calculate basic arithmetic problems (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
- Ability to exercise good judgment, investigate, define problems and offer solutions, research and collect data, analyze information and establish facts and draw valid conclusions
- Ability to create documents in MS Word and spreadsheets in MS Excel, ability to use and maintain e-mail and calendars
Work Environment:
On a frequent basis, stands, walks, sits, talks, and reaches with hands and arms. On a somewhat frequent basis, lifts, bends, stoops, lifts and caries books, files, and/or boxes weighing up to 30 pounds, and pushing and pulling objects on wheels weighing up to 35 pounds. Position requires the operation of office equipment and required repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer equipment. Occasional attendance at programs outside of normal working hours and meetings off site required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Tips and Info from DPI's June 19, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter
Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is an email newsletter chockfull of great resources we've come to rely on. 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 June 19, 2025 edition
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Thursday, June 19, 2025
Throw It Thursday - Use Your Shelves
Are you always trying to come up with ideas to liven up your bookshelves and make them more enticing for patrons? Have you weeded everything to the max and still worry about getting circs? Do you have a little bit of extra space somewhere, anywhere? Make your collections more appealing by adding some interest to your shelves!
This could be as easy as displaying one or two books face out on each shelf. Or you could get creative. With a few cheap tricks, you could renovate some of your shelves and make them pop! A little bit of paint and decoupaging can go a long way. Check out the articles below each picture for some inspiration and use your shelves!
| https://dontyoushushme.com/2022/02/28/embracing-dynamic-shelving/ |
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| https://www.openingthebooktraining.com/en-ca/courses/public-library-training/merchandising-library-shelves/ |
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
DIY Stickers
She writes, "Like a lot of teens today, my teen is obsessed with stickers. She also loves to spend her free time coloring. Thus, she started making her own hand-colored stickers in a very low-tech way. She saw people making their own on social media and adapted the process in a way that works for her. Today she’s walking us through the steps."
This is a back pocket activity I have out for a lot of teen and tween events. I keep a container with the supplies, a few image suggestions, and the instructions ready to go in the teen space. It's worked pretty well and can be adapted to a lot of different programs. I've used it during Anime Club, Minecraft and Five Nights at Freddy's events, Teen Hangouts, and many more. It's also an easy craft to take to school visits. This summer is a perfect time to give it a try! Color Our World by coloring your own stickers!
The teens/tweens we have mainly draw their own images or trace from their phones as described in Jensen's post. However, it's a good idea to have a few suggestions if they aren't artistically inclined or don't have a device. The suggestions I use are from Canva's free image library (it is a Pro account through our Friends group).
I've included my instruction sheet and an example suggestion sheet below. Happy stickering!
| Instructions |
| Suggestion sheet |
Stop here to read Karen's full post. [Teen Makerspace: DIY Color Your Own Stickers, Low Tech. Karen Jensen. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. June 17, 2025.]
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Tips and Info from DPI's June 12, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter
Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is an email newsletter chockfull of great resources we've come to rely on. 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 June 12, 2025 edition
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Friday, June 13, 2025
Power-Up a Conference Proposal
This national conference, sponsored by the UW-Madison iSchool, conference has had some powerful presentations by Wisconsin youth librarians in the past. Here's an opportunity to offer your take on leadership and management at ANY level - including as a line staffer.
- Lecture presentation: 45-minute presentation + 15 min Q&A
- Panel Discussion: 2-4 presenters focused on one big topic and sharing their experience
- Workshop presentation: One-hour hands-on learning experience
- Programming lightning talk: 5-8 minute mini presentation on or about a successful program
- Roundtable discussion: Lead an in-depth full-group discussion on a topic of your choice. No need to prepare a presentation—just shepherd good conversation!
Monday, June 9, 2025
Summer is coming!
Summer is coming!
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| Photo by Drew Perales on Unsplash |
Friday, June 6, 2025
Tips and Info from DPI's June 5, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter
Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is an email newsletter chockfull of great resources we've come to rely on. 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 June 5, 2025 edition
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Hello All,
Check out these valuable youth services resources and reminders!
BadgerLink Bulletin: New NoveList and NoveList K-8 Experience Coming June 16
- The new NoveList Experience will go live on June 16, 2025. There's nothing you need to do to migrate from the old to the new. Read on to learn about the new features and functionality.
Wisconsin Math Council Summer Math Adventure
- Announcing the release of Version 3, featuring all new activities for children in Pre-K, Kindergarten-Grade 2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8.
- Please complete the Summer 2025 Confirmation Form to confirm that your library will be participating in our program this summer.
- Families can access the program digitally at bit.ly/WMCSummer.
- This link (WMC Summer Math Adventure Resources for Libraries) will take you to a shared Google folder with all of the printable resources you might need.
WebJunction Back to Basics: Sharpening Foundational Skills with LiFT
- This new program, LiFT (Library Foundational Training), is a refreshed series of online courses designed to empower library staff with the essential skills they need to succeed. We’re working in partnership with the Idaho Commission for Libraries and are guided by feedback from project advisors and survey data. Learn more about this initiative and the focus areas of this new training.
- WebJunction courses are FREE and you will need to create an account to access the learning.
Have a great weekend,
Jeni Schomber
Public Library Consultant
The DPI does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events. They are provided for your consideration only.
Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov






