Meet the Board: Katie Kiekhaefer, Chair

It's a new year and we have a new YSS Board!  This series will introduce each board member with some enchanting questions and even more enchanting photos.

Katie Kiekhaefer, Chair

Name & Library

Katie Kiekhaefer, Whitefish Bay Public Library

What was your favorite childhood book?

I like to say that my sense of humor can best be understood by my favorite childhood books (shout out to the Wayside School books) and Tedd Arnold's No More Jumping on the Bed is a pretty spot on example of that.  I loved the madcap, zany absurdity of that book, and I would like to use this platform to publicly thank my parents for the endless re-readings!

In what format do you like to read? EBooks? Print? Graphic Novel? Audiobook? Why?

I tend to stick with print and graphic novels, but every year, I resolve to explore eBooks more.  Maybe this year will be the year?

What do you like to do in your free time to recharge?

Truthfully, I watch a lot of Great British Bake-Off reruns.  I also love music, so putting together new playlists and attending concerts is how I recharge.  

What are you reading right now?

My coworker gave me The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking, and I'm enjoying the practical tips to make winter in Wisconsin a little cozier.

What is your biggest goal for YSS in 2018?

My goal for 2019 is to continue the amazing work done by previous Chairs.  As Sarah mentioned earlier, we're using our survey responses to better support library staff serving youth in this state, and I'm excited for everyone to see what we can do in 2019.  Watch this space!    

Anything else you’d like to share?

(Nope :D)

Contact Katie: kiekhaefer@gmail.com

2019 WLA Election Results!

The WLA Nominations & Elections Committee has tabulated the results of the 2019 WLA elections:

Wisconsin Library Association (WLA)

WLA Vice-President/President-Elect

Sherry Machones - Director, Northern Waters Library Service

WLA Treasurer

*Katharine Clark – Adult Services Librarian, E.D. Locke Public Library

ALA Councilor NA Association of Wisconsin Special Librarians (AWSL)

AWSL Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Amy O’Shea - Online Librarian, Broadview University

AWSL Secretary

Brianna Wolbers – Librarian, Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds

OSRT

OSRT Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Angela Zimmermann

OSRT Secretary

NA

READ

READ Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

NA

Reference & Adult Services Section (RASS)

RASS Director-at-Large

NA

RASS Vice Chair/Chair Elect

Barbara Alvarez, Head of Adult Services, Northshore Library

Support Services & Circulation Services (SSCS)

SSCS Vice Chair/Chair Elect Chair-Elect

Cynthia Arauz - Circulation Manager, La Crosse Public Library

SSCS Secretary

Samantha Vogel - Circulation Supervisor, Waterford Public Library

SSCS Director-at-Large (Academic)

NA

SSCS Director-at-Large (Circulation)

Katie Ganser - Circulation Supervisor, Middleton Public Library

Technical Services Section (TSS)

TSS Chair

Amy Gannaway - Technical Services Consultant, South Central Library System

TSS Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Nic Ashman - Technical Services & Reference Librarian, Chippewa Valley Technical College

TSS Secretary

Beth Bechtel - Database Management Librarian, Bridges Library System

Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL)

WAAL Chair-Elect

Michael Doylen, interim Associate Vice Provost and Director of Libraries, UW-Milwaukee Libraries

ACRL Chapters Representative

NA

WAAL Secretary/Recorder

NA

Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians (WAPL)

WAPL Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

David Kranz, Director, SWLS

WLA Board Representative

NA

WAPL Director-at-Large (2 positions)

Shanneon Grant - Director, Sparta Free Library

Roxane Bartelt - Consultant

Wisconsin Libraries Trustees & Friends (WLTF)

WLTF Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

NA

WLTF Secretary

NA

WLA Board Representative

NA

Wisconsin Small Libraries (WISL)

WISL Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Amy Stormberg - Director, Amery Public Library

WISL Secretary

NA

WISL 1st Year Director

Bethany Volgren - Director, Milltown Public Library

WISL 2nd Year Director

Tammy Peasley - Director, Black River Falls Public Library

WLA Liason

Gina Rae - Director, Wilton Public Library

Youth Services Section (YSS)

YSS Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

*Katherine Schoofs - Youth Services Librarian, Aram Public Library

YSS Secretary

*Susie Menk - Youth Services Librarian, Manitowoc Public Library

YSS Director-at-Large (2 positions)

*Emily Zorea - Youth Services Librarian, Brewer Public Library

Anne Hamland - Public Library Services Consultant. Wisconsin Valley Library Service

Meet the Board: Sarah Cournoyer, Chair

It's a new year and we have a new YSS Board!  This series will introduce each board member with some delightful questions and even more delightful photos.

Sarah Cournoyer, Chair

What was your favorite childhood book?

The one that comes to mind right now is the Wizard of Oz, but there were many more! I generally read one to two books a day back then. My favorite series was the Hardy Boys because they were intrepid, intelligent, and solved mysteries.

In what format do you like to read? EBooks? Print? Graphic Novel? Audiobook?

I like print books, but have really gained an appreciation for eBooks in terms of convenience, carrying weight (only 8.54 oz no matter how many pages!), and being able to read them on multiple devices.

What do you like to do in your free time to recharge?

Free time is scarce, but I like to make time for knitting, cooking, yoga, and family and friends. A few of my favorite ways to recharge are being outside, taking road trips, and watching the clouds pass by or the wind move in the trees.

What are you reading right now?

I'm about 63% of the way through Ms. Bixby's Last Day according to my Kindle. What a fabulous and profound coming of age story! It's full of moments and quotes that resonate with me.

What is your biggest goal for YSS in 2018?

I feel it is imperative to continue providing value to our membership through resources like the YSS Powerhouse Presents series of webinars, regional meet-ups, leadership opportunities, and professional development, while enticing new members to join and to attend conferences.

My biggest goal is to be accessible, approachable, flexible, and adaptable in how, why and what YSS does in order to benefit our members, our organization, and the youth and families in our state.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Being a librarian has got to be the best career in the world! Every day brings something new and there’s never any time to get bored. I urge you to join me in spreading the word about our awesome and necessary profession to kids and teens that are contemplating what to be when they grow up. We need diverse library staff.

Contact Sarah: sarah@beaverdamlibrary.org

 

Meet the Board: Your 2017 YSS Chair - Terry Ehle

We'll be featuring interviews with the 2017 YSS Board Members every Tuesday through January and February so that you can get to know your board better. We'll start with our Chair, Terry Ehle.

 

Terry

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, my name is Terry Ehle and I am the Youth Services Coordinator for the Lester Public Library in Two Rivers, WI. I have been at the library for 18 years, which blows my mind as I never intended to be a librarian in the first place. Once I started though I was hooked and love my job more every day!

How did you get involved with WLA and the Youth Services Section?

I had been going to conferences for years but hadn’t really gotten involved and then I became the Youth Liaison for my system which allowed me to meet even more youth librarians – they are such a great group of people; it was easy to start saying yes when I was asked to be more involved. And of course Marge…she can be quite persuasive am I right?

What’s your favorite thing to eat while reading?

Well, I would read at all times if I could so I can’t say I have a favorite but I do love to read during breakfast. I’m not really a morning person and my family prefers it if I read…I think….

How would you define your library programming style?

I am definitely a “let’s see how it goes” type of programmer. I am pretty much willing to try anything once.

What is your favorite genre? Which genre would you choose to go outside your comfort zone?

I prefer science fiction/fantasy, particularly urban fantasy. To go outside my comfort zone I would read nonfiction. I definitely read to escape so it is hard for me to get through nonfiction.

What was your favorite book or story as a child?

We had this huge book of golden book stories that my dad would read from at bedtime. One of my fondest memories is of listening him to read, he read in a complete monotone voice yet it is one thing that I remember most about him from my childhood and how much I loved it!

What’s your method for getting distracted kids (of any age) back on track during a program?

I do the “hands in the air, hands on your head, hands on your shoulders, hands on your knees, hands over your mouth” – it always works!

How do you enhance your Readers Advisory skills?

I have a really good memory for plotlines and right before I do a group of booktalks I read all the inside flaps of the books I am going to talk about. I also look them up on Amazon and read the reader reviews for little snippets I can add. I actually think I do better booktalking books I haven’t read as once I’ve read them I feel the need to add every detail of the story. It is hard not to gush when you liked a book.

Which author, living or dead, would you most like to have over for dinner?

None. I don’t like to meet authors overall because it takes away the magic of the story for me, like meeting the man in the Santa suit.

What do you like to do in your free time to recharge?

Besides read? I love movies and traveling with my family. We are on a quest to see all 50 state capitals and we are halfway there!

What’s your favorite part of being a librarian?

I love it when I can interest kids in books. If I introduce a book to a child and they come back for more...no better feeling in the world!

Tell us about a memorable experience at WLA or WAPL.

I saw Dr. Dipesh Navasaria speak about the Reach Out and Read Program at WLA and it was a HUGE turning point for me and my library. We have started several early literacy initiatives since then including bringing Reach Out and Read to our county.

Which book(s) have your read and re-read and read again?

I reread books when I am stressed and can’t add new information to my brain…when that happens I read fluff like Twilight, J.D. Robb, and quick romance novels.

If you could have any book character as a best friend, who would you choose and why?

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle because wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to help any child with any issue? She is a superhero to me!

Meet the Board: Leah Langby, YSS Chair

Leah Langby is this year's chair and she is also the Library Development and Youth Services Coordinator for the Indianhead Federated Library System.

 

 

Tell us a little bit about who you are and your connection to libraries and the YSS Board.  I work for the IFLS, the library system that serves 10 counties in west-central Wisconsin.  I help libraries make sure they have the resources they need serve youth, underserved populations, and, well, everyone!  I am currently the YSS chair and I am honored to be working with an incredible board, serving amazing, committed librarians across the state.

 

Where do you get inspiration for your work?  I have a deep passion for and belief in libraries and their potential to make the world a better place.  I’m inspired by the culture of sharing and goodwill that librarians have with each other, and by the good work we are all doing every day!  And ultimately, I’m inspired by the communities and families we serve.

 

If you could have any author for your best friend, who would you choose and why?  Naomi Shihab Nye.  Whenever I read her poems or essays, or hear her speak or be interviewed, I feel like she is someone I want to know and take walks with and have over for dinner.

 

What’s your favorite kind of sandwich?  Anything with fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes.  I even eat peanut butter and tomato sandwiches during tomato season, or like Harriet M. Welch, tomato sandwiches with no other ingredients.

 

How many nursery rhymes do you know by heart?  Just about all of them in  both of the books by Iona Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells.  They are part of our family culture!

 

What’s your favorite story to tell?  The Gunniwolf, with a wolf puppet who looks quite a bit like Jack Nicholson, except shabbier now that he’s gone through the washer and dryer.

A Message from the Chair

If you’re reading this it means that you’ve reached the YSS blog – the place for up-to-date information for Wisconsin Youth Services librarians. The YSS board has been working hard to come up with the best ways to communicate with all members. This blog is just one of the ways. So set up an RSS feed so you can be up on the latest news from YSS.

The YSS web site is a great collection of resources for youth services staff. The new online tour of dynamic youth locations was just unveiled at WAPL and resides on the YSS page. The project, spear headed by Jill Lininger, the YSS web master and youth librarian at the Racine Public Library; and Barb Huntington, the Youth and Special Needs consultant with the Department of Public Instruction, allows us all to take a tour of dynamic spaces without leaving our computer. If you have a dynamic space, submit your photos to Jill. See the YSS web page for details on how to submit. Keep a look out for dynamic teen spaces, which will be coming this fall.

The kick off of the children’s spaces was just one of the excellent programs sponsored by YSS. We also sponsored sessions titled Playing to Learn, Learning to Play, My Space – Don’t Be Intimidated By It! Can It Work For Your Library?, and YSS co-sponsored a panel discussion titled Intellectual Freedom Matters in Theory and Practice for Children and Teens with the Intellectual Freedom Round Table. Thank you to everyone involved in making these sessions happen – I know it takes a lot of work to present at a conference, but sharing what you do best is the best way for us to all learn and grow. See individual write ups from participants on these sessions.

The YSS board met at WAPL and was busy planning the fall annual conference. The author for the much anticipated YSS author luncheon is Catherine Gilbert Murdock who wrote Dairy Queen and The Off Season. Both are set in Wisconsin and are about a teen living on a dairy farm learning to find her voice. Murdock’s latest book Princess Ben was just released – read it now and then attend the luncheon to meet the author in person.

But fall seems a long way away with summer reading just around the corner. If your life has been like mine lately, you’ve been immersed in plans for summer reading for about a solid four months now. I know many librarians who come to dread summer reading. Trust me, there are days when I can relate to that feeling. But over all, summer reading to me is the synthesis of why we are children’s librarians because the main goal of summer reading is to get kids excited about wanting to read. Through summer reading we are developing and creating readers – and that couldn’t be more fun. When I see children excited about a story or a character and can’t wait to get their hands on the next book in a series, that’s what makes all those months of planning worth it.

Summer reading programs make a big difference in the reading success of a child and research proves it. Children who read over the summer can maintain or even increase their reading level. Reading for pleasure is the best way for children to practice and improve their reading skills. Children who find something they want to read tend to be the best readers and have more enjoyable reading experiences overall. For further research on why reading over the summer is crucial go to:

http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/research.htm

We’d love to hear your summer stories - what worked, what didn’t, what funny things happened while you were hosting a program, etc. Submit them to yssadmin@gmail.com and we'll make sure to post them to the blog.

Finally, make sure you get in a little of your own summer reading and enjoy spreading your love of reading to all the children in your city.