WLA Meetup in Madison for the Documentary "The Librarians"

We hope you can join us in Madison for a meetup on February 19th! Event is open to everyone and FREE!

 

MADISON AREA MEETUP! WLA is hosting a Madison area meetup to watch the documentary THE LIBRARIANS. This event is FREE and open to everyone (not just WLA members). See below for the details: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Pre-movie meetup at Butterbird (1134 Regent Street in Madison) from 4:30 - 6:00pm for social hour and food. Stop by when you can!  The Librarians will be showing at The Marquee Cinema at Union South (1308 W. Dayton Street in Madison) Doors open at 6:00pm for 6:30pm showing. The closest parking lot is Lot 80, a parking garage under Union South. The parking is free from 4:30pm-7am. WLA will be hosting a virtual discussion group after the movie for its members on February 25th from 3:30-5:00pm. Thank you to the Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee for hosting the film and for the invite to our members!

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

YSS March Meet-up - Save the Date!

The next YSS meet-up is coming up in a few weeks on March 17, 2-3:30 pm. While plans are still being finalized, we don't want you to miss out. So, mark your calendars and hope to see you there!

Oh, and a quick reminder, you can check out recordings of previous meet-ups and other YSS fun at the Youth Services Section YouTube channel!

YSS New Member Welcome Wrap-Up, Courtesy of Florence LaBeau!

YSS New Member Welcome Notes form August 12, 2021

By Florence LaBeau

We had a great discussion at the virtual welcome.  Librarians from all over the state had the opportunity to chat with colleagues about summer programs, past events, and COVID restrictions in their libraries.  We had a chance to learn from others and maybe get an idea or two or something we might want to try in the future!

Indoor programs such as preschool and baby storytimes, Groovy Monday (dancing), and QWIC Bites (cuisine for kiddos) were popular choices and received quite a lot of interest.  Some libraries took registration and many limited capacity of the programs.  Some also required patrons to wear masks.

Outdoor, virtual, and teen programs were also well attended.  Fun ideas here included Friday Field Trips (where storytime is set up at a new location in town every week), Dungeons & Dragons Club for teens (offered online with a limit of 7), teen crafternoons and sketchbook clubs (where there is a theme for each week inspired by the world around you), teen advisory, scary stories, book groups, and monthly teen events that offer craft and game options.

Librarians also offered toy sleepovers, Preschool Prom, and Stuffie Adoption programs.  The variety of programming was so fun to see!

YSS would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to all who attended this virtual New Member Welcome.  It was great to see new faces and get so many ideas.  Hopefully we will get a chance to meet up again at WLA! 

You're invited to the 2021 YSS New Member Welcome Social! Thursday, August 12th at 2:30pm

​Calling all YSS members!  

Join us virtually on Thursday, August 12th at 2:30pm as we chat about our summer programs and events, share our favorite stories, and find out what our colleagues are planning for the fall. 

Are you new to YSS?  Or just want to know more?  Bring your questions and our current Board members will be glad to answer them!  

No registration necessary.  See you on August 12th!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7502399842

Reminder - YSS Meet-up Ahead!

YSS Regional Meet Up - Upper MidEast Region 

Friday, January 24 | 1:30-4:00 PM

Cost: $0

Manitowoc Public Library

707 Quay St, Manitowoc, WI 54220

Agenda:
1:30 pm     Welcome and Introductions 

• Share one idea you have for SRP/SLP! Big or small, we want to hear them all!

2:15 pm   Manitowoc Public Library Tour 
3:00 pm      Tech Toy Playtime

• Explore all the new (and old) tech toys in Manitowoc’s Idea Box!  

4:00 pm       Wrap up 
 
Bring a friend or colleague that isn't a YSS member yet and let them see the benefits YSS membership has to offer!
 
Please RSVP here.

 

Questions? Email Katherine Schoofs at aramkids@aramlibrary.org

WI Small Libraries Meet-up

Do you do youth work in one of Wisconsin's small libraries? Join WISL at BLack River Falls Library April 3, 11-1 for their first ever meet-up!