It's Time For the Annual End-of-Summer Survey!

Calling all Wisconsin Public Library Staff who offered a Summer Reading Program/Summer Library Program in 2019!  We need you...yes, YOU...to fill out an end-of-summer survey and help advocate for youth services. 

The following email was sent earlier today by Tessa Michaelson Schmidt:

This is a friendly reminder to complete the end-of-summer survey. The audience for the survey is public library staff who played an active role in administering or running 2019 summer library programming regardless if you used the “Universe of Stories” theme. Please complete the survey between now and September 27, 2019.  Multiple library staff from the same library should complete the sections of the survey most relevant to their work; e.g. children, teen, or adult programs.

Beginning in 2019, the Public Library Development (PLD) Team will conduct an annual end-of-the-summer survey about the summer library program in concert with the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP).  PLD coordinates a summer reading program on behalf of Wisconsin's public libraries through membership to the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) and free access to the all-ages manual. Through the state-sponsored membership to CSLP, Wisconsin libraries are able to purchase high-quality program materials at a low cost. Your input on this survey is vital to the future of this program.

If you've already taken the time to fill out the survey, thanks so much!  If you haven't, there's still plenty of time!  Click HERE to get started and help validate the importance of support and available resources for all of Wisconsin's library staff serving youth and the communities they serve.

Early Literacy Mini-Grants

Want to start a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program or create an early literacy play area in your library?  Consider these mini-grants your fertilizer kit to get your dreams growing!

The Public Library Development Team at the Department of Public Instruction will award 40 mini-grants in the amount of $250 to Wisconsin public libraries to support early literacy efforts.  This project is part of the larger Growing Wisconsin Readers early literacy initiative.  Libraries may apply for grants to establish or enhance either an early literacy activity area or a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program.  Priority will be given to libraries that serve a total municipal population of less than 10,000 and who serve children birth through age six with potentially limited exposure to early literacy experiences.  Ideally, the grants will be awarded to libraries throughout the state’s 17 regional library systems.

The application process opens on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 9:00 am and closes on Friday, July 12, 2013 at 4:00pm.  For more information about the mini-grants, view http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/files/pld/pdf/2013_GWR_Mini-grant_info.pdf.  The information sheet and other documents related to Growing Wisconsin Readers are available at http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_ys-sn under “Initiatives.”

Questions?  Contact Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Youth and Special Services Consultant at the Department of Public Instruction.