What's Up at WLA Conference Friday Oct 20?

WLA conference planners are UNSTOPPABLE. You must stay for Friday!!  Here's what's in store for youth programs!

8:45- 9:30 am

Connecting with Communities: Digital Marketing and Beyond!!!
Cole Zrostlik, River Falls Public Library

You know people love your library, but where are they when it's time to try your new maker program, meet a local author or attend your after-hours teen program? Harness the enthusiasm of your most loyal library users to attract a broader audience to your programs. Learn how to translate real-life community connections, data, and personal observations into a digital strategy that will engage patrons and save you time, energy and worry. Attendees will learn about writing with personas, short and simple survey data, free digital marketing tools, and to embracing and harnessing the connections of community partners to advocate for their libraries and advertise their programs.

Group Problem Solving with Evidence-Based Case Discussion
Leah Langby, Indianhead Federated Library System, Eau Claire; Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison; Sue Abrahamson, Waupaca Area Public Library

Birth to Three practitioners in Wisconsin developed Evidence-Based Case Discussions to help each other resolve complicated situations with the children and families they serve. The technique is extremely useful for helping untangle knotty library problems as well-it has been used successfully to help librarians feel empowered to address situations ranging from moving forward with a stalled early literacy area to staffing challenges to working with a demanding patron. We will demonstrate how this process works with a real library situation, and send participants home with the tools they will need to implement this powerful technique in their own libraries.

Serving Youth in Juvenile Justice Programs

René Bue, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville; Laurie Bartz, Hedberg Public Library, JanesvilleYouth who are incarcerated spend a lot of time in their cells with little to do. Learn how the program provided by Hedberg Public Library to the juveniles at the Rock County Youth Services Center not only provides entertainment but also an opportunity to learn and grow. You will receive information to take back with you so you can consider doing this type of program at one of the other centers close to your library.

9:40-10:25 am
Fear Not: Coding for the Rest of Us!
Andrea Stepanik, Brown County Library, Green Bay; Gillian Dawson, Brown County Library, Green Bay
Do you cringe at the thought of running coding programs for children and teens? Fear not! Learn how librarians at the Brown County Library have implemented coding events using tech-focused STEM Kits. From Code-a-pillars for toddlers to Coding Escape Rooms and Arduino microcontrollers for t(w)eens, we've got you covered! With options for every budget and ages 3-18, you'll leave inspired to start coding programs at your library!

Reach One Teach One

Ehryn Barthelm, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota; Sarah Joynt, Rochester, MN, Public Library
Join us for an interactive session about the reality of what teens and young adults are thinking about, dealing with and experiencing related to sexual health, sexuality, and gender expression. Learn about some best practices and resources for connecting with teens and providing them with important information about sensitive topics.

10:35-11:20 am

Authors on Authors: An Insider Look at Today's Middle Grade Fiction

Sally Pla, San Diego, CA; Lindsey Becker, Paddock Lake, WI; Darcy Miller, Prairie du Sac, WI
A survey of the latest in middle-grade coming-of-age literature, from the perspective of three debut middle-grade authors with Wisconsin roots. We'll talk about our personal writing journeys, about connecting with kids, and the special importance of libraries to middle graders.

Today is the last day for early bird registration. Don't delay!!