Kelly Starling Lyons is coming to Middleton Public Library!

Photo from Midlibrary.org

The Middleton Public Library is so excited to announce that award winning children's author Kelly Starling Lyons will be visiting the library on Thursday, March 5th at 6pm to share a program called Write the Story Only You can Tell. 

In each of us, there are stories waiting to be told. In this session, Kelly shares her journey to publication and how her life informs the stories she creates. The audience will receive tips on mining their lives for ideas, using their senses to fill stories with meaningful detail and showing instead of telling. Readings and a Q&A are part of this inspiring program.

Kelly Starling Lyons is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, a teaching artist, and an award-winning author of more than 30 books for young readers. Among her acclaimed picture books are Caldecott Honor winner Going Down Home with Daddy, Christopher Award winner Tiara's Hat Parade, Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award winner, My Hands Tell a Story, and Bank Street Best Books selection, Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations. Kelly is also the author of three popular series for young people - chapter books starring her characters Jada Jones and Miles Lewis, and the Ty's Travels early readers which won a Geisel Honor for Zip Zoom. She regularly presents to schools, libraries, festivals, and conferences around the country. Learn more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.

Please join us for this special event!

Register to attend this event here.

WLA Meetup in Madison for the Documentary "The Librarians"

We hope you can join us in Madison for a meetup on February 19th! Event is open to everyone and FREE!

 

MADISON AREA MEETUP! WLA is hosting a Madison area meetup to watch the documentary THE LIBRARIANS. This event is FREE and open to everyone (not just WLA members). See below for the details: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Pre-movie meetup at Butterbird (1134 Regent Street in Madison) from 4:30 - 6:00pm for social hour and food. Stop by when you can!  The Librarians will be showing at The Marquee Cinema at Union South (1308 W. Dayton Street in Madison) Doors open at 6:00pm for 6:30pm showing. The closest parking lot is Lot 80, a parking garage under Union South. The parking is free from 4:30pm-7am. WLA will be hosting a virtual discussion group after the movie for its members on February 25th from 3:30-5:00pm. Thank you to the Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee for hosting the film and for the invite to our members!

Genius Files: The Launchpad

Kate Davis, YSS Board Member and Programming Consultant for the Prairie Lakes Library System has introduced a new new email blast for her library system called The Genius Files. Here's the newest edition:

Greetings!

Today's genius idea comes from me (Kate Davis). It's a passion project I've been working on for months and I'm finally ready to release it to the big wide world... The Launchpad: Lift-off Ready Programs

Screengrab from The Launchpad blog

This all-ages programming blog comes filled with not just ideas, but marketing templates, supply lists, accessibility/inclusion suggestions, book lists, reusability ideas, and so much more. I want this to be a one-stop shop to make your program planning time more effective and less stressful.

I'm constantly adding new programs and would love to add your ideas as well! Here's a link to send those ideas to me. It's also located on the homepage of the blog.

Please share this with your colleagues and cohorts. And, as always, let me know of any suggestions or ideas!

YSS Needs You!

Ready to shape the future of library services for kids and teens across Wisconsin? Join the YSS Blog! The Youth Services Shout-Out (YSS) Blog, with over 1.5 million views and almost 4,000 posts, is a dynamic resource that highlights recent library news, programming ideas, and professional development opportunities for youth services folks in Wisconsin.

Image by Sophie Janotta from Pixabay

We’re looking for fresh voices and dedicated library champions to keep this momentum going! There are two ways to join in:

• Become a Guest Contributor: Got a killer program idea, a deep-dive "how-to," or an opinion piece on the latest library trends? We want to hear it! Sharing your expertise helps peers statewide. 

• Join the Admin Team: Want to go behind the scenes? Help us curate the best resources, manage community content, and keep Wisconsin’s youth services community connected and informed.

Email the blog team at yss.wla@gmail.com to get started!

Get Messy: Indoor Snow Day!

The Middleton Public Library hosted an indoor snow day this past weekend, and what an amazing time we had! Library staff began collected shredded paper from the community in October, and had just enough to fill one of the small conference rooms at the library. Kids from 0-99 had an absolute blast building piles, having snow fights, and burying their librarians! 

One thing to prepare for...DUST! So much paper dust. We were unprepared for the amount of dust that covered every inch of the room, and us! Was it worth it to hear the squeals and giggles of the over 125 happy kids who attended. Yes! Would we do it again? Ask us in a couple years and we'll see. 

Photos from Middleton Public Library

Midday Mingle - All About Teens

The next Midday Mingle is coming up quickly!

Image by cottonbro studio from Pexels

We are calling all youth services folk across the state serving the niche (sometimes elusive) but oh-so rewarding audience of teens. Many of us are flying solo in teen services, let's get together to program swap and connect!

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 PM (Zoom Link) to chat about teen services - specifically

 programming.  We will round table topics like:

• What's working for you
• Most successful program in the last year
• Upcoming program you are excited about
• What was a bust
• Back pocket program (programs you have ready to go if needed)
• Passive programs/activities
• Teen spaces
• set up/what's available
• rules
• do you work/program in them
• And anything else you'd like to discuss - the conversation will be driven be the attendees and go wherever is most useful to you!

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a member of YSS or WLA.

 

Time: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link 

 

Can't wait to chat with you all! 

Midday Mingles happen quarterly – expect to see several throughout 2026! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email yss

Immigration Books for Kids

Photo from readbrightly.com

In a timely article from readbrightly.com, Laura Lambert highlights books for children that speak to the immigrant experience in the United States. She asks, "what does [immigration] mean to a 3-, 6-, or 12-year old?" Included in her list are picture books like, What is a Refugee?, Danbi Leads the School Parade, and Yuyi Morales's award winning Dreamers. 

To see the full list of titles you can read the article here.

[Books for Kids About the Immigrant Experience in America. Lambert, L. Updated in 2026. readbrightly.com]

https://www.readbrightly.com/books-about-immigration-for-kids/

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Delafield Library: Youth Services Librarian

Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay

The Delafield Library is seeking an energetic, enthusiastic individual for the position of Youth Services Librarian.  If you are a self-motivated, flexible, and forward-thinking professional with a strong public service commitment to provide great service to children, teens, and families, we welcome your application! This nearly full-time position (averaging 34 hours/week) will work diligently with and report to the Head of Youth Services Librarian. 

Full job description can be found on our website.  If interested, please send a resume and list of three professional references to Library Director Stephanie Ramirez, sramirez@delafieldlibrary.org. Starting pay rate of $23.50/hour with excellent benefits as well as paid holidays. First review of applications will begin on Friday, February 20. If you have any questions, please contact the Delafield Library at (262) 646-6230 or visit our website, www.delafieldlibrary.org.

Tips and Info from DPI's February 5, 2026 Youth Services Newsletter

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is an email newsletter chockfull of great resources we've come to rely on. 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 February 5, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services weekly resources and reminders!  Teen Internship Application is Open!  The application period for the Teen Internship program is open and the deadline to submit an application is Friday, February 13, 2026 at 4 p.m. This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applicants will be accepted into the program.   The 2026 Department of Public Instruction Bureau of Libraries Teen Internship program will provide LSTA funding up to $2500 for up to eight Wisconsin public libraries to allow them to offer a paid, mentored internship to high school-aged students representing the voices of their communities. One of the core components of the internship is for the interns to create and implement their own Connected Learning Project. For more information, visit the Public Libraries Youth Services page of the DPI website.  PBS Wisconsin Education and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten   PBS Wisconsin Education is partnering with the DPI Bureau of Libraries to distribute literacy kits supporting 1000 Books Before Kindergarten programs. PBS Wisconsin Education is providing over 60 Wisconsin libraries with literacy kits to supplement their 1000 Books Before Kindergarten programs. This pilot project aims to foster early literacy skills and help grow a love of reading with free, engaging resources and activities families can enjoy together.  Each kit includes interactive literacy booklets, crayons, stickers, and bookmarks introducing families to Reading Buddies, a research-based literacy series on PBS. Families can also access a curated collection of digital resources, tips, and activities from PBS, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health.  PBS Wisconsin Education reached out to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Bureau of Libraries for help identifying locations where the kits might have the greatest impact. Schomber helped coordinate distribution with regional directors. In January, PBS Wisconsin volunteers helped package the kits for shipment.  Libraries across the state can access free PBS content for their programs anytime, including activities, games, media, and more. Visit PBS Wisconsin Education’s Raising Readers early learning page at pbsurl.org/raising.  Libraries can also share a digital collection of resources for helping families enjoy reading and connection at home at pbsurl.org/letsread.  Youth Services Shout-Out Blog  Ready to shape the future of library services for kids and teens across Wisconsin? Join the Wisconsin Library Association YSS Blog! The Youth Services Shout-Out (YSS) Blog, with over 1.5 million views and almost 4,000 posts, is a dynamic resource that highlights recent library news, programming ideas, and professional development opportunities for youth services folks in Wisconsin.  We’re looking for fresh voices and dedicated library champions to keep this momentum going! There are two ways to join in:  Become a Guest Contributor: Got a killer program idea, a deep-dive "how-to," or an opinion piece on the latest library trends? We want to hear it! Sharing your expertise helps peers statewide.  Join the Admin Team: Want to go behind the scenes? Help us curate the best resources, manage community content, and keep Wisconsin’s youth services community connected and informed.  Email the blog team at yss.wla@gmail.com to get started!  WLA Madison Area Meetup – The Librarians  The Wisconsin Library Association is hosting a Madison area meetup to watch The Librarians on Thursday, February 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Marquee Cinema Union South, 1308 W. Dayton Street in Madison. This event is FREE and open to everyone (not just WLA members). Visit the Wisconsin Library Association page for more information.   Celebrate Awards Season with TeachingBooks  Enjoy TeachingBooks’ book lists, games, and multimedia for current national book award and distinction winners. View TeachingBooks Story.  Jeni Schomber  Public Library Consultant  The DPI does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events. They are provided for your consideration only. Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov

2026 Teen Internship applications now open

Photo from dpi.wi.gov/libraries

The application period for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Bureau of Libraries 2026 Teen Internship program is open. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 13, at 4 p.m.

2026 Teen Internship Program Application – Fill out form

Selected libraries will receive funding to hire a paid summer intern that reflects voices and perspectives within their communities. Interns will design and lead a community-focused Connected Learning Project that highlights their skills, interests, and experiences. Library mentors will engage with and support interns while also opening career pathways into the field of librarianship.

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, 2026. This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applications will be accepted into the program.   

The Teen Internship is supported by the Institute of Museums and Library Services with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding and is conditioned upon the availability of government funds which may be limited for any reason including, but not limited to, congressional, legislative, gubernatorial, or administrative action.

Please visit dpi.wi.gov/libraries/public-libraries/youth-services for more information.