Performer Showcase

Photo by Conor Samuel on Unsplash

Planning for the next Virtual Performer's Showcase has begun! The Performers Showcase, presented by the Youth Services Section of the Wisconsin Library Association, connects performers with members of the Wisconsin library community through live virtual demonstrations. 

Our last showcase was held in 2024 and we are hoping to discover some new and engaging acts to feature this year! We are looking for performers interested in sharing quality programming for children, teens, and/or families at a reasonable cost for Wisconsin libraries.  

How you can help:

• Do you know of an amazing performer that you think more people should know about? 
• Fill out this Google Form to suggest them for the showcase!

• Are you yourself a performer looking to expand your presentation offerings?
• Send us an email at yss.wla@gmail.com with your name and contact information

• Do you have specific performer needs you're looking for?
• Email us at yss.wla@gmail.com

IFLS Youth Services Mini-Conference Coming

Join IFLS members and other interested WI youth library folks for a free mini-conference in Eau Claire

April 17, 9:30-3:30

Florian Gardens, 2340 Lorch Avenue, Eau Claire

 

Join us for an in-person extravaganza!  Librarians from outside the IFLS area are welcome to join us.  

Register here by April 9

 

9:30-12:15:  Connecting the Dots:  Purposeful, Intentional Library Programs 

Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, St. Paul (MN) Public Library

Libraries across the country strive to create and host programs that are meaningful, community driven, and connected to mission, vision and values. Still, amidst daily work it can be challenging to devote time and effort to stepping outside the program churn and intentionally connect with the community, plan thoughtfully, and ensure your work contributes directly to your library's goals. This interactive workshop will introduce strategies and tools for libraries of all sizes to look big-picture at programming, engage community in your process, and create programs with thought and intention. 

 

12:15-1:00:  Lunch ($5, IFLS subsidized)

 

1:00-3:30:  Breakout sessions, led by your colleagues!  Topics include

• Free book distribution efforts
• Book clubs for elementary age kids
• Teen programming
• Polar VR or Science for Everyone
• City Park Passport Program
• Small and Mighty Programming and Outreach
• Summer Library Program Idea Swaps

 

Presenter:  Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser is the Youth and Family Service Manager at the St. Paul Public Library.  She has worked at the Columbus (WI) Public Library and the LaCrosse Public Library, and is an instructor for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s iSchool Continuing Education program.  She states, “I’ve learned that listening, asking questions, and staying curious are hallmarks of a supportive leader.”

 

This workshop provides 5.25 contact hours for library director certification

 

Growth Mindset in Programming

Image by Leopictures from Pixabay

Sometimes, we plan our programs and services so tightly that we don't leave enough room for the way children often learn - through discovery, creativity, self-directed play and exploration. A recent ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children ) blog post by Erica Hogan, has some great suggestions from a very-plan oriented librarian on ways to loosen up that structured sort of approach to give kids more agency and promote a growth mindset.

She writes: "There is certainly nothing wrong with projects that have a finished product in mind, but the approach was out of sync of with recent work on Reimagining School Readiness and other research I found most inspiring. I realized all that careful planning left very little room for child-directed play, problem solving, risk taking, experimentation, and creative thinking. Since unstructured exploration contributes to building a growth mindset and enhances the cognitive and social emotional development, I decided to make some changes. What follows are two strategies that have helped me rethink opportunities for child-led activities within programs."

Click here to read her full post. [Planning the Unplanned: Program Reflections to Encourage Growth Mindset. Hogan, Erika. ALSC blog. July 1`6, 2023]

Better Storytime Planing

Image by talha khalil from Pixabay 

In a lively and well thought-out recent ALSC blog post, members of the Association of Library Service for Children (ALSC)'s Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee propose five questions to consider that can help you in your storytime work.

They write: "We’ve all had that moment where we know we’ve planned the perfect storytime. Hordes of littles and their grown-ups queuing to land a spot in your coveted storytime. The roar of tiny voices chanting your name. Singing your welcome song.

You land a cover story on the pages of SLJ, or an ALSC blog post. You’re invited to speak at conferences, which may land you on the front stage of ALSC Institute. C’mon, we’ve all had that fantasy and the sudden crash that lands us solidly back in reality when No.One.Shows.Up. #SadLibrarian

No fears because a little bit of focused storytime planning will save library workers time, money, frustration, and a bit of our pride. The perfect storytime is with in your reach. Before you dust off your superhero librarian cape, ask yourself or your staff these questions."

Stop here to read about five questions to consider as you prepare and plan storytimes. [5 Questions For Better Storytime Planning. Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee. ALSC blog. March 22, 2023.]

Just Wondering - Pivoting to Inside from Outside

In this month's column by Manitowoc (WI) Public Library Youth Librarian Susie Menk, she is thinking about unexpected changes in program locations. And she's wondering....what do you think?

So have you ever had to pivot and move a program from outside to inside or from inside to outside?  How did it go?  What did you have to do to make it work?  Did you have enough staff or help to manage the program?

We have a program in October called Trunk or Treat.  We have agencies from the area sign up to decorate their trunks, hand out goodies and also hand out or talk about the services they offer.  This program is geared to help families see all the different agencies that our community has to offer and ways that these agencies can help families in need. We usually pair this event with a haunted house or Halloween activities for kids.  This year our teen group, also known as the Boo Crew, put together a Creepy Crawl event.  There were hands on activities and crafts for younger children all created and managed by our teen group. 

This year our event ended up on a day with inclement weather.  We had been checking the weather and by Monday morning we realized we were going to have to call the event—either we could cancel or we could move it inside.  At the time, we had over 30 agencies signed up to participate in the Trunk or Treat and our Boo Crew had already started decorating parts of the library for the Creepy Crawl.  We really didn’t want to have to cancel.  So, after much conversation with other managers and our director, we decided to move the event inside.  

We expected that the attendance would be less due to the predictions of rain—it was supposed to rain all day and the highest chance of rain was right during the time of our event!  Boy were we wrong!  Not only did we have patrons dressed up and arriving early, they ended up lined up out the door and down the block in the pouring rain!

We had tables set up in the main area of the first floor and more in a meeting room on the second floor.  The Creepy Crawl activities got moved to the youth department on the second floor.  We thought we had it covered until the people came and kept coming and kept coming and kept coming.  Best estimates show that we had close to 3000 people!

Lessons learned—never underestimate the community’s love for library programs!  In putting the tables all in one spot, we were trying to ensure there were quiet areas for the public.  In hindsight, this was probably not necessary.  It would have been better to spread the tables throughout the library to keep the lines moving.  Several pictures show the sheer volume of people we had.  When the fire chief walked in, I simply told him not to look at the lines! ☺

In addition to the tables on the first floor, we used a meeting room to set up more tables.  About 30 agencies still came to the event and spreading the tables out would have been better instead of cramming them into one meeting space.  Using this meeting room space created issues with people crowding the stairway and then some patrons using the elevator and cutting in line.  

Crowd control ended up being one of our biggest issues that night.  Although I must say, the patrons that was talking to in the entryway were grateful we were still doing the event and very patient.  We had few complaints that evening.

Hopefully, next year’s event can be held back outside in the large parking lot and we won’t have to worry about being inside again.  If we do, we will be better prepared. 

It's Ok to Make Mistakes

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

Twice monthly, Illinois Teen Services Librarian Cindy Shutts publishes her column "Cindy Crushes Programming" in the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog in SLJ.  She is generous in sharing her teen programming ideas and those of other peers and colleagues.

Recently, though, she posted about mistakes in programming she has made. Cindy writes: "We all make mistakes. Things happen. Sometimes things do not work out as planned. You have to learn to move on the go during programs because things will not always work they way you expect. So it’s confession time. "

To read about her programming mistakes  - and what they taught her - stop here. [Cindy Crushes Programming: Five Programming Mistakes I've Made. Shutts, Cindy. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. School Library Journal. September 7, 2022.]

Quality vs Quantity in Programming

In a recent ALSC blog post, Kary Henry explores why so many libraries feel the need to emphasize large attendance numbers rather than the connections we can make with even small numbers of children and teens.

She writes: "It all started with a tweet. A thought-provoking thread on Twitter by Ann S. Her post got me thinking about libraries’ focus on quantity when it comes to programming. The day after I read Ann’s tweet, I ran a homeschool program for three students. Inspired by both of those things, I tweeted the following, which went my level of viral."

Kary reached out to Ann and two other librarians to extend the conversation and the result is a blog post that is both fascinating and thought provoking. Stop here to read her blog post The Altar of Quantity. ALSC blog, January 28, 2022.

UW-Madison iSchool CE Courses

The spring 2022 online courses and tutorials have been announced and there's plenty of great youth content for you! Plus don’t forget about the virtual Power Up Pop-Ups conference, Feb 21-Mar 4 (featuring one session noon-1pm CST most days) with great content to increase your leadership skills as a youth librarian!

 

If you register at least 2 weeks early, you save 10% on the registration cost.

 

Teens in the Library  

Jan 31-March 13  2.CEUs  $250   Instructor Linda Jerome

You’ve got teens in the library–now what? Or maybe you’d like to have more teens in the library, so how exactly do you do that? This course will help provide library staff with a foundation upon which they can build successful service to teens in their community through programming, attractive space for teens in their library, teen collections, and outreach and community partnerships. Learn to create opportunities for teens to become happy, healthy, and successful adults. Class discussions will address how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected teen services, as well as strategies for success moving forward.

 

Babies in the Library

Feb 7-March 20   2.0 CEUs  $250   Instructor: Brooke Newberry

Library service to patrons begins at birth. How can library practitioners offer the best programs, collections, and services possible to the youngest members of our communities (0-23 months)? After laying the groundwork for developmentally appropriate practice, this course will provide strategies and ideas for providing outstanding services to families with young children. Whether you are new to the profession, considering starting a baby storytime, searching for outreach partners, or looking to refresh your collection, this course will build a foundation for working with the very young.

 

Programming with a Purpose

Feb 28-March 27   1.4 CEUs   $150    Instructor: Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser

We all want our libraries to have strong programming. How do you know if your library is producing meaningful programs that align with vision, support the mission, and recognize staff capacity versus simply falling into the “more is more” trap? Regardless of your library’s size, there are ways you can bring intentional thinking into programming so you’re supporting the community while working smarter. This course will explore broad perspectives on identifying programming values and goals as well as in-depth strategies for planning thoughtful, intentional programs for any age. Participants will actively focus on defining programming priorities that are informed by both current practices and goals; using a methodical practice to identify pain points and realistic solutions; implementing a project charter tool; and effective communication to aid in change management. 

Services to Families Experiencing Homelessness

Feb 28 April 10      2.0 CEUs    $250    Instructor: Vikki Terrile

The Great Recession, COVID-19, and widespread economic instability all contributed to an increase in family homelessness. The recent elimination of eviction moratoriums and other protections are expected to increase the numbers of children and families in homeless situations. Libraries can serve as a key resource for children and parents whose housing is unstable. In this course, you will explore the causes of family homelessness and learn how libraries can support children and families experiencing housing insecurity. This course will provide opportunities to connect with schools and community organizations to understand the nature of family homelessness in your community and reach families where they are. The course will also present a range of service and programming options, address access barriers, and explore how to advocate for families experiencing homelessness.

 

Storytime: An Opportunity for Social Justice

March 28- May 8    2.0 CEUs    $250    Instructor: Katelyn Martens-Rodriguez

This class will focus on making your storytimes more welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and grounded in social justice. With fellow students, you will have honest discussions and learn creative ways to approach storytime spaces (in-person or virtual). This class challenges the idea that libraries are neutral spaces, and stands with vulnerable populations. You will focus on inspiring and assisting other students to provide the best possible storytimes to families. This class provides the opportunity to celebrate successes and make mistakes to pave the way for assessment and growth.

Additional courses that can also be helpful in your youth services work include:

·        Spanish for Libraries and Privacy in Libraries – both self-paced tutorials that you can begin the day you register for $100 (1.4 CEUs).

·        Cultural Competence in Libraries: Encouraging Reflective Practice

·        Libraries and the Customer Experience with Jamie Matczak

·        Strategies for Supervising Part-time Employees

·        Building Your Management Toolkit with Jennifer Bernetzke

·        Know Your Community: Survey Design for Results

 

To access all the great spring content from UW-Madison iSchool CE, stop here.

Cultural Humility and Our Programming

Pixabay Image

Many times we tap into other cultures to share insight and information in our programming. But when does our work there stray into cultural appropriation and/or straying into misinformation or cultural stereotypes? A recent Teen Services Underground blog post has some thoughtful tips to help you in your program planning.

Portia Carryer, a San Francisco Bay area-based teen librarian writes: "We want to share a wide, diverse world with our patrons. Diverse programming helps to create what Rudine Sims Bishop called “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors”: opportunities for our patrons to see their experiences validated, to understand experiences that are different than theirs, and to participate in the wider world. So we develop programming that explores cultures and histories beyond our own lived experiences.

But when we program outside of our lived experiences, we must be aware of the ways we can get things wrong and the ways in which our mistakes might harm our patrons or community."

Read the full post which includes practical tips on how to program more thoughtfully at: Cultural Humility & Program Planning. Portia Carryer. Teen Services Underground. Nov 30, 2021

Clean-up on Aisles Programming and Services

I'll always been interested in the concept of planning and sustainability in programming and services as well as our approach to them. Often services or program series, once started, keep on rolling, month after month, year after year, until they slowly, well...poop out.

This can happen to any of us. Perhaps, the workload is so intense or staffing so inadequate that it feels overwhelming to make any changes. It could be that a vocal patron wants the program/service to continue despite the fact that it serves only them. It may be that we LOVE that program or service we came up with and are loathe to see it end. You know how this goes.

Recently, Liza Purdy over at the ALSC blog suggested we approach service/program changes started during the pandemic in the spirit of Marie Kondo. What should stay? What should go? What should we change and adapt?

To read this post, stop here.

WLA YSS Sessions in Short: Plan Less, Program More

Subtitled "How to Collaborate with Regional Libraries to Bring Larger Scale Youth Programs to Your Communities," this lively program featured three librarians from nearby small libraries: Rebekah Palmer Osceola; Martha Kaempffer, St. Croix Falls; and Jerissa Koenig, Amery, appropriately dressed in character for the Harry Potter universe. The three shared their planning tips to create a Harry Potter Party at each of the three libraries.  By working together their planning time was radically decreased so more time could be spent on the program itself.

The events were held on different days and times which allowed the three to be at each library's programs. They each had areas of expertise to help with the planning (baking, STEM, etc) so the variety of activities they could offer was broad. After an initial meeting to start the planning, they used Google docs to continue. They shared supplies, activities, food serving equipment and used individual money on the food. 

By pooling their talents, energy, creative ideas and staffing with each other, each library could have an amazing large party. Here is the slidedeck for more info!

Author: Marge Loch-Wouters

To see all the recaps of "WLA Sessions in Short" click below:
Reach One Teach One
Group Problem Solving
Fear Not Coding for the Rest of Us
Using the Five Practices in School Age Programming
Plan Less, Program More
Diversify Me

Need Program Inspiration?

Wikimedia Commons

Check a wacky and unusual holiday calendar!  A post on the Storytime Underground Facebook page reminded me of these useful tools in program planning.  I looked at these calendars more before the explosion of blogs and Pinterest.  Even if you don't host a program on the holiday, the calendars provide a list of topics that can inspire a program or display.  Then you go to Pinterest to find the activities!

January 18th is Winnie the Pooh Day.

Wacky Holiday Calendars
The Soccer Mom Blog
Days of the Year
Holiday Insights

Children's Librarians Do LOTS!

Do you ever feel like the only thing your patrons and co-workers see are the highly visible programs you do?

We all know we do lots more. Kelly, a colleague over in MI, breaks it down and invites you to share some of your ideas on what keeps you busy!

It Won't Break You

There was a discussion recently on Twitter and the Storytime Underground Facebook group (worth joining!) about the worth of including breaks between storytime sessions.  It generated two posts that advocate for breaks and explore how enriching they can be.

Take a peek and tell us what YOU think!

Storytime Hiatus - Tiny Tips for Library Fun

Give Me a Break -Abby (the) Librarian


Image courtesy of Pixabay