Wisconsin Science Festival Virtual Kickoff Party

 

2026 Wisconsin Science Festival Virtual Kickoff Party April 16 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Ready to start making plans for the fall? Just want to learn more? Join us for networking and conversation about the 16th annual Wisconsin Science Festival! Click here to register for virtual kickoff party! Hear from the WSF team and a few special guests about updates for 2026 Hear about this year's festival feature Learn how and when to submit your 2026 events Grab your lunch and bring your ideas and questions Win prizes! The Wisconsin Science Festival aims to inspire and engage us in the enterprise of science and discovery; to promote innovation and to cultivate the next generation of global citizens. In 2025, over 53,000 people participated in events throughout 56 counties in Wisconsin. (View the 2025 annual report!) Additional opportunities from our festival partners: If you have content you’d like to share or include in the Wisconsin Science Festival, our friends at Badgerland Learning Days have a great opportunity for you to test your material or programs with youth and families this spring! See more details on how to include your organization in another great celebration of learning. Help us make this year’s Wisconsin Science Festival even more impactful! We’ve put together a short pre-festival survey to better understand your needs, ideas, and what support would make hosting your event even smoother and more fun. Your feedback helps shape the experience not just for you, but for communities across the state. It only takes a few minutes, and it makes a big difference. Thanks for being such an essential part of the festival!

Midday Mingle: Collection Complications

The next Midday Mingle is on the horizon!  

Join us on Monday, April 20 at 1:00 PM as we talk about troubleshooting collection development:

• Taking flak from patrons about books you’ve weeded?
• Having trouble finding new sources since Baker & Taylor closed?
• Desperate for tips on dealing with difficult, yet popular, collections?

Whatever collection problems you’re dealing with, come share them and we’ll brainstorm solutions together!

Youth Services Section Midday Mingle: Collection Complications

Monday, April 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Zoom link  

You do not have to be a YSS or WLA member to participate. The Midday Mingle is open to all!

Tips and Info from DPI's March 26, 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 March 26, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services resources and reminders!  BadgerLink Bulletin – TeachingBooks for Libraries  Attention, librarians of all types! Check out TeachingBooks Monthly Lesson Ideas to easily share fascinating multimedia titles for young readers in your newsletters, social media, and instructional and programming plans. Explore TeachingBooks for Libraries for jumping-off points that deepen discussions, inspire reading interest, and support connections to books and authors for young readers.   Wisconsin Science Festival Virtual Kickoff Party  This virtual party is a great way to learn more about what participating in the festival really means, get the scoop on the featured topic for the year, meet other STEAM enthusiasts, win prizes at trivia, and more.  Join us, April 16th at 11:30am, as we kick off the 2026 Wisconsin Science Festival!  Register for the Kickoff Party.   CSLP Newsletter  Check out the latest Collaborative Summer Library Program newsletter full of great information and resources, including voting to name the Mysteries Await at Your Library 2027 mascot, a BCBS National Cohort announcement, Dinosaurs 101 for Librarians webinar, the final Wordsmithing session, Manual highlights, and more!  Northeast Science Camp for Librarians  Save the Date for the 2026 Northeast Science Camp for Librarians! We are excited to announce this year’s Northeast Science Camp for Librarians will be held on June 8-10, 2026, at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. Science Camp is an engaging and affordable 2 ½ day immersion into science topics, offering opportunities for library workers and library students interested in science, health sciences, and technology to learn, meet, and network in a fun, laid-back atmosphere. Registration opens April 17, 2026. Visit Northeast Science Camp for Librarians for more information.   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

After School in the Library

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

In a post from Public Libraries Online, Raven Smith writes about teens and 'tweens using the library after school. Smith states, "some libraries have hesitated to fully embrace tween and teen services out of concern for disruption or limited space." Smith encourages libraries to take a different approach, and welcome the kids into their spaces, specifically intentionally creating space and programs for kids after school. 

In the Lansing Public Library, they've created a Teen Island, open every day after school from 3-5. They provide programming, snacks, games and more for kids. They have created a place where teens feel comfortable and welcome. Some of their tips include:

1. Dedicate space intentionally

2. Establish clear expectations

3. Build partnerships

4. Hire relational staff

5. Integrate youth into the broader vision

Read the full article, and more into their tips here.

[Making Space After School: How Lansing (IL) Public Library Serves Teens and Tweens. Smith, R. February 26, 2026. publiclibrariesonline.org.]

Great New Books for Children and Teens in Person

Logo from ccbc.education.wisc.edu

 

IFLS Library System, Northern Waters Library Services, and Wisconsin Valley Library Service invites you to: 

Great New Books for Children and Teens

Presented by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) 

Thursday, April 9 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Celebration Hall  

235 E Main St, Gilman, WI 54433

 

Register by Sunday, March 29: https://forms.gle/byHRgBQjF7LdTKW66

 

CCBC Librarians Merri Lindgren and Tessa Michaelson Schmidt will discuss this year’s best books for ages birth to 18! Highlighted books will be available for hands-on book examination during lunch.

 

This free event is open to library professionals and educators.

 

9:30 - 10 a.m. Registration & Light Refreshments

10 - 11:30 a.m. Great New Books for Birth - Grade 5 *This morning session is worth 1.5 contact hours.

11:30 - 1 p.m. Book Browsing and Complimentary Lunch

1 - 2:30 p.m. Great New Books for Grades 6 - 12 *This afternoon session is worth 1.5 contact hours.

 

Space is limited! Please register by March 29: https://forms.gle/byHRgBQjF7LdTKW66

Questions? Reach out to Emily Rogers at erogers@wvls.org.

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

Tips and Info from DPI's March 19, 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 March 19, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services resources and reminders!  DPI Website Modernization Project  As part of the Department of Public Instruction’s strategic plan and commitment to modernizing and improving the agency, and in preparation for the April 24, 2026 Title II ADA digital accessibility deadline, the DPI is currently undertaking a major update to its external website, www.dpi.wi.gov. Visit the DPI Website Modernization Project page for more information.  Summer Reading with BadgerLink Resources  Summer reading is already around the corner! BadgerLink content providers TeachingBooks and Britannica Education offer excellent activities and programming ideas for this year’s summer reading programs at your library. Read the full story.   BadgerLink Bulletin EBSCO Resources Highlight  Check out the latest features, tools, promotional materials, and training on BadgerLink’s EBSCO resources. View full story.  Dinosaurs 101 for Librarians  Join us on Friday, March 27 at 12:30 PM for Dinosaurs 101 for Librarians, a webinar on the core concepts and techniques used by the American Museum of Natural History in teaching paleontology to young learners. Raoul Seroy, Children and Family Learning Educator at the Museum, will guide participants through foundational concepts to connect with young learners and get them excited about paleontology.   This live session, hosted by AMNH and part of a new professional development webinar series for Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) members, will feature a presentation by Raoul followed by an interactive Q&A session with participants. Registration is now open.  PBS Educational Multimedia Resources for School-Age Learners  The PBS Wisconsin Education team is excited to be collaborating with the South Central Library System and Portage County Library to host a free workshop on May 7 for public library staff who serve school-age learners (grades 3-12 / ages 8-18+) to learn about PBS educational multimedia resources and plan for ways to use these resources with library programming. More details and the link to RSVP are included in this invitation.  CCBC Choices 2026 is now available  CCBC Choices 2026 is a digital publication. Entries for each book include full bibliographic citation, annotation, age recommendation and cover image, and a link to the book’s entry in the CCBC-Recommended Book Search database, where custom lists can be created. The publication also includes an introductory essay and name/title index. A citation list (bibliographic information only) of CCBC Choices 2026 is also available on the CCBC website.  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