Talk Story Grant Applications Open

The 2025 Talk Story Grant is now open for applications.

Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture is a family literacy initiative that connects Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI),and American Indigenous or Alaskan Native (AIAN) communities across generations.

The Talk Story micro-grant celebrates and explores AANHPI and AIAN stories through books, oral traditions, and cultural arts to provide interactive and enriching experiences for all ages.

Eligibility: Libraries and community organizations that serve AANHPI or AIAN children and their families are eligible to apply.

Grant Amount: $500

Due Date: March 15, 2025 11:59pm AoE

Apply: www.apalaweb.org/talkstorytogether/grant

For more info contact:

familyliteracy@apalaweb.org
talkstorygrant.aila@gmail.com

Tips and Info from DPI's Feb 13, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is chockfull of great resources. 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 are some of the highlights from the February 13, 2025 edition:

Money Smart Week (April 5-12, 2025) Kids Read Program

• Wow! All of the free books have been claimed!  
• The Money Smart Week Kids Read program, targeted at kids ages 5 to 8 years old, is an enjoyable way to introduce financial responsibility to youth through programming at your library. You can still participate in Money Smart Week by doing programing using a copy of Deena's Lucky Penny from your library collection. 

Teen Inclusive Internship application

• The Department of Public Instruction has opened the competitive application process for $2,500 grants for up to seven Wisconsin Libraries to fund library internships for local high school juniors or seniors to be completed between June 1st, 2025, and August 31st, 2025.
• Each library will be awarded up to $2,500 to recruit and hire an intern, in compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws and minor workers laws, and in collaboration with the library’s human resources and finance staff.
• The application period is open and will close at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 21st. The informational webinar presentation slides and scoring rubric are available for your review and can also be found on the DPI Youth Services webpage under the Teen Inclusive Internship Program dropdown menu.

Play Make Learn Annual Conference

• Call for Proposals - You can visit our website here to learn more and to access the application. The deadline to submit is March 7th, 2025 
• REGISTER HERE. You can view the different registration rate options at that link; Early Bird Rates are currently being offered.

WebJunction - FREE content for public libraries in Wisconsin

• Rooted in connection: Libraries designing for belonging and community 
• Despite living in an age of unprecedented digital connectivity, people are feeling the increasing effects of loneliness and isolation. These challenges extend beyond individuals, weakening the health, resilience, and trust of entire communities. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, reveals that loneliness can harm our health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. While the impact is profound, there are clear and achievable solutions within our reach. Read how libraries can bring intentionality to designing programming and services that deepen engagement and create environments where everyone feels they belong. 

WebJunction - Embracing Neurodiversity: Cultivating an inclusive workplace for neurodivergent staff

• Tuesday, March 4, 2025 ◆ 2:00 pm Eastern ◆ 60 minutes 
• Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/embracing-neurodiversity.html  
• Work environments that are made up of people who think differently bring more ideas and perspectives to the table. In fact, research consistently shows that diverse teams are better at problem solving, are more innovative, and are more effective. As our workplaces become more diverse, it becomes everyone's responsibility to learn how to embrace differences. In this webinar, you will gain an understanding of the term 'neurodiversity' and learn about the strengths of those who are neurodivergent. In addition, attendees will learn about ways they can support inclusion of neurodivergent colleagues to help create a more supportive and welcoming environment for all. 

Ask Me Anything: Youth and Teen Services

• Do you have questions about serving youth and teens at your library? I'm here to support you! Ask me anything about best practices for programming, engaging with children and families, collection development, and more. Your insights and questions are invaluable, so don't hesitate to reach out on the Ask Me Anything form. 

Have a great weekend!

 

Two IFLS Webinars, Open to All!

A Community for All: Disability Inclusion in Libraries
with Shelley Harris

Wednesday, February 19, 1:00-2:30 pm

REGISTER HERE

 

“When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.” (Rudine Sims Bishop)

This is also true for community settings! To best serve patrons with disabilities, we need to understand their community, culture, and needs. Together, we will

• build a foundation of disability knowledge
• explore disability experiences,
• learn how to provide safe and inclusive spaces,
• consider how to serve patrons through our collections without causing harm.

Although the examples are youth focused, they can be adapted for any age.

Please contact Leah (langby@ifls.lib.wi.us) with requests for accommodation by January 30. 

 

A Community for All:  Building Lifelong Community Connections Through Programming 

with Shelley Harris

Wednesday, March 12, 1-2:30 pm

REGISTER HERE

 

77% of people with multiple disabilities don’t engage in community activities, per a 2005 study. How can we reach this beautiful, vibrant community, gain their trust, and create programming and services that include and welcome them? We will

• discuss ways to make all of your programming more inclusive of people with disabilities
• share examples of ways to build upon the work you already do
• discuss ways libraries can support and amplify disability culture and identity, an important aspect of creating a welcoming environment.

Please contact Leah (langby@ifls.lib.wi.us) with requests for accommodation by February 26.

 

Both webinars will be recorded, captioned, and available on the IFLS website and IFLS Staff Academy.  Each will provide 1.5 contact hours for public library directors certification.

 

Presenter: Shelley Harris, MLIS, is a children’s librarian in Oak Park, IL with a passion for early literacy, serving and celebrating the disability community, and exploring technology. She has a younger brother with a rare genetic syndrome who has used AAC for almost 30 years, which inspired her to earn a Bachelors in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She previously worked as a 1:1 paraprofessional with deaf and autistic children and has helped program her brother’s communication devices for decades. Everything she has learned from these experiences is funneled into creating inclusive and engaging library services and spaces for disabled kids and tweens, and helping families connect with services in the community. She can often be found practicing storytime songs with her black lab, Bingo.

 

Registration Now Open: Teen Inclusive Internship Informational Webinar

Registration is now open for the 2025 Teen Inclusive Internship Program webinar. This webinar will introduce attendees to the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funded Wisconsin Teen Inclusive Internship Program.

Last summer, six Wisconsin public libraries participated in the program receiving funding to recruit and hire paid summer teen interns that reflected the diversity of their communities. The interns highlighted and showcased their skills, interests, and experiences by developing and implementing a community focused Connected Learning Project under the guidance of librarian mentors. Participating library mentors learned how to engage and support teens while also creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.

“This is a relatively risk-free way for public libraries to explore an internship and make connections with the teens in their communities.” - 2024 Mentor

For more information on how your library can apply to become one of the participating libraries in this year’s Teen Inclusive Internship Program, register to attend the upcoming informational webinar:

Thursday, February 7, 2025, at 10 a.m.REGISTRATION LINK

In this 2025 Teen Inclusive Internship Informational Webinar, participants will learn about the program’s goals, what is expected of the library, the mentor, and the intern, and how to apply for the program. Up to $2500 in funding is available for each of the Wisconsin public libraries chosen to participate in the program that runs from June 1 to August 31, 2025. This is expected to be a competitive process and not all applications will be accepted into the program.

Presentation slides will be made available to registrants.

Important Dates:

• February 7, 2025 - Informational Webinar at 10 a.m.
• February 7, 2025 - Application open at 1 p.m.
• February 21, 2025 - Application deadline at 4 p.m.
• March 3, 2025 - Applicants notified of award status

For more information or questions, please reach out to the DPI’s Library Services Team Public Library Consultant Jeni Schomber at jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov.

Inclusive Youth Spaces and Services Webinar Recording Now Available

 Jeni Schomber, DPI Public Library Consultant, shared the following in her DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources July 25, 2024 newsletter.

More Than Welcome: Libraries Serving Families of Young Children With Disabilities – webinar recording

Are you interested in serving ALL children in your communities? Are you wondering how you might make your spaces, programs, and services more inclusive for children with disabilities and their families? This webinar recording is a culminating product of the IMLS-funded (LG-246297-OLS-20) Services for Children of All Abilities in Libraries: An Exploration (SCALE) project. The webinar was designed to convey how libraries can be more than just welcoming for families of children with disabilities. A customizable flyer (for your library programs and services) and an Inclusive Library Spaces and Programs for Young Children self-assessment are both available on the webinar recording site on YouTube.

CCBC Releases Newest Diversity Stats for 2023

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) has updated its annual Diversity Statistics to include data on the 3,491 books for children and teens received by the CCBC that were published in 2023.*

The CCBC has been documenting books for children and teens it receives annually by and about Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) since 1994. Between 1985 and 1993, the CCBC documented books by and about Black people only.

In 2018, the CCBC began to document additional aspects of identity in its analysis, including disability, LGBTQ+, and religion.

Following a long period of relative stagnancy, around 2015 the number of children’s books the CCBC received by BIPOC creators and about BIPOC characters began to increase. By 2020 — only five years later — the number of books the CCBC received that were by or about a person of color had tripled.

While the statistics in 2022 showed a continuation of this rising trend, 2023 showed little change. “We are glad things are not decreasing,” says CCBC Director Tessa Michaelson Schmidt. “However, it’s disappointing there hasn’t been more movement in an upward direction.”

The CCBC did note a modest increase in the share of books including significant BIPOC content in 2023 — meaning they have a primary or significant secondary character or human subject who is BIPOC, or the setting or topic of the book relates to BIPOC people or history. In 2023, 49 percent of the books the CCBC documented had significant BIPOC content (up from 46 percent in 2022), and 40 percent had at least one BIPOC primary character (up from 39 percent in 2022).

In 2023, 49 percent of the books the CCBC documented have
significant BIPOC content — up from 46 percent in 2022.

On the other hand, the share of books having at least one creator (e.g., author, illustrator, or compiler) who is BIPOC was nearly identical to 2022. Forty percent of the books the CCBC received in 2023 were by a person of color. This includes 18 percent that had at least one Asian creator, 13 percent that had at least one Black creator, and 11 percent that had at least one Latine creator. By comparison, 70 percent of the books the CCBC received had at least one white creator.

In recent years, the CCBC has seen more books that reflect the multifaceted complexity of individual lives when it comes to identity — for example, books in which characters are multiracial/multiethnic; that reveal intersectional identities; or that portray other dimensions of identity, including disability, LGBTQ+, and minority (non-Christian) religions.

Of the books the CCBC received in 2023, 7 percent featured a primary or significant secondary character/human subject with a disability or were about one or more disabilities, 7 percent featured LGBTQ+ themes or characters, and 4 percent featured a minority religion.

The CCBC notes that books with multiple primary characters and/or subjects or primary characters/subjects with multiracial or intersectional identities are counted in all applicable categories. Percentages are not mutually exclusive and cannot be combined to calculate a total of the whole.

As the number of books reflecting the lives and complex identities of children, teens, and families today continues to grow, they are having greater visibility in libraries and classrooms, and in the lives of children and teens. Schmidt

“The CCBC Diversity Statistics focus on quantity, not quality. But what we know from our work recommending books in our annual best-of-the-year list, CCBC Choices, is that greater numbers inevitably mean more outstanding choices among the books published,” says Schmidt. “Librarians, teachers, parents, and other adults who care for children have more high-quality books to choose from when selecting and recommending books for young readers and listeners that reflect and validate dimensions of their identities and their place in our global society.”

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is a unique examination, study, and research library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The CCBC is also funded by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction through the Division for Libraries and Technology.

*The statistics about books by and/or about Black, Indigenous and people of color are periodically updated online. This online data includes more detailed percentages, and the number of books represented by each percentage.

By Kari Dickinson

Here are links to the above news release and media kit which includes visual images

Teen Inclusive Internship application is open!

Five Wisconsin public libraries will be chosen to participate in an LSTA grant-funded program to offer paid summer 2024 internships to recruit and hire teens that reflect the diversity of their communities. The teen interns will bring their skills, interests, and experiences to the library by working on a Connected Learning Project. Participating libraries will learn how to further engage and support teens while creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.

Wisconsin 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship - the application is now open. The deadline for libraries to apply is Friday February 23rd, 2024.  

• Application
• Scoring Rubric
• Presentation Slide Deck
• Webinar Recording 

Jeni Schomber 

Public Library Consultant 

Library Services Team 

Division for Libraries and Technology 

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 

608-266-2749 

jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov 

Fobazi M. Ettarh Webinar

Fobazi M. Ettarh, who coined the term "vocational awe" will be presenting a webinar as part of Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race project.

Identity, Burnout, and Vocational Awe

February 29, 2024,       1-2 pm

It has been 4 years since the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated just how far employers and vocational awe were willing to push workers— past the edge and beyond. And in our rush back to normalcy, vocational awe has been weaponized against even more library workers. If anything, the pressure to be seen and always available has gotten worse since before the pandemic! And those from marginalized groups bear the brunt of this pressure. How can we as library workers stay sane and prevent the burnout from unrealistic expectations from our library administrators, boards, colleagues, community, and even ourselves? Come and learn from the librarian-scholar who coined the term vocational awe about how to maintain your authentic self at work, while preventing burnout and a total subsumption of self.

Register here  

Presenter: 

Fobazi M. Ettarh has worked in school and academic libraries, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign as well as working as a consultant and independent scholar for library organizations. In 2018, Fobazi M. Ettarh coined the term and defined the concept of ‘Vocational awe,” which describe “the set of ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in beliefs that libraries as institutions are inherently good and sacred, and therefore beyond critique.” Her critical work on libraries, labor, and identity has been published in a variety of locations and she has been a keynote presenter at national conferences and summits.

Inclusive Internship Toolkits Available

With the upcoming webinars (registration is now open for these: Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. Registration Link or Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. Registration Link) that DPI is sponsoring on how to apply to become one of the libraries participating in this year's Teen's Inclusive Internship Program, the following news provided by NFLS Nic News Weekly from their January 12 newsletter may be of interest:

FREE Inclusive Internship Toolkit: A practical guide for teen internships

Summer internships can be a great way to reach new audiences, develop new connections, and provide leadership opportunities for staff. If you are planning on hosting a teen intern this summer, or are curious and don’t know where to start, PLA’s Internship Toolkit is a start-to-finish guide to implementing an internship program at the library. Based on PLA's Inclusive Internship Initiative (III), the free, downloadable toolkit includes templates, best practices, and case studies to make your program a success.

Learn more about the Inclusive Internship Initiative here.

Teen Inclusive Internship Informational Webinar - Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship Program webinar. This webinar will introduce participants to the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funded Wisconsin Teen Inclusive Internship Program.

The program is a continuation of the 2023 Teen Internship pilot program. In the summer of 2023, five Wisconsin public libraries offered paid summer internships using LSTA grant funding to recruit and hire teens that reflected the diversity of their communities. The teen interns brought their skills, interests, and experiences to the library by developing a Connected Learning Project. Participating libraries learned how to engage and support teens while creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.

For more information on how your library can apply to become one of the five participating libraries in this year’s Teen Inclusive Internship Program, register to attend one of two informational webinars being held. Please register for only one date:

• Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. Registration Link
• Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. Registration Link

In this 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship webinar, participants will learn about the program’s goals, what is expected of the library, the mentor, and the intern, and how to apply for the program. Up to $3,000 in funding is available for each of the five Wisconsin public libraries chosen to participate in the program that runs from June 1 to August 31, 2024.

This webinar will be recorded and available for those unable to attend the February 8 or February 9 webinar.

Important Dates:

• February 8, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 10 a.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 1 p.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Application open
• February 23, 2024 - Application due
• March 1, 2024 - Applicants notified of award status

For more information or questions, please reach out to the DPI’s Library Services Team Public Library Consultant Jeni Schomber at jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov.

Adapting a Winter Program for Everyone

Image by Sabine Kroschel from Pixabay

As the year rolls to an end, it's good to reflect on where we are and what we've done in our programming - especially what we have offered around the December holidays. Taking that pause helps us think about what works and what doesn't - and how it serves all our community. That reflective evaluation and clear-eyed look at long-time projects and programs can be eye-opening.

In a recent ALSC blog post, Betsy Raczkowski, a member of ALSC's Managing Children's Services Committee, shares how their library took a long hard look at a popular holiday program and how they adapted it to make it more meaningful and inclusive for all their community.

Betsy writes: “ "It’s never too early to plan for next year!"  It’s a phrase often said in libraries, and while some of us cringe at the thought of “next year,” the holiday season is a great time to reflect. For nine years, we held a blow-out Christmas event. It drew 1,500 patrons to the library on a chilly night in December for trolley rides, letters to Santa, and even Santa himself. It was an event that families looked forward to every year; something that became a holiday tradition alongside cookie making and caroling. So we kept it going, right? An annual event for 1,500 people! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But the problem was, it was broken."

To read about their process and decisions, please click here. [Winter Fun for All. Raczkowski,, Betsy. ALSC blog. December 21, 2023.]

Save the Date - Teen Internship Informational Webinar

Starting in February, two informational webinars will be held for Wisconsin libraries to learn more about the 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship.

The program is a continuation of the 2023 Teen Internship pilot program. In the summer of 2023, five Wisconsin public libraries were able to offer paid summer internships using LSTA grant funding to recruit and hire teens that reflected the diversity of their communities. The teen interns brought their skills, interests, and experiences to the library by working on a Connected Learning Project. Participating libraries learned how to engage and support teens while creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.

If your library would like to apply to become a participating library in the upcoming teen internship program, save the date to attend one of two informational webinars held Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. OR Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. The registration link will become available on January 4, 2024.

In this 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship webinar, participants will learn about the goals of the inclusive internship program, what is expected of the library, the mentor, and the intern, and how to apply for the program. Up to $3,000 in funding is available for each of five libraries to participate in the program from June 1st to August 31st, 2024.

The webinar will be recorded and available for those unable to attend the February 8 or February 9 dates.

Important Dates:

• January 4, 2024 - Registration opens for Informational Webinar on February 8 OR February 9, 2024
• February 8, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 10 a.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Informational Webinar at 1 p.m.
• February 9, 2024 - Applications open
• February 23, 2024 - Applications due
• March 1, 2024 - Applicants notified of award status

For more information or questions, please reach out to the DPI’s Library Services Team Public Library Consultant Jeni Schomber at jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov.

Indigenous Reads Rising: a new resource!

As seen in the IFLS Youth Services Round-up newsletter, 11/15/23

Thanks to Kathy Larson from River Falls for sending this to me.  Indigenous Reads Rising is a new resource from We Need Diverse Books.  There is a wealth of great stuff on here, including a wonderful collection of booklists of recent and upcoming releases for Young Adults, Middle Grade, and Picture Books, including books divided by subject/genre (graphic novels, adventures, speculative, family stories, and more).  You can also find some excellent resources for teachers and librarians, including best practices, learning about Land Acknowledgements, state-by-state resources, and an excellent FAQ section. 

- Leah Langby

We Are Kids Lit Summer Reading List 2023

Hot off the presses, the We Are Kid Lit Collective has just published its wonderfully diverse booklist for the summer!

They write: "Are you looking for a curated summer reading list that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and intersecting identities? The We Are Kid Lit Collective selects books by and about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), with attention to their intersecting identities. Chosen books are thoroughly selected, discussed and vetted by two or more members so that they can be free of microaggressions, stereotypes, or vestiges of imperialism. 2023 We Are Kid Lit Collective members: Sam Bloom, Edith Campbell, Sujei Lugo Vazquez and Lyn Miller-Lachmann"

DIvided into picture book, early readers, Click here to access this summer reading list.

Free ALSC Resources for Youth Librarians

ALA's  Association for Library Services to Children has so many great resources and toolkits available to help you do your job more effectively.

A recent ALSC blog post has a great listing that centers around doing year-round advocacy. 

Browse through the amazing resources here in this linky post. [Planning a Year of Advocacy: Month by Month. White, Kimberly.  ALSC blog. January 26, 2023.]

Using eARCS for Collection Development

A warm welcome to Hanna Collins who joins our contributors as the newest YSS blogger. Hanna is the Youth Services Librarian at Slinger Community Library. Previously, she was a School Media Specialist in Indianapolis for 13 years. She received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Ball State University and a Master’s in Library Science from Indiana University. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband and dictatorial cat. 

In this post, Hanna walks us through preview sites for upcoming books.

Many librarians have heard of Edelweiss and NetGalley, two websites that allow publishers to offer preview copies of upcoming books. Are you utilizing these free tools to help with collection development at your library?

I began using Edelweiss and NetGalley several years ago as a school Media Specialist in Indiana. As I served a diverse population, I was anxious to find out about upcoming titles that featured kids that looked like my students. On Edelweiss, I could easily narrow down results by category to feature juvenile fiction and nonfiction. NetGalley allowed me to set preferred categories and easily view new titles.

Categories on Edelweiss allow me to see popular titles

Now as a Youth Services Librarian in Slinger, I can use both platforms for more collection development. Some titles are immediately viewable using the website, but most require an approval process. After giving information about your professional credentials, you are able to request titles, which are sometimes approved immediately or within a day or two. As an avid Kindle reader, I appreciate that I could set up both accounts to deliver titles directly to my device.

Sample downloading prompt on Edelweiss

Both platforms ask that you leave an honest review in exchange for the preview copy, though it does not seem to be a requirement. It’s a great way to become more knowledgeable about the publishing world and what’s upcoming in your field. On a personal level, it’s also fantastic to get to read new titles before anyone else! Who wouldn’t like to get an advanced copy of the new Jerry Craft or Angie Thomas book?

Sample Review on Edelweiss

Most of the books I have loved and I’ve ordered many for my library. However, it’s also been helpful in identifying books that would not suit our collection. Several titles I have passed over after previewing on one of the platforms. I’ve left honest reviews and have still been granted access to other titles from the same publisher.

Edelweiss also offers access to catalogs, which have been immensely useful. Some catalogs even offer full-access previews to picture books. It has made me even more knowledgeable about current trends in children’s literature, even if I don’t end up purchasing titles for my library.

Inside a HarperCollins catalog on Edelweiss

A bonus feature for NetGalley is its app! Much like the Kindle app, you can send both ebooks and eaudiobooks straight to your device. You can also ‘favorite’ publishers and become auto-approved after you’ve left feedback.

In short, NetGalley and Edelweiss have been powerful tools I use daily at my job. I have become more knowledgeable about trends in children’s and young adult books, allowing me to make informed decisions about what to purchase

New Bilingual Hmong Board Books

A recent press release seen on NFLS Nic News Weekly newsletter (12/29/22) alerted us to two new Hmong bilingual board books that were developed for babies and tots. One teaches counting and the other title teaches colors in the Hmong language.

Stop here to order the books and see other Hmong books and resources that may be helpful at your library.