DINO-vember Programming Fun

Graphic courtesy Amy Steinbauer

In a recent ALSC blog post, Amy Steinbauer shared some of the great ways they do dinos at her library.

Amy writes: "November can mean many things to many people, but to me, it means dinosaurs in the library! I have been celebrating this event since 2017, and have mastered all the tricks to make it fun, easy, and engaging for the public! If you are unfamiliar with the concept of Dino-vember, take a look at the ALSC blog archives, there are lot of fun examples there. But the gist of it is that libraries and staff get crafty thinking of ways to engage patrons with dinosaurs all month long. You can do it no money or lots of money and in big and small ways."

Click here to read the full post full of ideas! [DINO-vember, The Easy Way. Steinbauer, AMY. ALSC blog. October 27, 2024.]

YSS Chair’s Corner -October 2024

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

The snow may not be flying yet, but it is never too early to start getting ready for next summer with the 2024 Virtual Performer's Showcase. We have reached our maximum of 24 performers for the Virtual Performer’s Showcase! Woo-hoo!!! It is set for Tuesday, December 3rd!  Registration is now open! The first 20 participants to register will be entered into a drawing for a free registration! Registration is $20 for WLA members, $40 for non-members.   Registration closes November 25, 2024. 

The next YSS Presents webinar will be Thursday, November 14th from 3-4pm.  Islands of Brilliance is a Milwaukee-based non-profit that uses art and creative technologies to empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals and open pathways to employment and independence. The Fellowship is one of the newest programs from IOB, which focuses on transition-age participants in six mid and small-size cities across the state. In this webinar, three staff members will share insights about The Fellowship program design and implementation, as well as key insights about supporting and engaging neurodivergent youth and young adults within community spaces. Registration is currently open (https://wla.memberclicks.net/yss). It is free for WLA members and $25 for those who are not members.

Kate Davis from the Prairie Lakes Library System has joined our board as a Director at Large! We are so excited to welcome her and have her share her experiences and input with us.

WLA conference!!! Stop by the WLA booth in the vendor hall on Wednesday morning during breakfast or Wednesday afternoon from 4:15-5:30 to learn more about YSS and test out a few program ideas. Join us at the YSS author talk luncheon on Wednesday in Halls B & C. Pre-registration is required, so please contact WLA staff if you have registered for the conference already, but would like to attend the luncheon. Lastly, meet up with us and other youth service staff during YSS Breakfast Club on Friday. A few tables in the breakfast area will be marked for youth service staff to get together and meet some new friends, refresh some former connections, chat about serving youth, and have breakfast! Hope to see you at the conference!!!

From Jeni Schomber at DPI - The application for the 2025 BEBS Cohort opens Monday, November 11th. Watch for an official announcement through your regular communication channels (YSS Blog, WISPUBLIB, YS Listserv, etc…). (https://dpi.wi.gov/libraries/public-libraries/youth-services) I’m also presenting on this at the conference - Thursday, November 7th at 1:15 p.m.

Save the date - 2025 Teen Inclusive Internship informational webinar will be held on Friday, February 7th, 2025, at 10 a.m. Watch for registration information coming soon.

As a board, we have been having continuing discussions about the best ways to reach out to members and to help forge connections and share knowledge. We are open to suggestions from folks as to how best to do this. 

As always, we welcome your input, comments, questions, or concerns. Please don't hesitate to reach out to any of us on the board! We are here for you!

[Note: Want to read the February-September 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 Nov. 4, 2024 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 Nov 4, 2024 edition

Check out the important reminders and resources below:

PBS KIDS Community Learning Cohort

• Join a network of trained PBS KIDS library ambassadors around the state with PBS Wisconsin! Apply today for the PBS KIDS Community Learning Cohort. This fun, supportive network offers exploration of high-quality educational media, expert guidance, and tons of ready-to-use resources for engaging students and families. Library staff who participate in the cohort will receive a stipend to cover program costs.  apply by November 15th!

New! 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. 

I'm sending out this weekly email early as I will be out of the office this week attending and presenting at the WLA Conference. Hope to see you there!

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 

Partnerships Matter

Image by kp yamu Jayanath from Pixabay

A recent blog post by YSS board member Valerie Spooner at the IFLS library System's Keeping Up with Kids blog is a true winner. Valerie, Ladysmith's Youth Services librarian shares her experience with the Rusk County Youth Council (RCYC), a coalition she is part of that focuses on drug and alcohol prevention, as well as general health and wellness for youth in Rusk County.

Because of this partnership, amazing things happened at her library! To read about what happened, please click here. [The Power of Partnerships. Spooner, Valerie. IFLS Keeping Up with Kids blog. October 29, 2024.]

Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium Registration Opens

I f you've never been to one of these unsymposiums or symposiums around Duluth Superior, you are missing out. Colleagues from all types of libraries in both WI, MN and sometimes Canada gather to network, learn and explore. The unsymposiums are especially great because YOU can help set the agenda.

Registration is OPEN for our twelfth annual Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium!

 

Our twelfth annual Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, from 1-4:30 p.m. at Superior Public Library in Superior, Wisconsin! We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon of conversation, collaboration, and connection!

 

What’s an “unsymposium,” you ask? At our Mid-winter Unsymposium, we turn the idea of a “conference” upside down! Rather than inviting speakers to talk about predetermined topics related to a specific theme, unsymposium attendees brainstorm discussion topics and then vote for their favorites! 

 

You can suggest discussion topics when you register, or you can suggest them at the event. After collecting all of the suggested topics, everybody in attendance votes for their favorites, and then we break into small groups for discussion. At our Unconference, you determine the conversation!

 

Would you like to meet up with Unsymposium attendees for lunch before the Unsymposium? We’ll meet at Julie’s Family Restaurant (403 Belknap Street in Superior) at 11:30 a.m. for networking, camaraderie, and a delicious lunch before heading over to the library for the Unsymposium. We’d love to see you there!

 

We hope you’ll join us at the Unsymposium on Friday, January 10, 2025, for invigorating discussion with other library folks. Be prepared to take that enthusiasm back to your library! Registration is open now! 

 

Sign up for our mailing list, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or visit our website for updates.

 

The Unsymposium is free and open to everyone.

 

When: Friday, January 10, 2025, 1 - 4:30 pm

Where: Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI 54880

Registration: Now open!

Cost: Only your time!

 

QUESTIONS? Contact us!

 

YSS Breakfast Club at WLA

Image by MarkOblivious from Pixabay

Attending WLA? 

If yes, join us Friday Nov 8 for a Youth Services Breakfast Club meetup in Hall B&C on the 1st floor from 8-9:00 am. Tables will be marked for YSS Breakfast Club. 

Meet up, socialize, make some new connections, meet new friends, exchange ideas, learn more about WLA’s Youth Services Section, and have breakfast! 

No special registration required. 

Don't Delay - YSS Webinar on Nov 14

 

Free for WLA members; $25 for non-members 

Visit the YSS page on the WLA website to learn more and register here 

Islands of Brilliance is a Milwaukee-based non-profit that uses art and creative technologies to empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals and open pathways to employment and independence. The Fellowship is one of the newest programs from IOB, which focuses on transition-age participants in six mid and small-size cities across the state. In this webinar, three staff members will share insights about The Fellowship program design and implementation, as well as key insights about supporting and engaging neurodivergent youth and young adults within community spaces.

Presenters:
Dr. Kate Siekman: Director of Learning and Outcomes
Kate has 12 years' experience in education and autism therapy. With teaching licenses in alternative and special education and a doctoral degree in occupational therapy, Kate has cultivated a passion for alternative access to learning. Kate seeks the best educational experiences for the students and families she serves, using her creativity in pedagogy to deliver dynamic student outcomes.

Natalie Derr: Lead Creative Technologist
Artist and experimental creative Natalie Derr aims to use her background in Digital Studio Practice and Painting and drawing as a tool for creative intervention in the exploration of students' identities. As IOB’s Creative Technologist, Natalie is passionately curious about our diverse imaginations and how to exercise empathy by sharing artwork.

Mark Fairbanks: Cofounder and Executive Director of Islands of Brilliance
Mark leads a devoted team of education and design professionals at Islands of Brilliance. Since the launch of the program in the fall of 2012, along with his wife Margaret he has guided the organization through constant evolution and growth.

Prior to Islands of Brilliance, a 27-year career in advertising, design, and digital saw Mark working for notable creative boutiques in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Chicago. During this period his work appeared in The One Show, Communication Arts, Graphis, and The Obies, while also receiving acclaim in Adweek, Creativity, and The New York Times. He was a member of the Creative Alliance, a cohort of notable agency creatives and agencies working on social impact initiatives during the final two years of the Obama Administration.

STEAM Fellows Opportunity

 - As seen on wispublib via Anne Moser. DPI's Chris Baker chimed in and encouraged libraries to apply

Hello!

Do you and/or other colleagues in your district have experience teaching STEM/STEAM? The Department of Public Instruction is looking to hire 15 STEAM fellows (PK-12) who will engage in professional development, collaborate with regional and statewide partners, and implement STEAM-related initiatives in their schools and communities. Fellows will participate in collaborative learning experiences, curate educational resources, develop a plan to locally engage underrepresented students in STEAM education, and share their learning with others. The fellowship aims to foster innovation, equity, and excellence in STEAM education across Wisconsin.

Fellowships highlights:

  *   $2,000 stipend
  *   Grow your own practice with free professional learning
  *   Support others to grow their practice by sharing what you've learned

Click here to learn more and apply (Applications due November 8): 

DPI STEAM Education Fellows Application (ed.note: this may show up attached to my lochwouters account. Just hit "switch account" and put your info in!)

Please, share this announcement with your colleagues.

Thanks and hope you have a great weekend,
Kevin

Science Education Coordinator
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

CCBC Starred Review Days - November 18-22

As seen on wispublist - this is a chance to do hands-on book examination right at WI's own CCBC! 

This fall, the CCBC will be holding CCBC Starred Review Days November 18-22.

For that week, we set up all of the c2024 books we have received to-date that have received a starred review in one more professional journals in our conference room for easy hands-on book examination.

Starred Review Days Schedule:

• Monday, November 18, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Tuesday, November 19, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Wednesday, November 20, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Thursday, November 21, 8:30 am -7 pm
• Friday, November 22, 8:30 am – 2 pm

Registration required.  (The registration form will ask you to indicate which day or days you are coming, and how many people are attending.)

 

Location and parking information.

 

Questions?  Email schliesman@education.wisc.edu

 

We hope to see you!

 

All the best,

Megan

 

  

Megan Schliesman, Librarian (she/her)

Assistant Director

Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
225 N. Mills Street, Room 401
Madison, WI  53706

 

608/262-9503

schliesman@education.wisc.edu

 

https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/

 

Tips and Info from DPI's Oct 25, 2024 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 25, 2024 edition

Check out the important reminders and resources below:

Building Equity Based Summers (BEBS) Cohort starting in January 2025

• Wisconsin is participating in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant-funded national initiative Building Equity Based Summers (BEBS). 
• The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Library Services Team is looking for six public libraries to participate in the 2025 BEBS Cohort. Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members. Libraries are encouraged to have staff from across departments and can include Youth Services, Adult Services, Programming, Outreach, or Administrative staff. 
• BEBS participants will work with co-facilitators Jeni Schomber, DPI Public Library Consultant, and Kelly Wochinske, Milwaukee Public Library, Public Area Service Manager - Youth, Education, and Outreach, and each other to consider summer programs and services  through an equity-based lens.
• The application to participate will open on Monday November 11th. This is expected to be a competitive process and not all applications will be selected. More details coming soon!

Children's Wisconsin Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) 

• Triple P teaches families with children 0-16 years of age how to spend less time battling challenging behavior and more time building close relationships. You’ll develop positive parenting skills to manage stress and encourage healthy habits, and that can mean more good days for your family.
• Please consider sharing this FREE resource with your library families. 

Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) - Call for New Leadership

• Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy is seeking new leadership! This is an exciting opportunity to connect with early literacy leaders statewide, empower fellow professionals, and affect great change. 
• The Steering Committee may now include up to 4 members from outside the state of Colorado in addition to Colorado members.
• Submissions must be received by Friday, November 1st, 2024.