PBS Wisconsin Library Cohort accepting applications

Photo from PBS Kids

 

Join the PBS Wisconsin Library Cohort

The PBS Wisconsin Library Cohort blends professional development, hands-on learning, collaboration, and program implementation into one engaging series for Wisconsin public library and school library staff. 

Apply by September 1, 2026 - spots are limited!

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Why join?

• EXPLORE ready-to-use, research-backed educational multimedia resources that:

• Celebrate the process of learning and a love of reading.

• Support early literacy, social-emotional learning, problem solving,
  and local learning connections.

• BUILD media literacy skills for infusing resources that support children in learning how to think, rather than what to think.

• CULTIVATE relationships with colleagues across Wisconsin and beyond.

“This cohort is a wealth of information – the different points of views and programming ideas were so wonderful. PBS is an amazing resource.” 

– Past cohort member

What’s required?

• ATTEND:

• One in-person workshop at the Fitchburg Public Library on Monday, Sept. 28, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

• Three 90-minute virtual workshops (October 12, November 2, November 16) to explore resources and connect with library colleagues.

• A virtual celebration (December 7) where we get to learn about each cohort member’s awesome programs!

• PLAN and IMPLEMENT at least one youth-focused program that incorporates PBS resources.  (See previous playshops from La Crosse or Richland Center.)

• COLLECT DATA on program impact, such as number of attendees, photos and testimonials.

• SHARE your thoughts, feedback, and cohort activities via short surveys.

Interested in the Cohort?

Complete the application form by September 1, 2026.
Staff from libraries that have participated in the past are welcome to apply. 

All applicants will be contacted by September 7, 2026. 

Cohort members will be eligible to receive a $150 stipend for participating.

We strive to serve all areas of our state. Rural libraries and libraries that serve diverse communities are encouraged to apply. If there are any accommodations you need to be able to participate, please let us know.

Contact Jami Hoekstra Collins, PBS Wisconsin Education Engagement Specialist, with any questions at jami.hoekstra@pbswisconsin.org.

Tips and Info from DPI's July 30, 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 July 30, 2026 edition:

Weekly Resources & Reminders

Hello All,

Wisconsin's Early Learning and Development Guidelines Revision Project  In partnership with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Department of Health Services (DHS), the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is updating the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS). The reason for this revision project is to incorporate:  User feedback  New research in the field Promising innovations from other states  A complete draft of the updated Wisconsin Early Learning and Development Guidelines is now available for public review!

The following content is shared as provided by the organization. The DPI Bureau of Libraries does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events.   Talking Teen Services: Preparing Teens for College Through Academic Library Collaboration - Registration Open Now!   Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 12 p.m. Have you ever wondered how you could encourage the young people you see in your library everyday to understand the value of using academic libraries at their future college campuses? Come explore today's academic libraries for yourself and begin considering how you could help build this bridge for high schoolers in your community whether or not there's a community college or university campus in your town.  Participants will learn about what a visit to an academic library can look like for high schoolers, how to talk about why academic library visits are useful, and program ideas for preparing teens for college. Sponsored by the Colorado State Library and presented by Caitlin Cooke, Teaching and Learning Librarian at Auraria Library.

We Love Libraries! Booklist  In celebration of the American Library Association's 150th anniversary, the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) has compiled the We Love Libraries! Booklist, featuring books about books, reading and libraries. The list is free to download and share, and includes recommended titles for ages birth to 18.

Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter    Check out the latest Collaborative Summer Library Program newsletter full of great information and resources, including the Summer Reading Annual Survey, Building Community Based Summers (BCBS) National Cohort announcement, Theme and Slogan Listening Sessions, and more!

Jeni Schomber Public Library Consultant Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov

Rage Against the Room

From the article on TLT

Embrace all the feelings and channel teen angst with a DIY Rage Room! Cindy Shutts welcomes Faith Healy onto the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog to lay out a program plan along with feedback on how each station was received.

According to Healy the idea came up "while having a conversation with a co-worker, Sol Perez,  about mental health, we were brainstorming ways to do a program that would help teens as well as get them to want to come. We struggled to find an idea that would balance education with fun enough that teens would actually come.  Randomly she threw out a rage room and we both looked at each other and said that is it."

Read the full article here.

Seems like a great way to utilize supplies many of us have lingering in our work areas and let teens relieve some stress! I could see this type of program going over really well during or after finals. What do you think? Would you offer a Rage Room at your Library or have you already? How'd it go?

[Cindy Crushes Programming: How to turn a conversation about Mental Health into a fun program aka How to do a Teen Rage Room. Shutts, Cindy. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. July 2, 2026. https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/02/cindy-crushes-programming-how-to-turn-a-conversation-about-mental-health-into-a-fun-program-aka-how-to-do-a-teen-rage-room/]

New WLAF Conference Scholarship Program

Are you a member of WLA? If so, read on for an exciting new scholarship opportunity!

New Conference Scholarship Program Now Available

Deadline to Apply: August 21

Dear WLA Members, The Wisconsin Library Association Foundation (WLAF) is excited to announce a new and expanded Conference Scholarship Program designed to help more members access valuable professional development opportunities. This year, we are launching a new scholarship application process for the 2026 WLA Annual Conference. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, five scholarships of up to $500 each will be awarded to WLA members to help cover conference registration. The goal of the scholarship program is to reduce financial barriers to participation, encourage first-time attendees and those with limited employer support, and strengthen the diversity and vitality of Wisconsin's library community. Who Can Apply? Applications are open to all current WLA members. Applicants will be asked to submit a brief application describing: Why they would like to attend the conference How attending will benefit their professional growth Any financial barriers they face Preference will be given to staff from small, rural, or special libraries,  first-time attendees, individuals with financial need, students, early-career library workers, new graduates, and others who may have limited access to professional development opportunities. Scholarships will be awarded as conference registration vouchers and may be used toward conference registration fees. They do not cover travel, lodging, preconference workshops, membership dues, or ticketed special events. This year's scholarships are available only for the WLA Annual Conference on October 20-23 at the Marriott Madison West. Beginning in 2027, we plan to expand the program so members may apply for scholarships to attend other WLA conferences and institutes, including WAPL, WAAL, AWSL, and other eligible WLA events. The number and amount of scholarships awarded each year will depend on the success of the Foundation's fundraising efforts. We're pleased to offer five $500 scholarships this year and look forward to growing this program as support allows. Timeline: Applications open: July 23 Applications close: August 21 Scholarship Committee review: August 24–September 4 Applicants notified: the week of September 7 If attending the WLA Annual Conference has been out of reach financially, we encourage you to apply. We hope this program makes it easier for more members to connect, learn, and engage with colleagues from across Wisconsin. How to Apply:  Follow the link to apply: https://forms.gle/uLrnjW7nxBB8d8PN8 We encourage interested members to apply by August 21 using the link above.  We look forward to seeing many new faces at this year's conference! Best, Kara Sullivan Executive Director Wisconsin Library Association

Free Teacher Admission at Old World Wisconsin

Photo from oldworldwisconsin.org

Looking for a fun summer adventure? Try out Old World Wisconsin. Teachers! Look for free admission on July 31st!

Enjoy a day of history inspiration at Old World Wisconsin! Bring your teacher ID on July 31 for free admission to explore the living history site, discover classroom resources, and scout out field trip possibilities.

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

 Greenfield Public Library in Greenfield, WI seeks a full-time Children's Librarian

Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay

The Greenfield Public Library in Greenfield, WI, is seeking a full-time Children’s Librarian. The Children’s Librarian reports to the Youth Services Manager and is responsible for providing library services to children and families in and outside of the library.  This position provides excellent customer service to library patrons, assists patrons and staff in meeting their reference and information needs, plans and conducts programs with a focus on children and their caregivers, promotes youth services to the community, manages assigned library collections, participates in the day-to-day operation of the library and administers other library services as assigned.   

The City of Greenfield is nearly 12 square miles with over 37,000 people. It has two fire stations, an active community center, a popular Sunday Farmer’s Market, 14 city parks, and five county parks.  With five aldermanic districts and a full-time mayor, the boundaries of the City include three school districts:  Greenfield, West Allis/West Milwaukee, and Whitnall.  Greenfield is proud to be the Home of the Knockout Rose.

Please review the full job description for the Children’s Librarian position.

School Library Journal Teen Live!

Photo from SLJ.com

Thursday, August 20th is the 15th annual SLJTeen Live! virtual event! Come hear about the latest and most exciting forthcoming titles for teens and tweens. From rom-coms and mysteries to graphic novels and classic coming-of-age stories, our daylong program of author panels, in-depth conversations, and keynote talks will keep you inspired and entertained.

You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the virtual exhibit hall to meet with leading publishers, and download digital galleys and other free resources.

Register for this free virtual event here.

Play Make Learn Conference next week!

 There is still time to register for next week's Play Make Learn Conference taking place in Madison, WI. 

Photo by Quilia on Unsplash

Register for Play Make Learn 2026 TODAY!

Don't miss your chance to be a part of the conference; Play Make Learn has historically sold out each year. Come to Madison to Play, Make, and Learn alongside inspiring peers!

Calling all librarians, teachers, makers, designers, and more!!

Can you believe we are only a week away from the 2026 Play Make Learn Conference? The countdown has officially begun for registered folks to convene on July 9–10 at the Memorial Union in Madison, Wisconsin for a fantastic learning and networking experience. Whether you are coming to share, create, or discover, the energy of this community is something you won't want to miss!

To help you map out your experience, we have two updates for you today: The Full Session Schedule is officially live -- and we are introducing a brand new networking experience (more below). From hands-on workshops to groundbreaking presentations, this year's lineup is packed with inspiration. Take a look at some of our featured highlights:

• July 8 (Pre-Conference): Dive deep early with special sessions like CONTRACKED: Collaborative Complex Playful Learning through Noise and the STEAM and Making MiniCon.
  
  
• July 9: Kick off day one with an inspiring keynote by Brenda Baker (Co-CEO, Madison Children's Museum). After that, the schedule bursts open with interactive sessions: preview PBS Wisconsin's newest history video game project, discover how to blend tabletop RPGs with ePortfolios in the Questfolios workshop, or explore Teaching and Designing through the Fluxus Lens inspired by Yoko Ono. Don't forget to explore the interactive Arcade to level up your PML experience with community creatives, and wrap up day one with the Poster Reception.
  
  
• July 10: Start day two with an illuminating keynote from Camilla Zamboni (Wesleyan University). Dive back into more dynamic workshops and presentations exploring the intersections of play, design, and education, and make sure to explore more of the Arcade before we gather one last time for our community Closing Session.

View the Full Session Schedule Here

4th of July parade opportunity

 

If you're still looking for something to do this 4th of July, the Lone Rock Community Library is looking for people to march with them! 

Lone Rock Community Library is working to assemble a large group of libraries to march in the Lone Rock 4th of July Parade! Libraries may choose to collaborate on purchasing items to hand out along the route. Please contact Troy Rinehart for more information.

Accessibility in Children's Books

Photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash

"Accessibility in children's books is really about design. When text and images are presented clearly, readers can engage with the story instead of having to work to make sense of the page." This quote from educator Natalie Holdren highlights the difference that small adjustments in design can make for children with special needs and disabilities. 

For years, accessibility meant different books for children with special needs, but in an article for Publishers Weekly, Dianne Bright highlights the importance of access to the same books for every child. "When children with special educational needs and disabilities can engage with the same texts as their peers, it creates shared experiences and opportunities for connection," Holdren states. 

There are simple things that editors can do to make books accessible to all including, accessible fonts, uniform spacing, high contrast between text and artwork, and clear layouts. 

Read the full article, and find some great examples of this work in action here.

[Bright, D. The Importance of Accessibility Editing in Picture Books. May 14, 2026. Publishers Weekly.]

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/100407-the-importance-of-accessibility-editing-in-children-s-picture-books.html?oly_enc_id=9241D5865112C4T