Imagination Library

By now we've all seen the news about Dolly Parton's passing. One of her greatest legacies is the work she did to create Dolly Parton's Imagination Library  Kids around the United States have benefited by receiving a free book monthly from birth to age 5. 

The Winding Rivers Library System is brining this incredible program to their families starting in January. In an article for Wisconsin Public Radio Jessica Schoonover states, "There are kids who aren't coming to the public library. Their parents might not be able to bring them, their schedules might be difficult to get to a library, whatever the situation is. And we don't want any child to be left behind." 

Imagination Library is already available in Dane, Sauk and Washington counties in Wisconsin. 

Learn more about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library here, and read the full WPR article here.

[Libraries bring Dolly Parton's free book program to western Wisconsin. Kirwan, H. August 31, 2026. Wisconsin Public Radio. wpr.org]

We need you! Yes, you! 2027 WLA Leadership Nominations are open

Dear WLA Members,

Nominations are still open for 2027 WLA leadership positions! Thinking, “I don’t have enough experience,” “I’m too new to WLA,” or “I don’t have time for a huge commitment”? Consider those myths busted. WLA needs members at all career stages and with all kinds of leadership styles. Most roles are designed to be manageable alongside your day job—and you won’t be doing it alone. And one more myth worth busting: you don’t need someone else to nominate you. In fact, most candidates self-nominate! There are opportunities across the WLA Board, WAPL, WAAL, WLA units, committees, and special interest groups. Nominate yourself—or a colleague who would be great—by September 18.  Check out the available roles below  for more information. If you’re curious about a role, reach out. We’d love to get you involved! Best, Kara       Submit a nomination by September 18.

Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) Cohort Applications Open Soon!

Save the Date!   Application Period for the statewide Fall 2026 Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) Cohort Opens Monday, August 17, 2026.  Applications open next week for participating in the statewide cohort facilitated by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Bureau of Libraries for the Fall 2026 Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS).   Seven public libraries will have the opportunity to participate in Wisconsin’s BCBS Cohort.  BCBS participants will actively engage in challenging conversations, reflection, and activities with facilitators and each other to consider transformational concepts that view summer programs and services through a community-based lens. The BCBS learning framework will empower library staff who want to engage community voices and provide summer services and programming to all by equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to co-create accessible services and promote involvement across communities served by their library.   BCBS does not focus on specific summer programs and how to implement them. Rather, this systemic approach asks libraries to consider the ways that policies, staffing, budgets, and other tasks impact their ability to build community-based practices. Participants will engage in deep work to identify the “whys” behind their summer services, examine and reimagine traditions, connect and build relationships in their communities, and measure the impact of their services.    Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members. Libraries are encouraged to have staff from various departments and can include Youth Services, Adult Services, Programming, Outreach, or administrative staff.  Participation in the BCBS cohort will require participants to:  Attend six online 90-minute interactive discussions on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. beginning October 13 through November 17, 2026.  Complete the one-hour online WebJunction “Getting Started with Community-Based Summers” course before October 13, 2026. Participants will need to create a free account to access this course.   Work within your library and community to begin to consider and assess your existing summer programs and services through a community-based approach.  This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applications will be selected. In building a diverse cohort, the selection process is looking for representation of all library and community sizes, various geographic areas, and demographic community compositions. Applicants will be notified of selection status by Friday, September 11, 2026.  Please contact Jeni Schomber (jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) or Kelly Wochinske (KLWochi@milwaukee.gov) with any questions.

Tips and Info from DPI's August 7, 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 August 7, 2026 edition:

 

 

Weekly Resources & Reminders

 

Hello All,  The following content is shared as provided by the organization. The DPI Bureau of Libraries does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events.

Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Theme and Slogan Listening Sessions - Save the Date!  Join CSLP and provide feedback to help determine the 2029 Slogan and 2030 Theme. Two interactive listening sessions will be held in August. Registration is not required, and you can attend one or both sessions.   Listening Session Option #1  Thursday, August 13 at 12pm   Join us on Zoom - no need to register  Listening Session Option #2  Tuesday, August 18 at 3pm   Join us on Zoom - no need to register

News Access and Media Literacy in Public Libraries: A FREE Public Library Association (PLA) Webinar  Join the Public Library Association on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 1 p.m. for a free webinar exploring findings from News Access and Media Literacy in Public Libraries, a new national report sponsored by PressReader. Hear key insights from the research and discover practical strategies public libraries are using to strengthen news access and media literacy in their communities.  Download the report and register for the webinar.

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.  Why join?  EXPLORE ready-to-use, research-backed educational multimedia resources.  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.  Apply by September 1, 2026 - spots are limited! Invitation to apply.

 

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

Free Anti-Bullying Programming

If you're looking for anti-bullying programming you might be interested in this email from a young woman working on her Girl Scouts Gold Award.

Hello!

Photo by Road Ahead on Unsplash

My name is Caitilyn and I've recently graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids. I'm a second year Ambassador Girl Scout (which is the final level of Girl Scouts) and I'm currently working on my Gold Award for Girl Scouts. 

Some background, the Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout in the United States can earn while still in Girl Scouts. She has to complete the Bronze and/or Silver Awards in order to even do their Gold Award and she has to do it during the last two years of high school when she's an Ambassador Girl Scout. Only about 5% of girls stay in Girl Scouts and of that 5% only 6% of those girls complete the Gold Award. 

My Gold Award is an anti-bullying program called Be a Buddy, Not a Bully. Its main goal is to reduce bullying through parent education and prevention/intervention to make a greater impact. It teaches how to tell if your child is being bullied or is a bully, how to talk to your child if they're being bullied or are being a bully and how to help your child if they're being bullied or being a bully along with 4 strategies of how to prevent your child from bullying others. 

In order for my Gold Award to work I need to make it so it can continue on without me being in charge. We're hoping that through sharing with other libraries that they'll connect to me and I can find someone in that area to take it to their library and teach it using the information I have but with their stories and experiences. If you're in the cities/area around Wisconsin Rapids I'm very willing to come by and do a couple programs throughout the day at your library as long as you promote for me so I can have some people come participate! If you don't think you'll get enough people to participate in the in-person program that's fine! I have a youtube channel called Be a Buddy, Not a Bully and it's completely set up with all the information that I teach right now!

If you'd like to reach out to find out more about the program you can reach me at official.beabuddy.notabully@gmail.com! Thank you for your time!

Kind regards,

Caitilyn S.  

Back to School

Tiffani Roltgen brings a fresh perspective to the YSS Blog. With blogs from the school library side of things in Verona, WI, we are always excited to hear from Tiffani!

Dear Youth Librarians,

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. I love my local public library and am thrilled to share some suggestions to help build partnerships between schools and libraries.  

Back to School season brings with it a variety of emotions. Here are some simple and engaging ways to help families with the transition. 

• Set up a Back to School paper chain countdown craft station. Support math and fine motor skills with a simple passive activity that allows students and families to create a way to count down the days until school begins.

Photo by Tiffani Roltgen

• Display Back to School books featuring a wide variety of characters and families. Include titles about the range of feelings students may experience from excitement and anticipation to nervousness and sadness that summer is coming to an end. Be sure to include Your Name is a Song, The Magical Yet, First Day Around the World, The Proudest Blue, and The Day You Begin.

• Create an interactive “Summer Memories” board where students and families can post their favorite activities and stories from the summer months. This will jump start those narrative writing skills and help mark and celebrate the transition from summer to school.

• Offer helpful handouts for caregivers such as information about ways to ease the school transition, how to adjust bedtimes, or laminated morning routine or backpack checklists for families to post and use during busy mornings. Consider hosting a freezer meals or lunchbox workshop to inspire quick and creative nutrition.

• Don’t forget the teachers and staff! Help reacquaint them with public library resources including classroom library cards that allow them to check out materials without worries about charges for lost items, time saving services like placing holds on multiple copies of a book, field trip opportunities, or kits that support classroom activities such as science or mindfulness. 

Photo by Krista Brinkmeier Photography

But until that first bell, enjoy these last days of summer sun! 

Tiffani Roltgen

roltgent@verona.k12.wi.us

Jim Gill Workshop is almost here!

Musical Play is Learning Play with Jim Gill: A Professional Development Workshop - Fri. Aug. 14th 1-4pm

Attention Youth Services Librarians!  

Photo provided by Jim Gill

On Friday, August 14^th from 1:00-4:00pm, Jim Gill is offering a professional development workshop tailored for librarians and early childhood educators at the Oak Creek Public Library in Oak Creek, WI. Registration is required to secure your spot for this event. This workshop is free for participants.

Register now: https://events.getlocalhop.com/music-play-is-learning-play-with-jim-gill-professional-development-workshop-for-early-childhood-educators-and-librarians/event/mp0upT1Ace/

A free family concert will follow in the evening on Friday, August 14^th at 6:30pm. No registration required.

Other events to enjoy while in town include:

Oak Creek Kids Night in Drexel Town Square (Also Jim Gill concert venue, food trucks will be available!)
Friday, August 14^th, 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
https://www.oakcreekwi.gov/visitor/events/kids-nights

Oak Creek Farmers Market
Saturday, August 15^th, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
https://www.oakcreekwi.gov/visitor/events/farmers-market

For more information, visit https://www.oakcreekwi.gov/visitor 

All these events are sponsored by Visit Oak Creek.

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.