2026 WLA Call for Proposals

 

The 2026 WLA Annual Conference Call for Proposals is officially open! This year’s theme is “Rooted in Community,” and WLA is looking for presenters to share the creative, impactful work happening across our libraries, communities and campuses.

Session proposals for presentations, panels, and workshops from all library types and organizations, across departments and roles at every level, and from people of all backgrounds are welcomed.

Presenting at WLA is a chance to grow professionally, expand your network, and share your work with colleagues across Wisconsin. You’ll build confidence, strengthen your résumé, and spark conversations that help libraries learn from one another. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or trying it for the first time, your experiences can make a meaningful impact on the library community.

Please submit your proposal by 5 p.m. CST on Friday, May 9: https://rebrand.ly/jgqptqj 

Save the date!
The 2026 Wisconsin Library Association conference is October 20-23, 2026
Marriott Madison West in Middleton, WI

 

 

Register for WAPL!

You’re invited to join us at the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Annual Conference at the Osthoff Resort from April 27 - April 29, 2026! This year’s conference theme is "Library As A Test Kitchen". Registration is now open - be sure to sign up by March 23 to take advantage of early bird rates! This year's conference features: Choose from 36 dynamic breakout sessions! Featuring a networking reception with hors d' oeuvres and a cash bar, Pizza Making Cooking Class, At the Movies with Librarians*, and Friday Afternoon Tea and Library Tour at the Elkhart Lake Civic Center. Opportunities to network with your library colleagues. Expert keynote speakers including past WLA President Kris Turner, Bobbi Newman, Debby Waldman and Lindsay Starck. Invest in your professional development and bring valuable information back to your library. To learn more and register, visit the conference webpage.  *WLA would like to thank the sponsor for the At the Movies with Librarians Session!

                    

Let's Meet at WLA Fall Conference!

Time to get pumped for our annual Wisconsin Library Association conference Oct 24-26 in Middleton. There will be great keynotes, youth-oriented content, a lively and informative YSS social and time to meet-up IRL with your friends and colleagues in Wisco libraryland. Breakfasts and lunches are included in your registration fee so you'll eat well too!

Read all about the sessions (in Agenda) on the main conference page. You'll be gobsmacked not only by the quality of the content but the breadth of issues addressed - management; customer service, thoughts on books and literacy; service to multiple age groups; program ideas and so much more!

Our YSS Social (Wed Oct 25, 6-7:30pm) is going to be - as always - amazing. Mark your calendars for Wed Oct 25 from 6-7:30pm. We will meet at the CCBC (use the convenient lot 45 across the street from the UW- School of Ed building that the CCBC is housed in - free after 4:30 pm on weekdays).

And don't forget to get up early on Thursday and join youth librarians from around the state at our annual Youth Services Section breakfast meeting 7:30-8:30 am in the Middleton Board room. The YSS board will be there and you can share ideas, thoughts and a chance to connect with other youth librarians from around the state.

Register here (there's even a helpful sample memo to Download to share with your admin to make your case to attend).

Just in case all of the awesome keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities wasn't enough to convince you to register, we invite you to watch this video created by the conference planning committee. What they lack in vocal talent, they make up for in enthusiasm! Rest assured; you are guaranteed a great conference experience with this group at the helm! (Don't quit your day jobs, team . . .)

Call for WLA 2019 Conference Proposals: You are an expert!

Libraries promote growth, education, diversity, and community and campus engagement; continuously striving to better their communities and all those they serve. The 2019 WLA Annual Conference is an opportunity for us to share our expertise, knowledge and ideas to enrich our libraries, communities and ourselves.

The 2019 WLA Conference Committee invites you to share your experience and creativity with the Wisconsin library community at our annual conference, to be held on October 8-11, 2019, at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in the Wisconsin Dells. We are seeking an array of programs that will appeal to a wide library audience.

We already have a great lineup of speakers, but we seek your help to provide a relevant, timely and intentional learning experience at this year’s conference. You can help by offering your knowledge and expertise for a conference session.

Our Wisconsin library community includes staff from academic, public, school and special libraries, as well as trustees, students and other library professionals.

Consider sessions related to topics such as:

• Advocacy/Promotion
• Building Collections
• Building Inclusivity
• Civil Discourse/Community Conversations
• Creating Inclusive and Welcoming Environments
• Fostering Community Relationships, Community Collaborations and Partnerships
• Leadership/Professional Development
• Library Issues and Challenges
• Mental Health Issues
• Practical Programming
• Security/Safety
• Self-Care/Time Management
• Serving Diverse Populations
• Work-Life Balance
• Workplace Creativity

Don't let the above topics limit you! Feel free to suggest any program you'd like to present, as long as it adheres to the attached Program Proposal Guidelines. 

Submit your proposal here.

PROGRAM SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1, 2019.

Check out the 2019 WLA Proposal Guidelines here.

Call for WLA Program Proposals - Due March 1, 2019

Libraries promote growth, education, diversity, and community and campus engagement; continuously striving to better their communities and all those they serve. The 2019 WLA Annual Conference is an opportunity for us to share our expertise, knowledge and ideas to enrich our libraries, communities and ourselves.

The 2019 WLA Conference Committee invites you to share your experience and creativity with the Wisconsin library community at our annual conference, to be held on October 8-11, 2019, at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in the Wisconsin Dells. We are seeking an array of programs that will appeal to a wide library audience.

We already have a great lineup of speakers, but we seek your help to provide a relevant, timely and intentional learning experience at this year’s conference. You can help by offering your knowledge and expertise for a conference session.

Our Wisconsin library community includes staff from academic, public, school and special libraries, as well as trustees, students and other library professionals.

Consider sessions related to topics such as:

• Advocacy/Promotion
• Building Collections
• Building Inclusivity
• Civil Discourse/Community Conversations
• Creating Inclusive and Welcoming Environments
• Fostering Community Relationships, Community Collaborations and Partnerships
• Leadership/Professional Development
• Library Issues and Challenges
• Mental Health Issues
• Practical Programming
• Security/Safety
• Self-Care/Time Management
• Serving Diverse Populations
• Work-Life Balance
• Workplace Creativity

Don't let the above topics limit you! Feel free to suggest any program you'd like to present, as long as it adheres to the Program Proposal Guidelines.

Submit your proposal here.

PROGRAM SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1, 2019.

Please feel free to contact us with questions.

Thanks,

WLA 2019 Conference Program Co-Chairs

Mark Jochem
mjochem@scls.info
608.630.0270

Pamela O'Donnell
pamela.odonnell@wisc.edu
608.263.2014

Roxane Bartelt
roxane.knitter@gmail.com
262.989.2182

Join Me for the WLA President's Reception

Time to throw a party! 

On Tuesday Oct 23, from 5-7 pm at the WLA fall conference, I am inviting all attendees to come to a  reception to celebrate and thank YOU!

Co-sponsored by Chippewa Valley Technical College, the event features free snacks, a cash bar and mellow music by Under Paris Skies (French gypsy cafe music!).

It's a great chance to meet-up with new friends and old, celebrate WLA and let me thank all of you for the support you have given WLA and to me this year.

See you there!

-- Marge Loch-Wouters, WLA Prez

P.S.  Early bird registration for the amazing conference continues through September 28

You Are Kind of a Big Deal: Submit Your WLA Conference Proposal by April 6

You don't have to be this guy to be an expert at what you do. We're looking for presenters of all kinds for the WLA Conference in October. Tell us about something cool you've done at your library or lessons you've learned in the field. You've got this. Tell us about it.

The 2018 WLA Conference Committee invites you to share your experience and creativity with the Wisconsin library community at our annual conference, to be held on October 23-26, 2018, at the Radisson Hotel La Crosse & La Crosse Center.

​

Professionals learn best from their peers. We’re looking for local expertise to provide a relevant, timely, and intentional learning experience at this year’s conference.

Feel free to suggest any program you'd like to present. You don’t have to be an expert, you just need a passion to share what you do. Examples include: your innovative program, a new service you unveiled, unique community collaborations, management hacks, self-care tips, your new safety initiative, and more.

Consider sessions related to topics such as: Advocacy, Diverse Collections, Collaborations, Innovations, Engaging People, Marketing, Social Media, Technology Trends, Support Staff and more.

Submit your proposal here.

First consideration for program proposals is April 6, 2018.

~WLA 2018 Annual Conference Committee Publicity Co-chairs Jill Fuller & Anne Hamland

Wow! WLA Conference Wants You!

Four days of learning, networking, deep thinking and fun just wrapped up at the WI Library Association's fall conference in the Dells. While there will be reports of individual sessions in the coming weeks on this blog, I wanted to highlight a few reasons I think conferences where we come together are so vital:

• We meet, network & catch up with peers from across the state & across multiple library types.
• We have opportunities to learn things from different perspectives than our own and to stay fresh.
• We get practical information as well as mind-blowing new insight.
• We can have fun with our YSS peers who work so hard to make the conference meaningful and helpful.
• We can celebrate and support each other, cheering and honoring people like Leah Langby, IFLS youth consultant and this year's Librarian of the Year.
• We can take time away from work to refresh and retool.

Wait, you couldn't be there this year? Here are some strategies to make attendance at next year's conference in La Crosse (October 23-26) possible - and probable:

MEMBERSHIP
Join WLA as a member. It's $50 annually if you make $16K or less. If you make more than this, you pay an addition $3 for every $1000 you make. Membership saves you lots of money on conference registration and helps keep WLA strong. Besides benefits listed on the link, you get a strong lobbying voice; opportunities to lead; access to create great content for your peers through YSS committees; and life-long friendships. Your membership runs for 1 year from the date you pay (rather than Jan-Dec). Please join and help us keep WLA strong!

FREEING UP TIME
Plan to take a storytime, outreach and programming break on Oct 23-16, 2018 and let your community know that you are going to learn a ton to help them by attending the conference! Leah Langby shares some reasons why breaks work!

TOO EXPENSIVE?
I hear you. In order to make membership and conference attendance affordable when I was younger, I put a little $$ aside each paycheck for membership dues and conference expenses. I also asked my sweet mom, who gave me thoughtful but often unneeded birthday and holiday gifts, if she would cover my ALA and WLA memberships (win-win!!). Later, I also realized if I didn't go out to eat for one meal each month or skipped two barista-prepared double lattes monthly, I'd have enough for dues as well.

I DON'T KNOW ANYONE...
YSS will take care of you! The booth is full of friendly people and you can chat with so many people there who would love to get to know you and about your work and library. It is networking heaven!

Finally, La Crosse, right on the Mississippi River, is a beautiful, walkable friendly conference site with stores, shops, tasty eating places (BBQ; fancy dancy; bar food; pizza; tapas and noshes) close by to the conference center. It's historical and modern setting makes it a crown jewel of the west coast of Wisco. Hope to see you there!

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!!

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!

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!