Play Make Learn Conference next week!

 There is still time to register for next week's Play Make Learn Conference taking place in Madison, WI. 

Photo by Quilia on Unsplash

Register for Play Make Learn 2026 TODAY!

Don't miss your chance to be a part of the conference; Play Make Learn has historically sold out each year. Come to Madison to Play, Make, and Learn alongside inspiring peers!

Calling all librarians, teachers, makers, designers, and more!!

Can you believe we are only a week away from the 2026 Play Make Learn Conference? The countdown has officially begun for registered folks to convene on July 9–10 at the Memorial Union in Madison, Wisconsin for a fantastic learning and networking experience. Whether you are coming to share, create, or discover, the energy of this community is something you won't want to miss!

To help you map out your experience, we have two updates for you today: The Full Session Schedule is officially live -- and we are introducing a brand new networking experience (more below). From hands-on workshops to groundbreaking presentations, this year's lineup is packed with inspiration. Take a look at some of our featured highlights:

• July 8 (Pre-Conference): Dive deep early with special sessions like CONTRACKED: Collaborative Complex Playful Learning through Noise and the STEAM and Making MiniCon.
  
  
• July 9: Kick off day one with an inspiring keynote by Brenda Baker (Co-CEO, Madison Children's Museum). After that, the schedule bursts open with interactive sessions: preview PBS Wisconsin's newest history video game project, discover how to blend tabletop RPGs with ePortfolios in the Questfolios workshop, or explore Teaching and Designing through the Fluxus Lens inspired by Yoko Ono. Don't forget to explore the interactive Arcade to level up your PML experience with community creatives, and wrap up day one with the Poster Reception.
  
  
• July 10: Start day two with an illuminating keynote from Camilla Zamboni (Wesleyan University). Dive back into more dynamic workshops and presentations exploring the intersections of play, design, and education, and make sure to explore more of the Arcade before we gather one last time for our community Closing Session.

View the Full Session Schedule Here

Power Up proposals now open

Photo by Headway on Unsplash

 Power Up: A Leadership Conference for Youth Services Managers & Staff

Call for proposals now open! 

Submit your idea today: go.wisc.edu/64f8cx 

Power Up 2027 will occur March 22-23, 2027, in Madison, WI. Share your strategies for project management, mentorship, program evaluation, staff morale & retention, advocacy, change management, culturally relevant programming, and more with fellow youth service librarians! Submit your proposal by September 7, 2026, for full consideration.

Conference sessions can take one of several formats, and you are welcome to submit multiple proposals. 

• 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

Selected presentation, workshop, and panel sessions will receive one complimentary conference registration. Selected lightning talk presenters will receive a discounted conference rate. 

Roundtable Facilitator 

In addition to general session proposals, we are also looking for roundtable facilitators to help moderate conversations about:

• Fostering positive teen relationships and engagement in the library
• Welcoming and engaging families in the library

Roundtable moderators will prepare discussion questions in advance, introduce the topic, and guide the discussion during a conference breakout session.

Selected roundtable facilitators will receive a discounted conference registration. Submit your application by September 7, 2026, for consideration. 

Roundtable facilitator application: go.wisc.edu/0ic7wx

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Questions? Email ce-info@ischool.wisc.edu

Free Webinars from UW-Madison

Logo from UW-Madison

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Free Summer Webinar Series

Registration now open!

UW-Madison's annual free webinar series is returning this summer! We are excited to announce a line-up of four one-hour webinars taking place in July. All webinars will occur live 12:00-1:00 PM CDT and will be recorded. Sign up for one or all four!

Mastering the Library Job Interview for New Professionals

July 9, 2026

Design for Everyone! Teaching Canva in the Public Library

July 16, 2026

Curriculum Analysis for Instruction Librarians

July 23, 2026

 “Bigger Than the Day’s Work”: Building Libraries and Creating Librarians at the Wisconsin Library School, 1906-1938

July 30, 2026

Find more details and register on our website.

Registration closes at 3PM the day before each webinar. You will receive a link to watch the webinar the week before it airs.

Questions? Contact us at ce-info@ischool.wisc.edu.

Great New Books for Children and Teens in Person

Logo from ccbc.education.wisc.edu

 

IFLS Library System, Northern Waters Library Services, and Wisconsin Valley Library Service invites you to: 

Great New Books for Children and Teens

Presented by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) 

Thursday, April 9 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Celebration Hall  

235 E Main St, Gilman, WI 54433

 

Register by Sunday, March 29: https://forms.gle/byHRgBQjF7LdTKW66

 

CCBC Librarians Merri Lindgren and Tessa Michaelson Schmidt will discuss this year’s best books for ages birth to 18! Highlighted books will be available for hands-on book examination during lunch.

 

This free event is open to library professionals and educators.

 

9:30 - 10 a.m. Registration & Light Refreshments

10 - 11:30 a.m. Great New Books for Birth - Grade 5 *This morning session is worth 1.5 contact hours.

11:30 - 1 p.m. Book Browsing and Complimentary Lunch

1 - 2:30 p.m. Great New Books for Grades 6 - 12 *This afternoon session is worth 1.5 contact hours.

 

Space is limited! Please register by March 29: https://forms.gle/byHRgBQjF7LdTKW66

Questions? Reach out to Emily Rogers at erogers@wvls.org.

Tips and Info from DPI's December 18, 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 December 18, 2025 edition:

 

 

Hello All,  Check out these library youth services resources and reminders!  2026 Programming and Activity Count Tracker  This workbook can be used to track programs and activities throughout the year, and prepare program, activity counts, attendance, and participation for Sections III and XIII of the Annual Report.  Visit Wisconsin Public Library Annual Report for more information.  Use BadgerLink for Readers’ Advisory  BadgerLink’s readers’ advisory resources can bring you up to speed on the best books of 2025.  View the Readers’ Advisory Story  Wisconsin Public Library Standards Steering Committee Work Begins  Read what topics led their first meeting discussion as they begin the review and revisions of the Wisconsin Public Library Standards.  View the Standards Story.  CSLP Annual Slogan (2029) and Theme (2030) Survey  The Collaborative Summer Library Program survey is open! Please take a moment to fill out the survey and make your recommendations for the 2029 Slogan (for the Nature theme) and the 2030 Theme.  This survey is open to all libraries in the country, so please feel free to share it with staff at your library.  The deadline to submit your recommendations is Monday, February 2, 2026.   Save the Date! CSLP Building Community Based Summers application opens soon!  The Collaborative Summer Library Program is excited to launch a third national cohort of Building Community Based Summers in Spring 2026.  BCBS is designed to help member libraries identify the “whys” behind their summer services, build strategies to engage community voices, and create and provide inclusive summer services for all members of their communities. The spring 2026 cohort will gather for online learning sessions once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks in March-April 2026.   There is no charge to participate. Applications will be open from Monday, January 5 through Monday, January 26, 2026.  2026 Wisconsin Public Libraries CE Topics Survey  Help shape 2026-2027 Continuing Education offerings for Wisconsin Public Library Systems!  Library System CE Consultants are planning continuing education events for spring 2026 through spring 2027, and they would love your input. Your feedback helps them offer training that truly meets the needs of public library staff in their systems, regions, and across the state.  Take the CE Topic Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCDCWQ2  The deadline to complete the survey is January 15, 2026.  This will be the last Weekly Resources and Reminders email for 2025. The next one will arrive the week of January 5, 2026. I hope that you are able to find peace and joy in the upcoming Holiday season.   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

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference

Photo from wildwinterweb.com

Registration is now open for the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference. This is a free two day virtual conference taking place on January 21st and 22nd. It includes two full days of informative sessions and opening speakers based on the tracks of management, collection development, programming, small libraries and more! 

Learn more about the conference and register for individual sessions here.

UW Madison iSchool Fall CE Courses

There are some great course coming up this fall to enhance your youth services work. If you enroll up to two weeks before the course starts, you are eligible for a 10% discount. 

Roll with it…Gaming in Libraries

Sept 8 – Oct 5 (4 weeks)  $165

Games are a multifaceted (and often, underutilized) way to engage with patrons of all ages at your library. In this class, we’ll discuss collection development and policy creation for video games, board games, and TTRPGs (tabletop role-playing games). We’ll also strategize the development and implementation of gaming clubs, from casual board game meet-ups, running Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, to after school video game clubs and more! Instructor: Dusty Karls, La Crosse Public Library

Bringing the Science of Reading into Library Storytimes and Play Spaces

Sept 15 – Oct 26 (6 weeks), $275

The “Science of Reading” is a term gaining traction and informing legislation but it is not new. Gough & Tunmer brought us their model for reading comprehension in 1986, The Simple View of Reading, and described a simple formula: RC = D x LC. Reading Comprehension (RC) is the product of Decoding (D) and Language Comprehension (LC) proficiencies. The science of reading remains grounded in this same research and now encompasses thousands of studies. As librarians, we can employ specific strategies to incorporate this knowledge into our programming and play spaces. Let’s focus on concrete ways we can bring this research into our daily work to assist our youngest patrons on their lifelong reading journey through weekly reading assignments, discussions, and reflection on our current practices. Instructor: Katelyn Martens-Rodriguez,  Washington County Library (MN)

STEAM For Youth Services
Oct 6 – Nov 2 (4 weeks) $165
Are you interested in exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) for youth ages 0–5? This course will highlight why STEAM matters in early childhood, how libraries can foster curiosity and discovery, and how to incorporate STEAM into programs and storytimes in developmentally appropriate ways. We’ll also explore what’s emerging in the field of preschool STEAM. You will learn:

• Understand how young children’s brains develop alongside early STEAM skills and milestones.
• Identify and explain the core concepts of STEAM and how they appear in early childhood learning.
• Design developmentally appropriate library programs or storytimes that integrate STEAM concepts.
• Explore current trends and future directions in early childhood STEAM learning.

Instructor: Kristin Caldwell, formerly La Crosse County Library

Trauma-Informed Care: An Introduction for Libraries

Oct 13 – Nov 23 (6weeks) $275

Trauma-Informed Care started in the healthcare field, but there is a lot to being trauma informed that can equip libraries to best serve our complex communities. A trauma-informed library is a place where staff understands the perspectives of people who have experienced trauma and provides positive and unbiased service. All the decisions we make are opportunities for retraumatization or healing; so we might as well make them deliberately! Learn how to apply a trauma-informed lens to improve your service, space, and work culture. Topics:

• What “trauma-informed” means in a library context
• Toxic stress and the brain, and what that means for our work interactions
• Applying trauma-informed principles to library work
• The importance of workforce wellness in a Trauma-Informed approach
• An introduction to the concepts of historical trauma and institutional oppression

Instructor: S. Bryce Kozla, Washington (OR) County Cooperative Library Services

Youth Services 101
Oct 13 – Dec 7 (8 weeks) $360
Looking to ground yourself in the basics of youth services for public libraries? Whether you are new to the field, need a refresher, or just need a breath of fresh air, this course will look at the past, present and, future of great service for children and teens. Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the basics of child development and trends
• Create age-appropriate collections and programming
• Perform advocacy and outreach activities
• Establish effective community partnerships
• Build kid-friendly environments
• Work through difficult patron situations
• Learn about recent trends in youth services
• Libraries and the Customer Experience, Oct 20 – Nov 16

Instructor: Brooke Newberry, La Crosse (WI) Public Library

You can see these additional courses of interest at the iSchool CE page go.wisc.edu/ischool-ce

• Advanced Public Library Administration, Sept 8 – Nov 30
• Introduction to Digitization Projects, Sept 8 – Nov 2
• Public and Community Library Services, Sept 15 – Dec 7
• Basic Public Library Administration, Sept 15 – Dec 7
• Basics of Cataloging, Sept 22 – Nov 16
• NEW! Starting Strong: A Guide to the Initial Phases of Library Facility Planning, Oct 6 – Nov 16
• Making a Collection Count: Collection Management Basics, Oct 13 – Dec 7
• Nonfiction RA: Beyond the Basics, Oct 20-Nov 16
• Libraries and the Customer Experience, Oct 20 – Nov 16

Power Up Virtual Conference Schedule

The Power Up Conference is going virtual on alternative years! You can now get the same fabulous sessions from library leaders from our state and around the country as you do at this national in-person biennial conference held in Madison and sponsored by UW-Madison iSchool Continuing Ed Dept.  

Register today: go.wisc.edu/w2uvnu (sliding fee scale)

Join youth services managers and staff for two days of virtual learning. Sessions will focus on leveling up your leadership skills, best practices for serving your community, and how to best support your team. Each concurrent session will be presented live, and recordings will be available to registered attendees for 3-months.

 2025 Virtual Power Up Schedule

February 13 & 14, 2025

Online, Zoom 

Thursday, February 13		Friday, February 14
9:50-10:00	Welcome	9:00-9:45	Programming Lightning Talks
10:00-11:00	Keynote	10:00-11:00	Concurrent session 3
11:30-12:30	Concurrent session 1	11:30-12:30	Concurrent session 4
1:00-2:00	Concurrent session 2	1:00-2:00	Concurrent session 5

Keynote Session

Thursday Keynote: Kyle Lukoff, 10:00-11:00 AM CST
Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright To See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became A Brother also won the Stonewall, and his book Call Me Max has been banned in schools across the country. He is the recipient of the 2025 Children's Literature Lecture award, and has forthcoming books for all ages on a variety of topics. While becoming a writer he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian.

Concurrent Sessions

Concurrent Session 1, Thursday 11:30-12:30 PM CST

Data-driven to distraction: Reconsidering the role of vulnerability in a healthy library workplace 

Jessica Jones, Library Director, Takoma Park Maryland Library

While workplace mental health and burnout are topics that library workers frequently discuss in professional development settings, vulnerability rarely garners the same attention. However, in order to meaningfully address the presence and impact of burnout and mental health challenges in the workplace, we have to be vulnerable enough to talk about them - not in abstract terms, but in ways that our specific workplaces create barriers to wellness. This session will focus on three key areas and how to implement them in a library workplace: 1) Why vulnerability can be an asset in the workplace, 2) Leading by example, and 3) Reconciling the need to be "data driven" while embracing more holistic practices.


Giving Great Service
Jamie Matczak, Education Consultant, Wisconsin Valley Library Service

Providing great customer service in any business is no longer a "nice to have." It's a MUST have. Given that libraries put their customers first, they have an incredible opportunity to shine when it comes to giving the best service possible at every interaction. In this session, learn tips on assessing and improving your library's commitment to great service, how to deliver it, and steps to take when customer service fails.

Concurrent Session 2, Thursday 1:00-2:00 PM CST

Leading Staff Through Change to Elevate Youth Services
Joyce Arellano, Children's Services Manager, Fountaindale Public Library District

All too often, youth services departments find themselves set in a routine, recommending the same go-to titles and offering the same programs. As libraries work to make their services, collections and programs more inclusive, how do managers effectively make the changes to move beyond legacy practices and move their departments forward? Implementing change can be a long and challenging process. Using examples from a Children’s Services Manager’s library and experience, this session will cover the basics for leading through change when you’re a new manager and employees push back and push hard. From implementing new ideas to letting go of outdated processes, we’ll explore ways to show staff how to embrace change, encourage out-of-the-box thinking and gain staff buy-in.

The Right to Inclusion: How Libraries can Extend Privilege's to the Underserved
Georgette Spratling, Youth Services Librarian, North Miami Public Library

In this session, we will explore how libraries can serve underserved communities by extending privileges that aren’t typical to smaller or underfunded Libraries. We will examine the critical role libraries play in providing access to people, places and location, thereby breaking cycles of inequity. Through innovative thinking and partnerships, libraries can provide experiences that will benefit all of our underserved families. Session takeaways: 

• Understand the barriers underserved communities face in accessing library resources and how libraries can address these challenges.
• Learn about successful initiatives from progressive libraries worldwide that promote inclusivity and diversity.
• Gain actionable insights to transform your library into an inclusive, empathetic space that empowers underserved individuals and communities.

Programming Lightning Talks, Friday 9:00-9:45 AM

Talk #1 - Empowering 'Terrific Talkers': Connecting Health Literacy, Local Early Childhood Experts and the Public Library
Tessa Fox-Pawlaczyk, Early Literacy Librarian, Kenosha Public Library

Hear how one library's success pairing health literacy programs with existing children's library programs on a budget inspired a month-long program series centering on language and speech development in babies and toddlers. "Terrific Talkers" free program series provides book giveaways, early childhood developmental screenings; themed programs with pediatric speech and occupational therapists; classes from a local music school and art educator; and an author visit featuring workshops for parents and caregivers, and Early Childhood Educators who can earn continuing education credit.

Talk #2 - Monster Medical: A Studio NPL Intensive
Mariano Hayes, Program Supervisor - Lead Mentor, Studio NPL

The Monster Medical Camp is an immersive, hands-on experience where students role-play as veterinarians in the Monster Medical Corp, responsible for treating magical creatures. Through an engaging RPG campaign, participants build and embody unique characters, collaborating to solve creative and medical challenges. The camp features various fabrication stations where students use advanced technology, including laser cutting, 3D design, 3D printing, and audio production, alongside sewing, cardboard sculpting, and painting to craft costumes and props. Emphasizing safety, teamwork, and technical skills, the camp nurtures creativity and problem-solving while providing practical experience in both crafting and technology.

Concurrent Session 3, Friday 10:00-11:00 AM CST

Belonging at Work: An Inspiring Environment for Neurodivergent Employees
Kate Thompson, West Des Moines Public Library

Diversity in how employees think makes for a creative and dynamic staff. How can we recruit and train neurodivergent employees to give them a great start? And how can libraries retain and empower all employees? Learn strategies to improve your interview process and onboarding, and tips and tricks for managers and coworkers. You'll leave this session with practical ideas for making your library more welcoming to all employees.


Mastering the Art of Middle Management: Real Talk, Hacks, and Humor from the
Front Lines
Brooke Newberry, Youth Services Manager, La Crosse Public Library & Kendra Jones, Deputy Director, Timberland Regional Library

Join Brooke Newberry for a session packed with practical tips, candid advice, and a dash of humor for anyone navigating the world of middle management. Whether you’re putting out fires, juggling personalities, or just trying to stay afloat, she's got you covered with insights from a seasoned pro who has weathered the chaos and lived to tell the tale.

Concurrent Session 4, Friday 11:30-12:30 PM CST

Crafting Communication: Tools for Effective Youth Services Management
Ashley McHose, Library Manager, Lakeshore Technical College

Managing a Youth Services team is a complex and rewarding puzzle. How do you keep the whole team on the same page across multiple shifts? How do you manage team members with a variety of roles and responsibilities? How can you position yourself to advocate for your team to upper management? At the end of the day, a lot of our struggles as managers come down to inefficiency in our internal communication structures. In this session, we’ll examine common communication issues that Youth Services managers face - from the unique challenges of middle management to coordinating communication across multiple shifts. We’ll explore evidence-based strategies for strengthening communication practices on your team, including recognizing implicit communication rituals, developing shared communication expectations, and creating sustainable, effective internal communication channels. Whether you oversee a single part-time assistant or a large team, the best practices we’ll explore in this session will equip you to better support your direct reports and encourage a more inclusive, collaborative, effective workplace.

Using Critical Literacy to Decolonize your Collections
Nisa Kesseler, Teen Services Librarian, Petoskey District Library & Meredith Kennedy, Executive Director, Miigwech Inc.

In this session, we will delve into the impact of colonization on Indigenous youth, with a specific focus on stereotypes and tropes perpetuated in children’s literature. With this knowledge in mind, we explore how youth librarians can use the principles of critical literacy to decolonize their collections and center children's literature that is inclusive and affirming of our Indigenous patrons. Attendees will leave with an understanding of how to complete a diversity audit, the ability to identify tropes and stereotypes to guard against, and an understanding of when items should be removed from the collection.

Concurrent Session 5, Friday 1:00-2:00 PM CST

Implementing Trauma-Informed Principles in Your Library
Bryce Kozla, Partnerships Librarian, Washington County Cooperative Library Services

A trauma-informed library is a place where the perspectives of people who have experienced trauma are honored, and one that provides positive spaces, services, and work culture. Trauma-Informed Principles can equip libraries to best serve our complex communities. All the decisions we make are opportunities for retraumatization or healing; so we might as well make them deliberately! Explore the six principles of trauma-informed organizations, and how we can implement them in libraries.

Pushing Boundaries Without Pushing Buttons
Kevin Kelly, Associate Director for School Age Programs and Services & Alexandria Abenshon, Director of Children's Services, New York Public Library

In 2023 NYPL organized a large drag queen story hour program across the city that received pushback from local and extra-local organizations. Many of the programs were picketed by a small but militant religious group that protested, and in some cases, turned violent. In this presentation, we will discuss the strategies we implemented as leaders in the NYPL Children’s department, including: ensuring physical security and safety of staff and branches before, during, and after the events, equipping staff with adequate resources and support to navigate the situation (both personnel and institutional support and policy), collaborating with the city council to support, promote, and accomplish the events.