March is a month of expectation, the time when we begin to plan projects that will carry us through the year. I have high hopes for what we can accomplish as a board in 2023, and that we will find ways of bringing more voices together in celebration of our accomplishments and in conversation for how we can move forward as a community.
One hope we have for 2023, is that we will amplify our YS voice within the larger WLA community. We encourage you to apply for a position on a WLA section committee. By having YS representation on WLA Sections like WISL, TSS, SSCS, we can assure that concerns unique to youth services are discussed and considered at the State level. A few of these sections are still in need of leadership, so if you are inspired to do so, inquire with WLA Executive Director, Laura Sauser. And if not this year, there is always opportunity in the future!
Another opportunity to get more involved is to simply become a WLA member- or renew your membership if you haven't already this year. As a WLA member, you have free access to the WLA Presents webinars, so please consider joining or renewing your membership this year. Throughout the year, YSS plans a few of the webinars as a way to showcase amazing projects and learn from one another. This Spring, we have an exciting line-up that focuses on teen services, and by becoming a WLA member, you are given free access to these webinars. You also get reduced registration to the WAPL conference coming up in April - there is no better time like the present to take advantage of these benefits and become a member!
And one more way we hope to hear from you, is by inviting you to inspire others by sharing a few of your most successful programming ideas. I’ll be the first to admit, I dig around the internet for programming ideas, and I'm sure many of you do too! I appreciate the extra effort that some put in to write up a how-to that includes booklists, project ideas, and logistics. If you are proud of a recent program and have a good plan you can present to others to help them get something similar off the ground at their library, we'd love for you to share. Connect with the YSS Shout Out Blog and make a submission.
And lastly, we want to invite you to join the conversation between DPI, public librarians and school librarians, and attend the next Connecting Wisconsin Libraries meeting on April 26th at noon. Reach out to Jeni Schomber (jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) for the meeting link. If you are at all curious on how you can support your school librarians, want to know more about projects happening that connect the two worlds, or if your library has something amazing that can serve as inspiration, this is the group for you.
We are better together- let your voice be heard and roar like a March lion in support of Youth Services!
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