Libraries and Wisconsin Municipalities

I received an email today from Beth Yoke, the Executive Director of YALSA, to let me know that the February issue of The Municipality, the magazine of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, is all about libraries. This issue can be accessed HERE. It is something that you may want to share with your director, your library board, your community stakeholders, and your local officials.

The magazine discusses how libraries are working, Wisconsin's role in supporting libraries, why libraries matter now more than ever, an informative overview of municipal library boards, and more, including an article by WLA's Executive Director, Plumer Lovelace, III.

You may also want to watch and share this video of the "Local Perspective" hosted by Jerry Deschane, the Executive Director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, where WLA President and youth services champion, Marge Loch-Wouters and Plumer Lovelace, III, talk about all things library.

Where is Marge? YSS Fun at WLA 2017

Marge Loch-Wouters, in her own words, October 19, 2017:

So this happened.  I was the YSS "secret game" at WLA17.  People got a picture of me and had to take a pix of me and the mini-me to win a prize.  And I thought my 772 students were just excited to see the prof!!

Meet Your Board: Marge Loch-Wouters

Marge Loch-Wouters is the Youth Services Section's representative to the WLA Board, she helps manage the YSS blog (this very blog!), she was the 2010 Librarian of the Year, and many of you have had the opportunity to soak up some of her infectious enthusiasm and practical, great ideas through workshops, WLA sessions, and her blog, Tiny Tips for Library Fun.  Now, get to know a few more things about her!

You’ve been involved in WLA  and ALA for many years.  What’s your advice for someone who is just starting to think about getting involved? 

Jump in and do it. Whether your library pays or not, you gain far more than the cost of membership or conferences - lifelong friends and co- conspirators; cutting edge work on library trends and pathways to leadership - oh, plus laughs and people who really understand you!

What are some of your favorite go-to blogs that inform your work?

Show Me Librarian and Bryce Don't Play for programming ideas; Stacked, Hi Miss Julie and Magpie Librarian for poke you in the eye thought- provokers; and ALSC Blog and Teen LibrarianToolbox for all around fabulous.

 If you were putting together a dinner party with children’s book characters, who would you invite?  Why?

Pete the Cat for his fab nonchalance; Will Stanton and Hermione Granger because an old one and a muggle witch would talk some smack; and Elephant and Piggie so the lamp-shade-on-the-head aspect would be covered.

 When you aren't working (or thinking about work), what do you love to do?  

 I am 1. outdoors - hiking, canoeing; wilderness camping; fishing; watching wildlife and hunting wild plants and playing in the snow. 2. Reading or computering ( blogs, zombie killing, social networking)

Tell us about a memorable interaction you’ve had with a young person or parent.  

The best was having a young mom bring in her baby and tell me she was one of my storytime kids and was so excited to start her child using the library.

What’s a book you’ve read or listened to lately that you especially enjoyed? 

 Savage Fortress by Sharwat Chadda - think of this book as doing for Hindu mythology what Percy Jackson books did for Greek myths.

What is your advice for on-the-fly averting a disaster during a program?  

Be zen and roll with the punches. Kids and parents are perfectly able to adjust. If you make something appear to be a funny glitch, that's how people will react.