Tips and Info from DPI's March 12, 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 12, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services weekly resources and reminders!  2026 Programming and Activity Count Tracker  This workbook can be used to track programs and activities throughout the year, and prepare program, activity counts, attendance, and participation for Sections III and XIII of the Annual Report. Visit Wisconsin Public Library Annual Report for more information.  Summer Math Adventure Program The purpose of this Wisconsin Mathematics Council program is to bring fun, engaging mathematics related activities to students and families across Wisconsin. This year’s updated version includes all new activities for grades 6-8. All materials are free. If you are interested in receiving updates and the link to printable versions of the activities, please complete the 2026 WMC Summer Math Adventure Interest Form.   Promoting Your TeachingBooks Access at the Public Library  Wednesday, March 25, from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Make the most of your TeachingBooks access with tips and tricks for promoting the site to your library patrons. Explore resources that can be easily included in patron interactions and programs, increase staff awareness of time-saving tools, and bring reading to life in your community. Even if you can’t attend the live webinar, you can still register here to receive a recording of this session.  Job Posting: Project Coordinator Bureau of Libraries (DPI)  The Bureau of Libraries is seeking applicants for a Project Coordinator. This position is responsible for the coordination of complex projects and activities among staff of the Bureau of Libraries working with public library systems, Cooperative Educational Service Agencies, public and school libraries, vendors, and organizations representing external partners. For full details and how to apply, visit https://wj.wi.gov/20324  CSLP Theme and Slogan Wordsmithing Sessions  Do you adore wordsmithing words and phrases? Do you love word play? Staff from Wisconsin libraries are welcome to join the Theme & Slogan Committee for a deep dive into developing the short list of slogan options for 2029's Nature theme. Join us and share your thoughts.  We're offering two 90 minute Zoom sessions to try and get input from as many libraries as possible:  Register for Tuesday, March 24 at 1pm PST/2pm MST/3pm CST/4pm EST  Register for Wednesday, April 8 at 10am PST/11 am MST/12pm CST/1pm EST    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

Your Voice, Our Community: Write for the YSS Blog!

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 brilliant 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!

Register for WAPL!

You’re invited to join us at the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Annual Conference at the Osthoff Resort from April 27 - April 29, 2026! This year’s conference theme is "Library As A Test Kitchen". Registration is now open - be sure to sign up by March 23 to take advantage of early bird rates! This year's conference features: Choose from 36 dynamic breakout sessions! Featuring a networking reception with hors d' oeuvres and a cash bar, Pizza Making Cooking Class, At the Movies with Librarians*, and Friday Afternoon Tea and Library Tour at the Elkhart Lake Civic Center. Opportunities to network with your library colleagues. Expert keynote speakers including past WLA President Kris Turner, Bobbi Newman, Debby Waldman and Lindsay Starck. Invest in your professional development and bring valuable information back to your library. To learn more and register, visit the conference webpage.  *WLA would like to thank the sponsor for the At the Movies with Librarians Session!

                    

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay

 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. 

Hedberg Public Library is seeking an enthusiastic Youth Services Associate who enjoys working with children and families. Under the general direction of the Head of Youth Services, this position provides welcoming, high-quality service to library visitors and helps create engaging programs that support early literacy and lifelong learning.

Schedule: 29 hours per week, including daytime, evening, and Saturday hours.

What You’ll Do

• Provide friendly and knowledgeable service at the Children’s Desk, assisting with circulation, readers’ advisory, reference questions, and general library use.
• Plan and present early literacy Storytimes and other programs for children (birth to age 11) and their families.
• Support and help implement the Summer Library Program.
• Conduct outreach visits and tours at the library and in the community, including schools, daycares, camps, and Bookmobile events.
• Assist with departmental projects such as collection development, scheduling, reports, statistics, and coordinating in-room activities.
• Collaborate with library staff, community partners, and the public to support youth services initiatives.
• Follow library safety procedures and assist with special projects as assigned.

Who You’ll Work With
Reports to the Head of Youth Services and works regularly with library staff, City employees, community groups, local businesses, and the general public.

Ideal Candidate

• Enjoys working with children, families, and diverse community members.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Comfortable presenting programs and engaging with groups.
• Organized and able to manage multiple responsibilities in a busy environment.

If you are passionate about libraries, early literacy, and community engagement, we encourage you to apply. Please see: 

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/janesvillewi/jobs/5244311/youth-services-associate

Tips and Info from DPI's March 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 March 5, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services weekly resources and reminders!  CSLP Theme and Slogan Wordsmithing Sessions  Do you adore wordsmithing words and phrases? Do you love word play? Staff from Wisconsin libraries are welcome to join the Theme & Slogan Committee for a deep dive into developing the short list of slogan options for 2029's Nature theme. Join us and share your thoughts.  We're offering two Zoom sessions to try and get input from as many libraries as possible:  Register for Tuesday, March 24 at 1pm PST/2pm MST/3pm CST/4pm EST  Register for Wednesday, April 8 at 10am PST/11 am MST/12pm CST/1pm EST   CLEL Bell Awards  The CLEL Bell Awards recognize the top book in each early literacy practice category: READ, WRITE, TALK, SING, and PLAY. Winners are the top in each category from the final shortlist. The award-winning titles for 2026 are:  READ Winner: Let's Be Bees by Shawn Harris  WRITE Winner: Don't Draw in this Book by Bill Cotter  TALK Winner: I Can Say Moo! by Stephanie Cohen, illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott  SING Winner: Abuelita’s Song by Gloria Amescua, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman  PLAY Winner: Catch! By Trish Cooke, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max  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

Explore all PBS Wisconsin Education has to offer!

Did you know PBS Wisconsin Education has a digital newsletter? Stay up to date on all the resources they offer and see what ideas you can incorporate into your programming!

This is their most recent edition:

Infuse More Perspectives Dear educators, When you include diverse historical perspectives in what you're teaching, you open students' minds to new ideas and help them connect learning to their lives. Enrich your curriculum with standards-aligned resources like:  A new episode of The Look Back on Indigenous copperworking traditions A lesson about the experiences of Black patriots during the Revolutionary War Activities to explore the impacts of historical Black Americans Then, celebrate Wisconsin students competing in the Madison Symphony Orchestra's Bolz Young Artist Competition. Finally, don't forget to register for the America at 250 Educator Summit. Spaces are filling up! Happy exploring!   Your partner in education, Tawny Morrison, Education Marketing Specialist     Indigenous copper The western Great Lakes are home to one of the world's oldest copperworking traditions! Join Taylor and Kacie as they learn from experts around the state about why copper was used starting thousands of years ago and what it can tell us about the lifestyles and traditions of the area's cultures. (Grades 4-9)     Black Americans and the Patriot cause Explore the life and legacy of James Forten to better understand why he (and other Black Americans) chose to support the Patriot cause during the American Revolution with this lesson and media clips from Ken Burns in the Classroom. (Grades 6-12)     Learn about Black leaders Introduce learners to historical figures like Zora Neale Hurston and James Washington Carver with this collection of mini biographies and activities from Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. Available in English and Spanish. (Grades 1-2)     Wisconsin-made music Watch four musicians perform with the Madison Symphony Orchestra in Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte at 7 p.m. March 17 on PBS Wisconsin. Then, bring the spirit of the symphony to your classroom with performances from musicians like SistaStrings in Re/Sound: Songs of Wisconsin. (Grades 4-8)     Behind the scenes with PBS Wisconsin Education Garden & Green Living Expo Producer Kylie Compe and Executive Producer Ryan Hendricks joined Field Notes on Climate host Ami Eckard-Lee and entomology professors Claudio Gratton and James Crall at the PBS Wisconsin Garden and Green Living Expo to share a sneak peek of the new series and share tips for making pollinator-friendly spaces at home.         Visit Our Events Page   Subscribe to This Newsletter   PBS Wisconsin Education creates and curates free-to-use, standards-aligned, Wisconsin-focused educational media for grades PreK-12, including videos, games, interactive content, and educator guides.