YSS Chair’s Corner -October 2024

This October YSS board meeting update is from Cathy Pescinski, our YSS 2024 Chair and Teen Librarian at Shawano County Library

The snow may not be flying yet, but it is never too early to start getting ready for next summer with the 2024 Virtual Performer's Showcase. We have reached our maximum of 24 performers for the Virtual Performer’s Showcase! Woo-hoo!!! It is set for Tuesday, December 3rd!  Registration is now open! The first 20 participants to register will be entered into a drawing for a free registration! Registration is $20 for WLA members, $40 for non-members.   Registration closes November 25, 2024. 

The next YSS Presents webinar will be Thursday, November 14th from 3-4pm.  Islands of Brilliance is a Milwaukee-based non-profit that uses art and creative technologies to empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals and open pathways to employment and independence. The Fellowship is one of the newest programs from IOB, which focuses on transition-age participants in six mid and small-size cities across the state. In this webinar, three staff members will share insights about The Fellowship program design and implementation, as well as key insights about supporting and engaging neurodivergent youth and young adults within community spaces. Registration is currently open (https://wla.memberclicks.net/yss). It is free for WLA members and $25 for those who are not members.

Kate Davis from the Prairie Lakes Library System has joined our board as a Director at Large! We are so excited to welcome her and have her share her experiences and input with us.

WLA conference!!! Stop by the WLA booth in the vendor hall on Wednesday morning during breakfast or Wednesday afternoon from 4:15-5:30 to learn more about YSS and test out a few program ideas. Join us at the YSS author talk luncheon on Wednesday in Halls B & C. Pre-registration is required, so please contact WLA staff if you have registered for the conference already, but would like to attend the luncheon. Lastly, meet up with us and other youth service staff during YSS Breakfast Club on Friday. A few tables in the breakfast area will be marked for youth service staff to get together and meet some new friends, refresh some former connections, chat about serving youth, and have breakfast! Hope to see you at the conference!!!

From Jeni Schomber at DPI - The application for the 2025 BEBS Cohort opens Monday, November 11th. Watch for an official announcement through your regular communication channels (YSS Blog, WISPUBLIB, YS Listserv, etc…). (https://dpi.wi.gov/libraries/public-libraries/youth-services) I’m also presenting on this at the conference - Thursday, November 7th at 1:15 p.m.

Save the date - 2025 Teen Inclusive Internship informational webinar will be held on Friday, February 7th, 2025, at 10 a.m. Watch for registration information coming soon.

As a board, we have been having continuing discussions about the best ways to reach out to members and to help forge connections and share knowledge. We are open to suggestions from folks as to how best to do this. 

As always, we welcome your input, comments, questions, or concerns. Please don't hesitate to reach out to any of us on the board! We are here for you!

[Note: Want to read the February-September 2024 YSS board minutes? YSS members (after logging in) can access the 2024 YSS board minutes as well as previous years’ minutes at the YSS page of the Wisconsin Library Association website. Do you want to read the minutes but are not a YSS member? Please consider becoming a member by joining WLA so you can stay updated on all the YSS action.]