Chair's Corner - WLA 2023 Annual YSS Business Meeting Updates

This year's WLA Conference YSS business meeting update is from Alison Loewen, our YSS 2023 Chair and Youth Services Librarian, Mead Public Library, Sheboygan

The YSS annual business meeting was held at 7:30am, as part of the WLA conference.  Technically, my brain doesn’t fully connect to my body until around 9am, but with the right combination of sugar and caffeine from our breakfast of french toast and coffee, we made it through a full agenda.  After a quick reflection on conference booth timing and setup, the delightful Ebony LaDelle luncheon, the successful social at CCBC, and how we might adjust things for future WLA conferences, we dug into resources and opportunities for the rest of 2023.  

The board was reminded by Jeni at DPI, that the SEAL kits are not just for eclipses, but to explore solar science in general which can be done at anytime of year.  Also, you will be receiving the CSLP code from your YS Consultants, so look forward to that!  If this is the first time you are hearing some of this information, Jeni suggested joining the DPI YS listserve to stay up to date with happenings around the state.  You can do that here

Marge Loch-Wouters invited new voices to contribute content to the YSS Shout Out Blog- especially posts that share programming ideas for school age kids.    The blog just hit 1 million views, so it is a great time to get involved.  Check it out!

Registration for our next YSS webinar “Connecting 1, 2, 3 to A, B, C: exploring early math and its implications for emergent literacy in young child programming” is LIVE and you can get signed up here.  This one is not to be missed! Two amazing educators will share insight into how early math supports early literacy and how you can make the most of that in your storytimes and other programming for young children. And a reminder to register for the Virtual Performers Showcase scheduled for December 8th!  The first 20 people who register will be entered into a drawing for free registration (WLA will refund you), so now is a great time to get signed up.

Lastly, an important update from WLA regarding board minutes.  WLA has changed their policies, and our minutes will now only be available to WLA members.  If you enjoyed reading those and keeping up to date in that way, I encourage you to become a member.  Not only will you gain access to the board minutes, but there are deep discounts on our webinar series and the Performers Showcase, and you get to vote in the upcoming board election.  There is no better time to join.  Find out more here!