Monday, January 6, 2025

You Can Still Access the Dec 24 Performer's Showcase!

Did you miss the December YSS Virtual Performers Showcase? 

Don't despair, you can still purchase the performer directory AND access the recording! Even though the curtain is closed on this year's Showcase, it's not too late to participate.

To purchase access to the recordings and the directory ($20 for WLA members; $40 nor non-members) simply Register  at this link. 

Access to these materials will be available through February 28, 2025

Feel free to share this link with others! Questions? Contact wla@wisconsinlibraries.org or call 608-245-3640.



Saturday, January 4, 2025

WAPL 2025 Session Proposal Workshop


Thinking about submitting a proposal for the upcoming WAPL spring conference, but aren't sure where to start? Need some help fleshing out an idea or paring a big idea down to size?

The Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference Committee is here to help. Join the committee and your peers for an informal, virtual idea-sharing/brainstorming meetup open to anyone interested in submitting a proposal for the WAPL conference. Share your ideas in a supportive environment, ask questions, and learn tips to make your program shine!

Drop into this interactive session on Tuesday, January 14 at 1:00 p.m. at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88617271636?pwd=tCPblNuRPGId4bJqWoTNARzoc12C2S.1.


The committee welcomes proposals from libraries of all sizes and from individuals who work in a variety of roles - from front-line staff to technical services to programming and more. They also welcome proposals from vendors, consultants, trustees, friends, and other library partners.

Can't join us for the meetup but still want to discuss an idea? Please contact the WLA Office at wla@wisconsinlibraries.org or WAPL Conference Chair Heather Thompson at hthompson@mykpl.info.


Image by sumit kumar from Pixabay

Friday, January 3, 2025

Mario Storytime

Oops...wait!  We lost a post. We meant to schedule this last March 2024 We still think this clever (and popular) program described in the WVLS March 2024 newsletter is worth a read!!

On Saturday, January 20, the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library in Medford had an incredible turn out for its Mario Storytime, sponsored by Shoe Sensation and The Friends of the Library.

Over 300 people attended the Mario-themed event, which offered a story followed up by three crafting stations and four games.

Director Maxx Handel said this event was successful because of sponsors, community, library staff, and volunteers who were willing to donate their time on a Saturday to run craft stations and games. The library has been offering a weekend storytime for the last five years.

"The library offers a weekend storytime in January, February and March,” she said. “This program is great because families who can’t make it to our weekly storytimes on Friday mornings can still have the experience on a grander scale. The community loves these events as well.”

Maxx said the weekend storytime usually involves a movie or TV show. The theme for this January weekend story time was inspired by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” February’s weekend storytime theme was “Encanto,” from Disney’s animated musical fantasy film.

At January’s event, every time a child played a game, they received a small prize to take home such as candy, stickers, or tattoos. Children could play any of the games as many times as they wanted.

What made the event extra special was an appearance by “Mario,” played by Timothy Meerstein, special education teacher at Medford High School and the fiancĂ© of library director Maxx Handel.

Tips and Info from DPI's Jan 2, 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 is the January 2, 2025 edition:

Hello All and welcome to the new year!

Grant Opportunity Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture
  • This family literacy initiative 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. This grant provides financial support to libraries and community organizations who are motivated to promote intergenerational literacy through programming, services, and collections. 
  • The Grant Information and Application fields can be accessed on the APALA website: apalaweb.org/talkstorytogether/grant/  and the AILA website: ailanet.org.
  • To submit your proposal, please use the online form: https://forms.gle/3vUy3EuCFUxBuiKZ9
  • Deadline March 15, 2025
  • Grant Amount: $500
EBSCOhost Database Migration
  • Any EBSCOhost profiles that are still on the older user interface will be migrated to the Explora user interface on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. BadgerLink resource, Points of View Reference Source, is likely to be the only noticeable update for most Wisconsin schools and libraries.
Color Our World with Citizen Science: From Space to Sea
  • Tuesday, February 4, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (CORRECTED DATE!)
  • Join SciStarter, STAR Net, and the Collaborative Summer Reading Program for an engaging webinar that explores how libraries can bring the 2024 Summer Reading Theme, Color Our World, to life through citizen science. Discover hands-on STEM activities for all ages, from exploring the wonders of space to uncovering the mysteries of the deep sea. Learn how these activities align with the theme and provide opportunities for library users to contribute to real-world scientific research. Gain valuable resources and ideas to integrate citizen science into your library’s programming, inspiring curiosity and creativity in your community!
ALA Youth Media Awards


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 

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Mark Your Calendar for National Youth Media Awards Announcements!


Woohoo! Here comes the youth library services "Oscars" time. You don't need to be attending the conference in Phoenix to wait for what favorite books or media received the nod from the hardworking committees. Just tune into the livestream or the ALA Facebook page to see the drama and excitement unfold.

Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. 

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards (YMA), including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. 

Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.

The 2025 Youth Media Award announcements will take place on Monday, Jan. 27th at 9:00 a.m. CT during ALA's LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience conference in Phoenix.

Those not in Phoenix for LibLearnX can watch a livestream of the award announcements, which will also be available on the American Library Association Facebook page.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

A Look Back at 2024 on the YSS blog

Image by Igor from Pixabay

It's been a fun year for the Youth Services Shout-out blog. Thanks for joining us. Here's a look at some of the year's highlights.

  • During 2024, we shared 288 posts. 
  • These 2024 posts had over 11,000 views.
  • Overall this year, we had over 170,000 views of all of our blog content - 3,446 posts from 2010 to the present - during 2024.
  • We've had a total of 1,194, 530 views overo the life of the blog!
What were the most viewed posts that were published in 2024? They were a mixture of diversity and inclusion topics; advice and tips from the field; Summer reading program thoughts; and YSS/WAPL info.
We check numerous sources to find out news to share with everyone working with youth in WI libraries: from the WLA newsletter; library system newsletters and Facebook pages; national blogs; wispublib; DPI, the CCBC; to folks sending us information and links throughout the year. We are grateful for the transparency and sharing that goes on among those in our profession! 

I want to give a shout-out to our contributors who took the time to write or create content for the blog this year.  A huge shout-out to our contributors from 2024:

  • Cathy Pescinski
  • Alison Loewen
  • Hanna Collins
  • Ashley Borman
  • Sam Jones
  • Jennifer Davis
  • Jenna Gilles
  • Leah Langby
  • Jeni Schomber
  • Chris Baker
  • Katherine Schoofs
  • Merry Lindgren
  • Laura Sauser
  • Megan Schliesman

If you would like to contribute to the blog, we'd love to have you! You can write about a program you've done; opinion piece; how-to; spotlight on great library service; upcoming event of interest to youth folks state-wide or whatever you think people working in youth services in WI would like to read! Plus we're always looking for links of interest to share with youth library folks. Simply email the blog admin at lochwouters@gmail.com and you can join the fun.

Thanks for being part of our YSS blog community this year and see you in 2025!

Monday, December 30, 2024

Starting a WLA Sustainability Interest Group?

From the Dec 27, 2024 WLA Newsletter

WLA Member Dawn Tevis is looking for other members interested in working with her to create a WLA Special Interest Group on the topic of Sustainability. If this is you, please email Dawn at dtevis@lacrossecounty.org by Monday, January 6.

Dawn writes: "Libraries are in a unique position to help create vibrant, resilient communities in the face of environmental concerns, and the ALA has identified Sustainability as a core professional value—urging us to embody practices that are environmentally sound, economically feasible, and socially equitable.

I would love to join forces to build momentum toward deeper sustainable thinking and mutual support in policies, programs, educational opportunities, partnerships, collections, operations, and more. Let me know if you’d like to be a part, and we’ll see if I can get the required minimum for an SIG." 


Dawn Tevis, Youth Services Coordinator, La Crosse County Library



Sunday, December 29, 2024

Tips and Info from DPI's Dec 26, 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 December 26, 2024 edition.

 Color Our World with Citizen Science: From Space to Sea

  • Tuesday, February 2, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
  • Join SciStarter, STAR Net, and the Collaborative Summer Reading Program for an engaging webinar that explores how libraries can bring the 2024 Summer Reading Theme, Color Our World, to life through citizen science. Discover hands-on STEM activities for all ages, from exploring the wonders of space to uncovering the mysteries of the deep sea. Learn how these activities align with the theme and provide opportunities for library users to contribute to real-world scientific research. Gain valuable resources and ideas to integrate citizen science into your library’s programming, inspiring curiosity and creativity in your community!
  • Enjoy the latest newsletter from Collaborative Summer Library Program with information on product shipment and return policies, theme and slogan feedback, and the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge.
Save the Date - 2025 Teen Inclusive Internship Program - Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10 a.m.
  • Registration for this informational webinar opens in mid-January - more details coming soon. 

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Saturday, December 28, 2024

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Once or twice a month on weekends
, YSS posts round-ups of ads that are sent to us or that we come across. If you have a position opening up and would like to see it on the YSS blog, please forward the job ad link/descriptions to the YSS blog at the email address listed in the header above the day's blog post.

Here is a late December listing:

USS Liberty  (Grafton) Memorial Library                   Youth Circulation Aide

USS Liberty Memorial Library in Grafton is accepting applications for a Youth Circulation Aide in our vibrant youth Children’s Department! We are seeking candidates who are passionate about customer service and are excellent team players. Responsibilities include: planning and executing storytimes and children’s programming, answering patron questions, placing holds, registering patrons for a library card, checking library material in and out, sorting and filing material, answering telephone calls, pulling holds, and library projects as assigned. Successful applicants love working with people, are comfortable using technology, are flexible, self-motivated, value open communication, and enjoy working in and adding to a positive work culture for all. 
This position is 16 hours per week. In general, the schedule is flexible and includes: Monday - Fridays (varies): regular hours can include mornings, afternoons, and at least one evening shift per week.
Saturdays (9am-2pm): on a rotating schedule
Required:
  • Bachelor’s degree or significant library, or customer service experience.
  • Library experience in organization of materials preferred.
  • Enthusiasm for library services
  • Excellent analytical and communication skills
Candidate must be 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma, be able to pass a background check and drug screening. Starting wages are $14.88 – $16.18 per hour depending on qualifications and experience.
The position is open until January 12th, 2025.
To be considered for this position, please complete an online application and provide a cover letter HERE!

Friday, December 27, 2024

"Taking a Break from Storytime" Activity Ideas

Storytime breaks are a great way to take a breather especially around holiday times. In a recent blog post on IFLS' Keeping Up with Kids blog, Youth Services Librarian Regina Arndt from Altoona Public Library shared some great ideas with Leah Langby.  

To check out Regina's ideas, please stop here.