Calling All Early Literacy Advocates

This just in from CLEL. It’s a great opportunity to get involved on a national level and meet and work with other early literacy advocates.

Did you know that CLEL (Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy) has no paid employees and is powered by an all-volunteer Steering Committee? We need your help for next year! Consider applying today. 

NEW for 2025 - up to 4 Steering Committee members can be from outside of Colorado!

Learn more and apply: https://www.clel.org/announcements/call-for-new-leadership/

Update on Upcoming Free Webinars on Video Game Collections

Hello again, colleagues!

I wanted to remind folks about an upcoming webinar opportunity that might be of value to you or others in your networks. On October 30th, from 10:00-11:00 am CST (11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST), the Indiana State Library will be hosting myself, Jenna Gilles (Youth Services Associate, Chippewa Falls Public Library, WI), and Jamie Hein (Library Director, Clintonville Public Library, WI), as we collaboratively present about selection and acquisition best practices for video game collection development.

We also now have information to share about part #2 in this webinar series, where we'll be presenting about the "nuts and bolts" of video game collection development — like implementing the materials in your library collections, displaying them, and maintaining them. The second webinar will be on December 11th, from 10:00-11:00 am CST (11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST).

This event is co-sponsored by the ALA's Games & Gaming Round Table. Info about both of the webinars below; share far and wide – and add them to your calendar, today!!

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Video Game Collections in Libraries, Pt. #1: The "Why", "What", and "How" of Selection & Acquisition

• Date & Time: Wednesday, October 30th, 10:00-11:00 am
• Link to Event/URL to Attend: https://isl.libcal.com/event/13140847
• Description:
• For years now, media usage data has shown that video games have led the entertainment industry by a massive margin, handily securing the crown as the most popular recreational medium on the planet. In the United States, 61% of Americans report playing video games for at least one hour every week; 29% of game players are 50 or older, and the average age of video gamers in the U.S. is 36, with a near-even split of 53% identifying as male, and 46% identifying as female.
  
  The point? These impressive statistics represent an enormous opportunity for libraries in the U.S. to capitalize on – and illustrate that librarians ought to prioritize intentionally developing robust video game collections for their users to access; game collections can meaningfully help libraries reach a broader base of patrons, create exceptional new pathways for materials circulation, resonate with additional user identities, and help foster a 'community of practice' surrounding games in the library space. On top of this, video game collections help libraries showcase an earnest desire to remain relevant, accessible, and cutting-edge to their public.
  
  In this first presentation in our series about video game collection development, you’ll hear from multiple librarians about the “why”, “what”, and “how” of video game selection and acquisition; we will highlight both philosophical and pragmatic best practices for developing video game collections – from advocacy data, to funding tips, to selection resources, to acquisition schedules, and more. A follow-up webinar in the series will focus on things like processing, borrowing rules, policy, and collection maintenance. You won’t want to miss these presentations!

Video Game Collections in Libraries, Pt. #2: Processing, Cataloging, Displaying, & 'Best Practices'

• Date & Time: Wednesday, December 11th, 10:00-11:00 am
• Link to Event/URL to Attend: https://isl.libcal.com/event/13276612
• Description:
• In part one of our Video Game Collections in Libraries webinar series, we discussed important considerations and helpful advice that a librarian would want to bear in mind when initially developing (or strengthening) a video game collection for their space; we showcased data that could be utilized to advocate for a robust game collection, offered budgeting tips for funding borrowable games, highlighted resources & tips to help with video game selection decisions (for novices and experts alike), weighed in about video game release & acquisition schedules, and even touched on the equity and accessibility benefits of offering said collections to your community.
  
  So - once you’ve acquired the games themselves for your collection… what then? Have no fear! In this second part of our series, we’ll return to tackle the functional, “nuts and bolts” methods and best practices of ongoing video game collection management. This webinar will delve into processing recommendations (like labeling, marking, & barcoding), cataloging considerations (e.g., how long should games’ checkout periods be?), displaying the collections to be browsable for patrons (where in the library? How should they be organized? Should you ‘care’ about ratings?), procedural standards for keeping your games ‘safe’ (and easily navigable for staff!) - and more. "
  
  We aim to illustrate that – with a bit of diligence and learning for staff and patrons alike – the ongoing facilitation of video game collections in libraries ought to be no more burdensome on day-to-day operations than offering any other collection, all while allowing libraries to better meet the needs of entirely new user groups – and increase circulation!

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These events will be recorded, and will eventually be uploaded as a resource to the Wisconsin Games + Learning + Libraries Cohort on WISELearn; that said, if you attend the event, you can take part in the last fifteen minutes' Q&A. 

Thanks so much for spreading the word; we look forward to sharing with you all!

~Chris

Chris Baker (he/him/his) Public Library Consultant, Games & Learning Consultant Library Services Team, Division of Libraries and Technology Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 201 West Washington Avenue | Madison WI 53703 608-264-6709 | chris.baker@dpi.wi.gov | dpi.wi.gov

Jumpstart Your SLP Programming with YSS Performer's Showcase

 

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM  (Event time is subject to change.) Get a jump start on plans for your summer reading program!     The 2024 Virtual Performers Showcase, presented by the WLA Youth Services Section, will connect performers with members of the Wisconsin library community through live virtual demonstrations and marketing materials offered by magicians, puppeteers, storytellers, musicians, and anyone who presents library programs for children, youth, teen, and family audiences.      This Zoom event will give you the chance to: Sample performances from a variety of library performers who offer entertaining and educational public programs for children, teens, and families. Interact with performers in live Q & A sessions after each demonstration. Communicate with other attendees through the conference website - a great way to connect with other libraries that may be interested in partnering with you to bring a performer to your area. A digital directory of performers will be made available to attendees for future reference. Can’t attend the live virtual event? A recording of the showcase will be available to registered attendees for 60 days after the event.     Registration is $20 for WLA members, $40 for non-members.   Registration closes Nov 25, 2024   Host a team watch party!  Group discounts are available for three or more attendees from the same library.   Visit the event webpage to learn more.     The first 20 participants to register will be entered into a drawing for a free registration!                                                          Learn More including how to register

YSS Chair's Corner - September 2024

This September YSS board meeting update is from Cathy Pescinski, our YSS 2024 Chair and Teen Librarian at Shawano County Library.

Greetings from YSS! At our latest Board meeting, we started out by talking about some of the resources we use for inspiration in coming up with programming ideas and collection development. I will list some of those at the end of the article. 

Laura Sauser from WLA informed us that we have 9 performers set so far for the Performer's Showcase Tuesday, December 3rd and registration will be opening shortly. Registration is open for registrations so far for the YSS webinar, "Engaging and Affirming Neurodivergent Youth In Community Spaces: The Fellowship" scheduled for Thursday, November 14 at 3:00 p.m. (see link below to register) 

Jeni Schomber from DPI encouraged us to check out DPI presentations at the upcoming WLA conference (BEBS, Teen Internship, DPI What do the Numbers Say, Games, Learning, and Libraries) and Dr. Enderle's State of Education address in the Capitol rotunda where she discusses public libraries in addition to education in Wisconsin. (see link below) Lastly, she participated in the in-person meeting of CSLP where they voted on 2027 Slogan: Mysteries Await at Your Library and 2028 Theme: mythical creatures. She will get the codes for 2025 to the system folks for them to distribute to their consortium folks. 

Linda Jerome (YSS liaison to WLA Board) let us know that Desiree Bongers has stepped down as WLA Board president. WLA Vice President Katharine Clark was appointed to finish Desiree’s term through the end of 2024. WLA has a new membership coordinator - Pam Beam. WLA is going to be kicking off regional events in 2025. The first one will be hosted by the Bridges system with a date to be determined. If your system would be interested in hosting one, please contact the WLA Board. She attended the Connecting Libraries Meeting. It is a quarterly meeting with school librarians and media specialists. They discussed Battle of the Books. (see link below) She will be attending the Wisconsin Out of School Alliance - STEM Advisory Council.

We discussed ways to connect with YSS folks at the WLA conference in Green Bay. Final details are being firmed up and will be sent out soon. 

Lastly, election time is coming up - the fun one! Lol We are still looking for people to help fill positions on the YSS Board. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, any YSS Board member, Laura Sauser at WLA, or Rachael Arndt on the WLA Board for more information. Nomination deadline is October 18th. (again - see link below!)

Link-a-Palooza!

Information sources:

• Facebook pages: Teen Services Underground, Storytime Solidarity, CSLP’s Official Summer Library Programming Group Facebook, We Need Diverse Books, Diverse Reading
• PBS LearningMedia 
• The OT Toolbox - Occupational Therapy Activities and Resources 
• Play to Learn Preschool 
• For storytime: KCLS Tell Me a Story, Jbrary 
• The Very Ready Reading Program - resource available to borrow from IFLS
• Lego Librarian

Engaging and Affirming Neurodivergent Youth In Community Spaces: The Fellowship Webinar: https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/yss

Dr. Enderle did the State of Education address in the Capitol Rotunda: https://dpi.wi.gov/news/dpi-connected/2023-state-education-address

Battle of the Books

WLA nomination form: https://wla.memberclicks.net/nomination2024

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the meeting or any of the activities of the YSS Board. We are here to serve you!

[Note: Want to read the February-August 2024 YSS board minutes? YSS members (after logging in) can access the 2024 YSS board minutes as well as previous years’ minutes at the YSS page of the Wisconsin Library Association website. Do you want to read the minutes but are not a YSS member? Please consider becoming a member by joining WLA so you can stay updated on all the YSS action.] 

Tips and Info from DPI's Oct 4, 2024 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 is the information from the Oct 4, 2024 edition

Artful Connections: Stephanie Haines’ Vision for Inclusive and Inspiring Communities FREE webinar

• The Collaborative Summer Library Program’s (CSLP) Inclusion Committee is proud to present this webinar on Wednesday November 20^th at 1 p.m. CST
• Stephanie Haines is the Arts Education & Accessibility Program Manager at the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). Stephanie oversees the IAC’s arts education research project Partnering Arts, Communities, and Education (PACE) as well as Poetry Out Loud, Indiana State Poet Laureate program, and Creative Aging programming statewide. Stephanie earned a Master of Arts degree in arts administration from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in visual art education from the University of Indianapolis. She has more than 15 years of experience working with teaching artists and arts integration programming, with specialties in professional development and artist lesson planning. Stephanie is a visual artist primarily in the mediums of painting and drawing.
• For more information and to register, visit:https://www.cslpreads.org/inclusion-resources/

BadgerLink Bulletin

• New Resource Highlight: Library and Information Science Source - Newly upgraded resource in BadgerLink, Library & Information Science Source replaces LISTA with Full Text and contains 131 more active full text journals and magazines. Find how to share this resource with fellow librarians as well as an upcoming training opportunity on October 29.
• September Training Recordings are now available.

The CSLP Store is Open!

• The CSLP Store for 2025’s “Color Our World” summer reading theme is now open:https://shop.cslpreads.org/
• Virtual Catalog
• DPI has purchased an online manual for each Wisconsin public library (including branches). Themanual access code will be sent to all System Youth Consultants the week of October 7th. Please contact your system consultant directly for the access code.

The CSLP Outreach Committee needs your help!

• The CSLP Outreach Committee recognizes the role of the library as a community connector. The committee is working on creating a toolkit to provide support and resources that empower libraries to build community relationships, serve a diverse range of community members, and expand library services beyond the library building.
• Use this form to help us gather resources for the CSLP Outreach Toolkit. A resource could be an example of successful programs or outreach services, future programming ideas, relevant articles, webinars, websites, and relationship building ideas, just to name a few. The toolkit is digital, so it is important that the resource is available online so that we can link to it on a webpage.

 

STAR Net: Libraries and their impact on Quality of Life Survey

• The team at STAR Net is investigating how the concept of Quality of Life presents itself at public libraries, both in interactions with patrons, and in the everyday work of library staff. Please consider completing this short survey, which will be used to identify training resources for public library staff, as well as next steps for a research agenda.

Webinar - Improving Literacy: Understanding Dyslexia and Reading Instruction

Upcoming IFLS webinar

Improving Literacy: 

Understanding Dyslexia and Reading Instruction

Tuesday, November 12

1-2:00 pm

According to recent data, only 37% of Wisconsin third-graders ranked as proficient or better at reading. There has been a lot of discussion nationally and statewide about the ways literacy instruction has been failing kids, especially dyslexic kids, and Wisconsin Act 20 was passed last summer to try to address this issue. Join two dyslexia tutors and former public school educators for a crash course about dyslexia and understanding some important things about the current landscape of reading and reading instruction. Understanding this background will help library workers who want to do more to support all emerging readers, especially those with dyslexia. Look for another webinar in January with some more specific and simple ideas of ways libraries can help kids and families.

Presenters: Orton Gillingham tutors and special education veterans Starla Dixen and Becky Glade

This webinar will be recorded. It provides one continuing education contact hour for public library director recertification.

Register

Join the YSS Board!

We want you for the YSS Board!

The YSS Executive Board is preparing the ballot for the 2025 WLA election season and invites you to get involved. Whether you’re a current member or new to YSS, you can make a difference by joining the YSS Board.

Nominations are due October 18. To nominate yourself or a colleague, submit the nomination form: https://wla.memberclicks.net/nomination2024#!/

What positions are available?

Director-at-Large (2 spots!): Serve as members of the Executive Board and assist in various YSS activities throughout the year including conference planning. Directors-at-Large serve a 2-year term.

Secretary: Acts as recorder during meetings and assists in various YSS activities. The secretary serves a 2-year term.

Chair Elect: Acts for the Chair in case of vacancy in that office, coordinates activities and meetings with the Chair and plans the YSS booth at the WLA annual conference. This is a three-year position, the first year as Chair Elect, the second year as Chair and the third Year as Past Chair.

How often does YSS meet?
The YSS Board meets online monthly and in person at the WLA conference.

Do I need to be a member of WLA to serve on the board?
To qualify for an elected position, you must be a WLA member in good standing.

What kinds of things does the YSS Executive Board do?
The YSS Executive Board helps to facilitate all the great things that YSS is doing in our state including (but certainly not limited to) YSS Presents webinar series, regional meetups, Children's Book Award Committee and the YSS Shout Out blog.

How do I apply?
If you are interested in becoming a member of the YSS Executive Board, submit the nomination form before October 18th.

Who can I contact with questions?
If you have questions, please reach out to Rachel Arndt, Chair of the Nominating Committee, at rachel.arndt27@gmail.com.

Lake Superior Library Unsymposium

 

Save the date for the 12th annual Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium!   Save the date for the 12th Annual Lake Superior Libraries Mid-Winter Unsymposium at Superior Public Library in Superior, WI! Join us on Friday, January 10th, 2025, for an afternoon of networking, discussion, and collaborative learning & problem-solving! Get this date on your calendars! Sometimes you need a break from the average conference: you need an UNCONFERENCE! At the LSLS Unsymposium, you determine the conversation. Participants brainstorm a host of topics, which are then selected in a bottom-up, democratic manner. Rather than listening to a single speaker, you get to ask questions, interact, and offer your own expertise on a topic chosen by the whole group. So...everyone wants to talk about collection development? Done. You’re the only one who wants to talk about library-themed cupcakes? Maybe we’ll talk about them next time! Together, we’ll discover our common challenges and develop solutions collaboratively. You'll come away from the Unsymposium invigorated by lively discussions and ready to take that excitement back to your library. The Unsymposium is free and open to everyone.   WHEN:  1:00-4:30 pm, Friday, January 10th, 2025 COST:  Just your time! WHERE:  Superior Public Library HOW DO I REGISTER?: Check back soon! QUESTIONS? Contact us! More information here!

WLA Awards Announced

A huge congratulations to all the awardees this year! And a special shout-out to Terry Ehle and Kris Adams Wendt, both former chairs of the Youth Services Section and noted youth librarians in our state. Hope all youth librarians going to WLA this fall can come to the ceremony and celebrate these youth librarian leaders! WLA Announces 2024 Award Recipients, Library Hall of Fame Inductees

We are pleased to announce the 2024 WLA award and honors recipients and the inductees into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame. They will be recognized at the Awards & Honors Ceremony during the WLA Annual Conference on November 7, 2024, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay. Many thanks to the Awards & Honors Committee, the WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award Selection Committee, and the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame Steering Committee for their hard work, and to everyone who submitted a nomination.   To learn more about these outstanding award recipients, visit the WLA website and the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center website. Library of the Year University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire McIntyre Library, Eau Claire WLA/DEMCO® Librarian of the Year Terry Ehle, Youth Services Coordinator, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers Paralibrarian of the Year Danielle Zeamer, Library Services Associate, Brown County Library, Green Bay Trustee of the Year John Van Dyck, Brown County Library, Green Bay Programming Innovation Award The Library Memory Project from Bridges Library System, Waukesha Citation of Merit Kristen Mildenhall, Friends of the Middleton Public Library, Middleton Muriel Fuller Award Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Manager, La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse  WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award Rebecca Puhl, Library Director, Phillips Public Library, Phillips.   2024 Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame Kristine "Kris" Adams Wendt Dr. Mohammed M. Aman (1940 - 2024) Kurt Kiefer Carla J. Stoffle   Awards & Honors Dinner  If you have already registered for the conference and now would like to register for the Awards and Honors Dinner and Ceremony, please fill out this separate registration form and select "Other Attendee."  Tickets are $39.00 per person.    AWARDS & HONORS DINNER REGISTRATION

IMLS Grant Awarded for Games-Based Library Service

As reported in WI Library information channels:

Get in the Game: DPI & Washington State Library Awarded Grant for Games-based Library Services

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

It’s ‘game on’ for the Department of Public Instruction’s Library Services Team, who have big plans in the works for Wisconsin libraries and other libraries throughout the nation to ‘get in the game’, too!

As reported earlier, the Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the DPI and Washington State Library a nearly $250,000 grant for a three-year project, titled “Empowering & Innovating Games-based Library Services: National Best Practices for Gaming Collections & Programming.”

So, why “Games-based Library Services?” The answer may be seen as both a pragmatic and philosophical one. In addition to recent datahighlighting the staggering popularity of various games-based media (i.e., board games, video games, card games, virtual reality) with people of all backgrounds and ages, library research suggests something similar; according to the 2023 American Library Association report by Kathi Inman Berens and Rachel Noorda,“Gen Z and Millenials: How They Use Public Libraries and Identify Through Media Use,” the authors note that 53% of young library users identity as gamers – indicating immense potential that could influence library services for years to come. Games of all formats offer libraries a rich opportunity to enhance circulation and programming numbers while welcoming entirely new users into their spaces. There is no better time than now to improve games-based library services nationwide.

“We aim to demonstrate that embracing gaming in libraries means embracing innovation in libraries,” said Chris Baker, DPI Public Library and Games & Learning Consultant - and one of the leaders of the project. “Libraries that seek to remain not only relevant but forward-thinking and responsive to their communities’ needs must prioritize games-based collections and programs looking to the future. This project provides immense opportunity.”

The grant project gets underway this fall. The project is designed with three phases in mind, generally aligning with the three years of the project schedule. The DPI will be seeking robust input from Wisconsin (and nationwide) libraries in phase #1 about current and past games-based library service offerings, and then direct participation in games-based services implementations for select libraries in phase #2.

Phase 1

The Library Services Team will partner closely with David Gagnon, Director and Scientist of Field Day (a Learning Games studio and research lab housed within the Wisconsin Center for Education Researchof UW-Madison) to conduct rigorous nationwide research and a literature review of past and current games-based library services, ultimately to develop a comprehensive and foundational research report. Nationwide libraries (including Wisconsin) will be asked to participate in valuable surveys emailed out during this phase. At the same time, Washington State Library will collaborate with the non-profit organization Game to Grow and local games developer Heart of the Deernicorn to initially pilot games-based programs and collections throughout Washington libraries (with a particular focus on justice-facing youth facilities), acquiring rich feedback from users and librarians along the way.

Phase 2

The research and feedback from the first phase will converge to support a more practitioner-focused strategy, bringing additional librarians statewide and nationwide into the fold to begin developing replicable and scalable games-based library service models. This phase will be facilitated with intentional input from targeted populations of library staff and library users via an open call for participation during the second year of the project– with the key goal of developing games-based library best practices, direction, and guidance, all through a lens of access and equity.

Phase 3

The information generated in the first two phases will be utilized to develop a deeply-informed and comprehensive ‘Games-based Library Services Toolkit’ - an easily accessible, digital resource guide, which will be accessible for free to all libraries nationwide for years to come.

Project management of the three-year process will be spearheaded by the non-profit WiLS, supplemented by the participation, communication support, and promotional leverage of both the American Library Association’s popular Games & Gaming Round Table and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies.

For more information about this project, visit theIMLS Awarded NLG-L Grant page. 

If you’d like your library to be added to a shortlist for involvement on the project (including being surveyed in phase #1, and/or possibly joining a games-based library service“Fellowship” in phase #2), please email Chris Baker at Chris.Baker@dpi.wi.gov. Join the Wisconsin Games + Learning + Libraries WISELearn group for the most up-to-date information about project-related surveying, which will occur this fall and winter. Stay tuned!

 

Congratulations to the DPI Library team!