Tips and Info from DPI's February 5, 2026 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 February 5, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services weekly resources and reminders!  Teen Internship Application is Open!  The application period for the Teen Internship program is open and the deadline to submit an application is Friday, February 13, 2026 at 4 p.m. This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applicants will be accepted into the program.   The 2026 Department of Public Instruction Bureau of Libraries Teen Internship program will provide LSTA funding up to $2500 for up to eight Wisconsin public libraries to allow them to offer a paid, mentored internship to high school-aged students representing the voices of their communities. One of the core components of the internship is for the interns to create and implement their own Connected Learning Project. For more information, visit the Public Libraries Youth Services page of the DPI website.  PBS Wisconsin Education and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten   PBS Wisconsin Education is partnering with the DPI Bureau of Libraries to distribute literacy kits supporting 1000 Books Before Kindergarten programs. PBS Wisconsin Education is providing over 60 Wisconsin libraries with literacy kits to supplement their 1000 Books Before Kindergarten programs. This pilot project aims to foster early literacy skills and help grow a love of reading with free, engaging resources and activities families can enjoy together.  Each kit includes interactive literacy booklets, crayons, stickers, and bookmarks introducing families to Reading Buddies, a research-based literacy series on PBS. Families can also access a curated collection of digital resources, tips, and activities from PBS, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health.  PBS Wisconsin Education reached out to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Bureau of Libraries for help identifying locations where the kits might have the greatest impact. Schomber helped coordinate distribution with regional directors. In January, PBS Wisconsin volunteers helped package the kits for shipment.  Libraries across the state can access free PBS content for their programs anytime, including activities, games, media, and more. Visit PBS Wisconsin Education’s Raising Readers early learning page at pbsurl.org/raising.  Libraries can also share a digital collection of resources for helping families enjoy reading and connection at home at pbsurl.org/letsread.  Youth Services Shout-Out Blog  Ready to shape the future of library services for kids and teens across Wisconsin? Join the Wisconsin Library Association YSS Blog! The Youth Services Shout-Out (YSS) Blog, with over 1.5 million views and almost 4,000 posts, is a dynamic resource that highlights recent library news, programming ideas, and professional development opportunities for youth services folks in Wisconsin.  We’re looking for fresh voices and dedicated library champions to keep this momentum going! There are two ways to join in:  Become a Guest Contributor: Got a killer program idea, a deep-dive "how-to," or an opinion piece on the latest library trends? We want to hear it! Sharing your expertise helps peers statewide.  Join the Admin Team: Want to go behind the scenes? Help us curate the best resources, manage community content, and keep Wisconsin’s youth services community connected and informed.  Email the blog team at yss.wla@gmail.com to get started!  WLA Madison Area Meetup – The Librarians  The Wisconsin Library Association is hosting a Madison area meetup to watch The Librarians on Thursday, February 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Marquee Cinema Union South, 1308 W. Dayton Street in Madison. This event is FREE and open to everyone (not just WLA members). Visit the Wisconsin Library Association page for more information.   Celebrate Awards Season with TeachingBooks  Enjoy TeachingBooks’ book lists, games, and multimedia for current national book award and distinction winners. View TeachingBooks Story.  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

Monona Celebrates Books!

2016 Graduates of Monona's 1000 Books program

“We’re not teaching children how to read. We’re giving them the skills so that they will be ready to learn how to read,” said Karen Wendt, Youth Services Coordinator, Monona Library.

Monona Library hosted its 2nd annual Early Literacy "Play, Grow, & Read Party" along with its 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Graduation Party on January 22nd. It was a great success even though the event happened during a Packers playoff game!

Karen and her staff spend quite a bit of time marketing the 1000 Books program to insure its success.  Making connections with the 4K program at the schools and local childcare facilities that serve young children is one valuable avenue to promote the program.  Karen presents at staff meetings and parent events and distributes bookmarks to all 4k children. She recommends talking to everyone in the children’s area about the program.

All this hard work paid off with a successful event that was covered by the Wisconsin State Journal!  The article discusses 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program at Monona, which is sponsored by the Monona Library Foundation & Friends of Monona Public Library, along with details about the party. Karen’s awesome quote from above is from the article. It is also mentioned that other libraries host similar early literacy programs.

Thank you Karen and Monona Library for the getting the word out about the fun but important work libraries are doing!

Manitowoc's 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Event

Submitted by Susie Menk, Youth Librarian at Manitowoc Public Library

In August, Manitowoc Public Library hosted a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Event.  We wanted to do a graduation party but decided that might limit participation.  We decided to just do an event to celebrate 1000 Books before Kindergarten—for those who have already completed it, for those who are in the middle of the program and for those who have never heard of it.

We planned several stations based on the five early literacy skills—reading, writing, singing, playing and talking.  We started out the event by gathering everyone into our normal storytime setting and doing a read aloud book.  The book was read twice, once just a read through, the second time a dialogic reading.  

It was fairly obvious to parents, which type of reading engaged their child more, which lead into a brief (VERY SHORT) discussion of the five early literacy skills.  We encouraged parents to do the stations WITH their child and as you can see in the photos, they did!!!

Many of the ideas we used can be found on the Manitowoc Public Library Pinterest page. 

We did Song sticks, upper and lowercase matching games with plastic eggs, color matching with clothespins, flannels, nursery rhyme games, a puppet theater, dress up clothes, letter matching with pool noodles pieces, magnets on a board, writing and drawing on a white board, flannels, shape matching and creative play with Legos™.  Most of these materials are things we keep on hand or were cheap and easy to make. 

It was a great success.  The best part is we kept the activity pieces and parts and now have them to use in storytimes!