Service Learning at the Library

Did you know today is National Make a Difference Day? Now you do! Check out this article from Tiffani Roltgen with suggestions and actionable ways you can make a difference! 

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. Over the years, my K-5 students have been involved in a wide variety of community service projects. Not only do students practice planning, leadership, writing, and creativity skills, they also build community connections and see themselves making a difference in the world. Public libraries can join the fun by providing these free/low-cost opportunities for their patrons. Here are some ideas and inspiration to help facilitate service learning at the library!

STEP 1: IDENTIFY a need or problem to solve and connect with community partners to ensure the project is making a difference and adding value. These organizations below are often in need of support:

• Badger Honor Flight - write letters of thanks and safe travels to veterans

• Letters Against Isolation - write letters to lonely elders

• Ronald McDonald House Pop Tabs - provide containers for collection at the library and get patrons involved with tracking, weighing, and counting

• Acts of Kindness Boards/Walls - decorate your library’s walls or windows with acts of kindness 

• Senior Center Decorations - passive seasonally-themed craft station with a purpose

• Centerpieces/Placemats for Community Meals - passive upcycling craft station with a purpose

• Earth Day Bags - share an environmental message on paper bags provided by local grocery stores or decorate reusable cloth bags 

• Acrostic Poems - show gratitude and honor educators or others with these creative works of poetry

STEP 2: ORGANIZE your project to align with a national celebration day such as: 

• Make a Difference Day - Fourth Saturday in October

• National Day of Community Service - November 4

• National Random Acts of Kindness Day - February 17

• National Volunteer Week - Third week of April

• Earth Day - April 22

• National Day of Gratitude - August 20

Pair with favorite read alouds or display books about kindness such as A Flood of Kindness by Ellen Leventhal; Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott; and When We are Kind by Monique Gray Smith. 

STEP 3: SECURE funding if needed. Be sure to look into Thrivent Action Grants. Members who have 1 or more Thrivent products are eligible for these $250 grants every year. They are a great way to kickstart small projects, and the application takes only a few minutes to complete. Costco and Walmart also have short mini grant applications that can be submitted at your local store. 

STEP 4: SHARE your impact on social media, on your library website, and in the library. Ask patrons what ideas they have for service learning. Watch your acts of kindness ripple throughout the community! 

If you have successfully implemented other service learning projects in the library, please email me your suggestions. They may be featured in a “Service Learning in the Library: Hands On, Hearts On” presentation proposal for the upcoming WEMTA Conference. 

Yours in service,

Tiffani Roltgen

roltgent@verona.k12.wi.us

Photo Credit:   

Krista Brinkmeier Photography

The Vault: Unlocking the Best Ideas in Teen Programming

YSS is thrilled to announce the launch of The Vault, a bank of ideas for teen programs, displays, passive activities, and more! To access The Vault you must be a WLA member and register at https://yssvault.proboards.com - using the same email as you WLA membership.

Here are some peaks at the teen programs you can find in The Vault:

• Airbrushed Totes
• Galaxy Magnets
• Candy Bar Bingo
• DIY Ice Cream
• Shrinky Dinks
• Taste Tests
• Junk Journaling
• and more

All threads include the information you need to recreate the programs at your Library! We include descriptions, level of staff involvement/prep, supplies needed, and links to instructions. There's also usually contact info for the person who submitted the program if you have further questions.

You can also share what programs were homeruns for you and contribute to The Vault by filling out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/itsMPWrDFJMWQfYi6. 

Open The Vault today!

Go Brewers!

Photo from Katie Ganser

Wake up, Wisconsin! The Brewers are going to the World Series! Kids have already started asking for more baseball books, so here are a few of my favorites to get them started!

Fiction:

Ballpark Mystery Series by David A. Kelly features not one, but TWO books about the Milwaukee Brewers The Bobblehead Bunt and The Sausage Race Chase

Inside the Park by Andrea Williams is a fun story about a kid who gets locked in a baseball stadium.

The Grip by Marcus Stroman is the first in a series written by Stroman, a professional pitcher himself. 

Warrior on the Mound by Sandra Headen is a historical fiction set in 1930s North Carolina.

Tryouts by Sarah Sax is a graphic novel about a young girl who wants to play baseball on the all boys team.

Nonfiction:

Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorrell about two Native American baseball players facing off in the World Series.

Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball's Negro Leagues by Leah Henderson about the life of Mamie Johnson and her road to the Negro Leagues. 

Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie Alonso, a book about baseball legend Roberto Clemente.

You can find more suggestions on the following websites:

Brightly

Greenwich Library

Catcher with a Heart

Go Brewers! 

Tips and Info from DPI's October 16, 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 October 16, 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) Announcements  The CSLP Store is open!  The Mysteries Await at Your Library Manual access code is now available! Please contact your Library System Youth Services Consultant directly for the code. This FREE access code is provided to all Wisconsin public libraries by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Bureau of Libraries using Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the Institute of Museums and Libraries (IMLS).

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

We Need You! Yes, You! Join the 2027 YSS Board!

This is a call to all you creative, innovative, and community building Youth Services folks! We need people like you in WLA leadership positions - including our very own Youth Services Section Board! Yes, you!

Whether you work with little learners, school-age kids, or teens, we are looking for leaders in all youth services roles and at all different stages of their career. Network, build connections, and collaborate to support Youth Services colleagues throughout the state!

We connect YS departments through in-person meet-ups at conferences, online get-togethers like Midday Mingles, up-to-date news and blogs here on the YSS Blog, hosting webinars and Performer Showcases, and more! This is especially important for rural or 1-person YS departments, showing them that they aren't alone in their work and introducing them to a community of peers.

And as a member of the YSS Board you don't have to go it alone either!  We are a fun group from all over, working together and having a laugh while we strive to provide resources and support. 

There are three positions opening up on the YSS Board:

• Vice Chair (no nominations yet!)
• 2 Director-at-Large positions (full disclosure - there are some nominations in for this role)

Will you answer the call? Nominate yourself or someone else! 

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

 

Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay

YSS posts round-ups of ads that are sent to us or that we come across. If you have a position opening up and would like to see it on the YSS blog, please forward the job ad link/descriptions to the YSS blog at the email address listed in the header above the day's blog post.

Mead Public Library - Youth Services Manager (full-time, $81,515 - 90,563)

Mead Public Library is seeking an innovative and collaborative leader to guide our Youth Services department. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in youth and teen services, a passion for community engagement, and proven experience in staff and project management. We're looking for someone with a clear, inspiring vision for how the library can spark curiosity, support learning, and create welcoming 
spaces for young people and families throughout Sheboygan.

The anticipated start date is after 1/1/27.

Please click here for additional information.

South Milwaukee Library - Librarian,  primary focus children (part-time, $29.71 hourly) 

This position is available due to the upcoming 2027 expansion of the number of hours that the City of South Milwaukee Library will be open!

This position provides professional library services to patrons of all ages, but the primary focus will be children. The position requires strong customer service skills and the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively. This position is under the supervision of the Library Director.

Please click here for the full posting, application closes 10/19/2026 11:59 PM Central.

Verona Public Library - Library Assistant II, Youth Services (part-time, $22.12 hourly)

The Verona Public Library seeks a dynamic, energetic, and innovative person with a strong dedication to patron services to become part of our team of Youth Services Librarians. This is a part-time (50%) position averaging 18 hours/week. Work involves providing reference and reader’s advisory service to children, teens, and adults at a public service desk; assisting with the library's collection and spaces; and preparing and implementing equitable story times and other programming for children birth to 18 and their families. The ideal candidate will be someone who is excited to work with children and families, demonstrates initiative, possesses strong technology skills, is proficient in Spanish, and can thrive in a busy, fast-paced environment. Schedule includes regular daytime, evening, and weekend hours.

To apply, visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/veronawi/jobs/5498576/library-assistant-ii-youth-services. 

Deadline for application is October 18.

ALSC/Candlewick “Light the Way” Grant Applications Open!

The Grants & Awards Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association) is now accepting applications for the 2027 ALSC/Candlewick “Light the Way” Grant!

This annual award is generously sponsored by Candlewick Press and is presented in honor of Kate DiCamillo and the themes she eloquently explores in her novels. The grant provides $3,000 to help a library conduct impactful outreach to underserved populations through a new program or an expansion of existing work. The award committee recognizes that underserved populations vary from community to community, and all programs designed to directly address local needs and reduce barriers to library access are encouraged to apply.

 

Who Can Your Project Serve?

The grant is open to any project that seeks to engage an underserved population of children from birth through age 14. These populations may include (but are not limited to):

• Children with learning or physical differences
• English language learners
• Children in non-traditional school environments
• Children in non-traditional family settings (such as teen parents, foster youth, children in the juvenile justice system, and children in LGBTQ+ families), etc.

 

Key Details

• Award amount: $3,000
• Deadline to apply: December 18, 2026
• Grant implementation period: One calendar year– with reports due on June 30 and September 15
• Eligibility: Projects focused on underserved populations of children 0-14.
• Where to apply: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/candlewicklighttheway

 

If you have questions about your application, please reach out to the co-chairs of the Grants & Awards committee, Lauren Brandstetter (lauren.brandstetter@kentonlibrary.org) and Sarah Clarke (sarahclarke1115@gmail.com).

Midday Mingle on Monday!

The YSS Midday Mingle is this Monday! Join us at 1:00 PM to debrief now that all of our fabulous (and busy!) summer programming is done!

We'll have an informal roundtable discussion about the highs and lows of summer at the library. Here are just a few of the topics we’ll be covering:

• Performer highlights: the good, the bad, the ugly
• Tracking and prizes: how do you do it?
• What kind of summer programming do you do? (Performers, passive, active)
• Managing summer volunteers
• How does your outreach change during the summer?
• Trends you’ve seen in your programming and/or collections during the summer
• Outdoor programming
• Avoiding/dealing with burnout

Don’t miss this opportunity to share ideas, gather inspiration, and enjoy the community of fellow youth librarians, all via Zoom!

You do not have to be a YSS of WLA member to participate. The Midday Mingle is open to all!

Wisconsin Book Awards

The Wisconsin Library Association has announced the winner of the 2026 Elizabeth Burr/Sheridan Worzalla Award. 

This year's winner is In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill. 

The 2026 Notable Author/Illustrator award goes to Lita Judge.

Photo from litajudge.me

Learn more about the winners and the noteworthy honor titles here.

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

 

Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay

YSS posts round-ups of ads that are sent to us or that we come across. If you have a position opening up and would like to see it on the YSS blog, please forward the job ad link/descriptions to the YSS blog at the email address listed in the header above the day's blog post.

Superior Public Library (Youth Services Librarian, full-time, $27.09 - 34.83 hourly) 

The Superior Public Library is looking for a Youth Services Librarian who will provide fun and enriching programs for our youth and families in our community! The person in this role will be responsible for a variety of duties including planning youth and family programming, conducting outreach visits and tours, supporting the Summer Reading Program, and providing early literacy Storytimes for our young patrons.

Serving an extended community of about 44,000, the Superior Public Library is part of the Northern Waters Library Network, offering extensive shared resources across northwest Wisconsin. The library enjoys strong community support and provides high‑quality programs and services for all ages.

The City of Superior sits at the western tip of Lake Superior and is home to the 4,400-acre Superior Municipal Forest, offering an incredible variety of year‑round recreation—from boating and fishing to hiking, snowshoeing, and cross‑country skiing. As part of the Twin Ports, Superior is just across the bridge from Duluth, Minnesota, giving residents easy access to additional cultural and recreational opportunities.

Complete posting information and application can be found here. Please apply by September 21.

Rosemary Garfoot Public Library (Youth Services Librarian, full-time, $45,000-52,000)

Due to an upcoming retirement, the Rosemary Garfoot Public Library in Cross Plains is hiring for a full-time youth services librarian. This position is responsible for programming, collection development, and other library services for families and patrons ages 0-18 years. The ideal candidate will work efficiently both collaboratively and on their own, bring an enthusiasm for encouraging and supporting literacy, and will enjoy building connections within the community.

One year of experience in a library or related field is required, as well as a bachelor's degree. Preference will be given for applicants who either possess an MLIS degree, or are currently enrolled in a Master's of Library Science degree program. The schedule for this position will be flexible, depending on programming needs, but will include daytime hours, some evenings, as well as participating in a Saturday rotation for weekend library coverage. Starting salary is $45,000-52,000, depending upon qualifications.

View the full job description and apply online at: https://www.rgpl.org/employment

Oostburg Public Library (Children's Library Assistant, part-time, $15.50 hourly)

We are hiring for an energetic Children's Services Library Assistant! We are looking for someone who will bring their creativity to the position for story time, planning programs and the summer reading program, and marketing library events. This position also helps at the circulation desk.

Starting pay is $15.50 per hour working approximately 20 hours per week.

Application available online: https://oostburglibrary.org/file_download/cea84d29-237e-4e2e-a419-a2b6d6ceb429

Full job description: https://oostburglibrary.org/file_download/d7a7c4f7-8ea9-4a30-b748-a2979994ed58

Return the completed application with optional resume to the Oostburg Public Library, 213 N. 8th St, Oostburg, WI 53070 or email it to Julie Darnell, Library Director: jdarnell@monarchlibraries.org

Job opening is posted until filled.