Good Books Young Troublemakers

I was lucky enough to attend PLA in Minneapolis at the beginning of April and came back so inspired! There were amazing keynote speakers, so many incredible sessions, and an exhibit hall that you would not believe! It was a jam packed three days of sessions and networking opportunities. 

Photo from goodbooksyoungtroublemakers.org

There was one session in particular, presented by Tanvi Rastogi, a school librarian in Minnesota, that I'm still thinking about. Her presentation was titled Speak Up!: Using Middle Grade Books to Build Allyship Muscles. I run a 'tween book club that I feel is pretty successful, but for a while I've been hoping to add more depth to the book discussion. That's where Tanvi's presentation comes in. Tanvi introduced us to Good Books Young Troublemakers (GBYT), an organization that Tanvi founded in 2021. It's an organization that, "uses middle grade books to teach kids how to use their voices and create good and necessary trouble for a lifetime." 

Signing up for a free account gives you access to incredible book club guides for great middle grade books, each of which allows readers to practice their "troublemaking" skills. When emailing with Tanvi about sharing this information here, she said that the discussion guides, "can look overwhelming. I always tell folks to take what they need from them by incorporating a GBYT question or two into their book clubs or by using some of the facilitator talking points to help guide a discussion on a particular topic." I've looked through some of the guides, and can tell you they are an excellent resource! 

If you're interested in learning more about Good Books Young Troublemakers you can visit the website, or reach out to Tanvi at hello@gbyt.org.

It’s Almost Time for Battle of the Books!

Photo Credit:   

Krista Brinkmeier Photography

Dear Youth Librarians,

In case you missed it, I am excited to be a contributor to the YSS blog this year. My name is Tiffani Roltgen, and I am the library director/teacher librarian at New Century School and Verona Area International School in Verona, WI. 

As a school librarian, one of the most fun and engaging reading activities my students participate in each year is Wisconsin’s very own Battle of the Books organized annually by the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA). Elementary, middle school, and high school students compete by forming teams and reading from a list of 20 books in a wide variety of genres. In February, they take a school-level quiz to test their knowledge. The top teams from around Wisconsin complete the state-level test and are then ranked. The Battle booklists, released annually on June 1, often overlap with Wisconsin’s Golden Archer Award program where only students (no grown ups allowed!) vote on their favorite books in primary, intermediate, middle, and senior levels. The winning books are rewarded with a Golden Archer award seal on the cover and the admiration of young adoring fans. 

Photo from wemta.org

There are many ways public libraries can support these initiatives from displaying and promoting books from the Battle and Golden Archer lists to offering book clubs featuring the books with related activities. You can even form Battle teams, facilitate Golden Archer voting for students who are not participating through their schools, or provide book trailer creation opportunities for the annual contest. For additional ideas on how public libraries can support these programs, see this helpful list compiled by WEMTA. As a school librarian, Battle and Golden Archer have helped build a strong culture of reading among my students and pushed them into genres they may not explore on their own. We have shared countless laughs, literary connections, and community building moments. Every year we look forward to celebrating with over 500 readers from across our district during our Battle of the Books field trip day that includes a Zoom session with one of the authors, Kahoot competitions, a take-home craft, lunch at the high school, and a friendly game of Pictionary. All students in grades 4-12 in our district are invited to be part of Battle, and those who say “yes” to the challenge are already winning regardless of the final test scores! 

Cheers,

Tiffani Roltgen

roltgent@verona.k12.wi.us

Books to help talk about school shootings

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash

This is one of those posts that we all wish we didn't need, but unfortunately, in the United States, this post is an important one. Book Riot has put together a short list of children's books to help adults talk with kids about school shootings.

You can find the list of Book Riot's suggested titles here.

In a list from Doing Good Together, the focus is on healing after tragedy. They found books that remind kids that, "they are not alone and that caring communities exist even in the wake of tragedy." 

View their list here.

Do you have any suggestions to add?

[Children's Books to Help Adults Talk about School Shootings with Kids. Winchester, K. April 27, 2026. bookriot.com.] https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5698499139166697976/8514595036616213124

[7 Children's Books to Encourage Healing After Gun Violence. Retrieved April 28, 2026. doinggoodtogether.org.] https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/bhf-book-lists/kids-books-to-encourage-healing-after-gun-violence

Wonderland Tea Party!

On a no school day, families at Middleton Public Library were treated to a Wonderland Tea Party! Over 60 people attended two sessions held back to back. The tea party included drinks, snacks, crafts, music, a photo backdrop, and more! We borrowed vintage tablecloths, oversized chess pieces, and some of our serving trays from local community members. Kids and adults alike had a blast!

Photo from Middleton Public Library

The best part might be the feedback we got from patrons who participated in this event. One said, "The library's tea party gave us an affordable way to dine out without the stress of the cost and a place to practice using manners with the help of all the staff." 

The library truly is one of the last places where people can just be, where they are invited to spend time without spending money. This was an excellent reminder of how important it is that libraries continue to be that space for people. We offer the opportunities to experience something new for our communities, and sometimes it's nice to be reminded of how important what we do is, even when it seems simple. 

Throw-It Thursday (Special Saturday edition): When Disaster Strikes

Ashley Borman, Technical Services Librarian at the Clintonville (WI) Public Library is back with her monthly column. This column typically runs on the third Thursday but this special edition is timely to many of the WI communities affected by the severe weather last week.

What does your library do when you endure a local disaster? Since last week, this has become a pertinent question for many libraries in my area. While my library is safe, many around us have been affected by recent flooding after numerous days of severe storms. Houses have been destroyed and material possessions have been lost.  The terrible thing about floods is that they are oftentimes not covered under renters’ or homeowners' insurance. According to the FEMA website, “flood insurance is a separate policy that can cover buildings, the contents in a building, or both” (https://www.fema.gov/flood-isurance). What does your library do when someone comes in and tells you they have lost everything, including the library items they had checked out?

This is the road I live on in Clintonville, WI. Monday night, April 13, it was under water by the river

The water finally receded on Wednesday (resulting damage photo taken Thursday, April 14th). 

If you have a policy in place for disasters (whether someone loses their house in a fire or flood or what-have-you), good for your library! If you don’t, what would you do? We have had patrons who have lost everything in house fires before. When this happens, usually their insurance will cover the cost of replacing materials. In the odd case where that didn’t work, we have waived the fees for those damaged materials. Since most people don’t have flood insurance, we will do the same for anything that is damaged beyond use due to the flooding our communities are currently facing, as well. Families typically have bigger worries than how to pay for their library materials after something so devastating, and we don’t want to cause them any more stress. We will eat a few hundred dollars' worth of materials if we must (just consider it another type of weeding!)

*If you are in an area that has been affected by the recent severe weather we have been seeing across the country, my thoughts are with you. Good luck on getting things fixed up and back to normal as quickly and safely as possible. ~Ashley

Tips and Info from DPI's April 23, 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 April 23, 2026 edition:

Weekly Resources & Reminders Hello All,  Check out these Youth Services Resources and Reminders!   Happy National Library Week!  View the Bureau of Libraries National Library Week announcement from Wisconsin State Librarian Ben Miller.  Wisconsin Science Festival: Science in a Bag  The Science in a Bag library application form is now open. This program provides free, take-home STEAM kits to libraries all across Wisconsin. Full of engaging, accessible activities that spark curiosity and creativity, these kits help bridge the bridge gaps in access to educational resources, support lifelong learning, and reinforce the library’s role as an inclusive community space where science and exploration are available to everyone. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2026. Quantities are limited, so apply soon!  America 250 Resources at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction  America 250 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and offers a meaningful opportunity for educators to explore our nation’s history, ideals, and ongoing story with students.  Although primarily for the classroom setting, the America 250 page provides resources and materials that public libraries may use for engaging with this historic milestone.   University of Kentucky Storytime Survey  Researchers at the University of Kentucky School of Information Science are inviting you to take part in an online survey exploring if, how, and why public library staff incorporate content such as books, songs, and other activities related to community, diversity, and belonging into their children’s storytimes.  They are interested in hearing from library staff who have experience with this type of children’s programming, as well as library staff who do not have experience with this type of children’s programming. The survey will take about 30 minutes to complete. If you agree to participate, please complete the survey at: https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ihWIS34KAMeQho  Jeni Schomber Public Library Consultant The DPI Bureau of Libraries does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events.  Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov

Foundations of Wisconsin Librarianship Workshop

Registration is now open for the Foundations of Wisconsin Librarianship: Essential Skills for Library Media Specialists and Public Library Staff Serving Youth workshop. 

Photo from dpi.wi.gov

This workshop is specifically structured to be most beneficial to public library staff newly (three years or less) serving youth in Wisconsin libraries and introduces essential skills, resources, and strategies for working in public libraries and collaborating with school libraries. Attendees will be joined by school library media specialists, with time set aside for each group to convene separately, focusing on their institutional role. The groups will also join together to begin networking and building relationships for future collaborations.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is hosting this workshop at Hotel Marshfield, in Marshfield, Wisconsin, from 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, through 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2026. There is no registration cost, and most meals will be provided. Attendees, or their library, will be responsible for mileage, two nights lodging, and one evening meal. Participants who successfully complete the full workshop will receive a $100 stipend. 

Space is limited to 25 public library attendees.

Tentative Topic Sessions:

• Resources Spotlight (collection development)
• Programming 101
• Early Literacy, Brain Development, and Storytime 101
• Compassion Resilience
• Building Community Based Summers
• BadgerLink for Public Libraries
• Games and Play Learning

Registration will close on Monday, May 4, 2026. Participants will be notified of their attendance status by May 11, 2026, and they will need to confirm their attendance by May 20, 2026.

Tips and Info from DPI's April 16, 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 April 16, 2026 edition:

 

Weekly Resources & Reminders

 

Hello All,  Check out these Youth Services Resources and Reminders!

National Games and Learning Project: Call for Participation  Are you passionate about games-based programs and collections in public libraries? Are you a motivated Wisconsin library staff member with experience offering games-based library services? If so, you can help us shape the future of Games-based Library Services nationwide! The National Games and Libraries Fellowship is seeking 5-6 enthusiastic Wisconsin public library staff members to participate in a yearlong fellowship. Visit the Call for Participation for more information and access to the application.  WiLS Ideas to Action Fund  The WiLS Ideas to Action Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 so member organizations can bring their project ideas to life. The Fund encourages partnerships and collaborations among WiLS members and with community partners, supports innovative and exploratory new work, and seeds the development of processes, methods, or resources that can be used by other WiLS members. Visit the WiLS Ideas to Action  page for more information. WLA Youth Services Section Midday Mingle: Collection Complications Join the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Youth Services Section (YSS) Midday Mingle on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. to talk about troubleshooting collection development at your library. You do not have to be a WLA or YSS member to participate. The Monday Mingle is open to all! Join using the Zoom link.   Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Social Media Toolkit  The CSLP 2026 Unearth a Story Social Media Toolkit is now available as part of the CSLP Manual. Template links to the Canva Social Medial Toolkit, along with ready-to-use PNG versions, when you login with your CSLP Manual Code. You can access all the images by downloading a ZIP file, or by individually saving images. Please check with your Library System Youth Services Consultant for the Manual access code.   Bluey Storytime Month  Celebrate Bluey Storytime Month this July with fun activities like book bingo, word match, word scramble, and more. Download your free activity kit and printable event poster now.   BadgerLink Bulletin Celebrate Earth Day with Britannica. Check out these Britannica resources, interactive media, and activities. View the Full Story.

Jeni Schomber Public Library Consultant The DPI Bureau of Libraries does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events.  Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov