Wild WI Winter Web Conference is Almost Here!

The Wild Wisconsin Web Conference (#wwwc19) is just around the corner. Invented by Jamie Matczak, this 7th annual event is chock full of learning from your desk or the hygge-cozy confines of home. The online learning is sponsored by 15 WI library systems!

Fifteen incredible sessions over two days (Jan 23 and Jan 24) will inspire, inform and intrigue you. From youth services to management, leadership to marketing, these are sessions perfect for everyone no matter what size library you work in.

But don't delay. Register today for this free learning!

Charlotte Zolotow Symposium Coming in October

Children’s and young adult book creators Angie Thomas, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Candace Fleming, Crescent Dragonwagon, Eric Rohmann and Javaka Steptoe all are part of the CCBC sponsored Charlotte Zolotow Symposium: Illuminating Experience, on Saturday, October 13, at the Pyle Center at UW-Madison.

Registration is now open for this daylong event: early bird price is $75.

Maximize the weekend’s literary experience by attending the Charlotte Zolotow Award presentation to author Bao Phi for A Different Pond  (5pm) and the Charlotte Zolotow Lecture by author Benjamin Alire Sáenz (7:30 pm) on Friday, October 12, at Union South on the UW-Madison campus.

For more information on all these events go to this symposium registration link and check out this CCBC blog post for more background

We Know How to Winter CE in Wisco!

Here comes my favorite time of year - January. I snuggle up, immerse myself in a hygge mindset, read, relax and learn while snowflakes whirl outside.

Oh, and of course, January means the return of the wildly popular Wild WI Winter Web Conference, the brainchild of Jamie Matczak. The 2 day conference is held January 23-25 in the comfort of your office or home. The state-wide virtual learning fest is sponsored by 16 library systems.

Nineteen great programs (including a youth track) will keep your mind engaged and your discovery/innovation brain cells hopping! Registration for these free sessions is now open.

IFLS SLP/Access Workshop with Renee Grassi

Indianhead Federated Library System will be hosting an SLP/Youth workshop

Thursday, November 9
9:30-3:30 pm
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
910 9th St East, Menomonie


9:30-11:30:   Libraries for All: Creating Welcoming and Accessible Libraries for Youth with Disabilities
Big or small, rural or urban - all libraries serve youth with disabilities. In this 2-hour workshop, Renee Grassi will show how your library can develop an awareness and an enhanced spirit of inclusion to youth with disabilities and their needs for library service.  Attendees will learn about innovative programming, outreach ideas, and how to build relationships with parents and caregivers. Participants will also learn about inclusive customer service, strategies for making your SLP more accessible and different approaches to promotion and marketing to welcome families with youth with disabilities to your library.

11:45-12:30:  Break-Out Sessions with IFLS Librarians

1. Outreach and Partnerships
2. Program Idea Swap

12:30-1:15:  Lunch and Exploring Maker Kits

1:15-2:00:  Break-Out Sessions with IFLS Librarians

1. Family Programs
2. Teen Programs 

2:10-3:30:  Re-thinking the SLP

Discussion groups, group conversation and individual reflection about how we are planning, executing, and evaluating our SLP programs.  Why are we doing them, and are we making our goals?

To register, click here!

It's a Wrap - WWWC17!

Wisconsin is lucky to have one of the best all around public library conferences around - the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference.

Founded five years ago by Jamie Matczak of the Nicolet Federated Library System, the conference has grown in popularity and sponsorship. All seventeen Wisconsin Library systems now co-sponsor the 2.5 days of free, armchair CE.

Yes, free and armchair. The weather outside may be frightful but WWWC17 lets you tune into 8-10 sessions daily and get your learning on. Jamie is ably assisted by SCLS' Jean Anderson, IFLS' Leah Langby and a handful of other system peeps who assist in hosting these amazing days (January 24-26).

Wait. What?!?!  You missed out on the sessions this year?

No worries, the archived recordings let you experience national and state speakers at your convenience.

So what are you waiting for? Come on and get your CE on!

Free Scholarships to WI Youth Librarians

UW-Madison SLIS is sponsoring an amazing national conference for youth library managers and staff in March 2017 called Power Up: A Conference in Leadership for Youth Services Managers and Staff. The conference features over 20 speakers both from our state and throughout the country that address many issues related to both leadership and management for staff at all levels of their career.

Registration has just opened and so has a great opportunity for WI based youth staff. There are 10 complimentary registrations being offered only to WI librarians and staff currently working in WI. Meredith Lowe of UW-Madison SLIS CE shares the scoop:

"I’m very excited to tell you that we are offering 10 conference scholarship awards this year! The winners will receive a complimentary registration to the Power Up conference. This is open only to librarians and staff currently working in Wisconsin libraries (public or school). Applications are welcome from librarians and staff at all levels and with any type of educational background. They just have to be working in Wisconsin.

Here’s the info: https://slis.wisc.edu/continuing-education/power-up/scholarships/

Applications are due on December 30."

This is indeed an extraordinary opportunity for 10 lucky WI youth staff! Will you be one?

Where Are YSS Powerhouses?

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We're so glad you asked!

YSS Powerhouse Presents are webinars about issues and innovative service models presented by YSS members. The free webinars are brought to you by one of Wisconsin's Library systems and the YSS board.

Each webinar is archived at that system but also on the YSS Resource page on the WLA website. If you missed the spring webinars, Transforming Collections with Katherine Elchert and Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser and Transitions and Transformations with Sharon Grover, Dawn Wacek and Sue Abrahamson, stop by the resource page and catch up!

ALSC Virtual Conference Coming to You!

Have you ever wished you could go to the biennial ALSC Institute and immerse yourself in great children's services but the costs (registration, transportation, meals and hotel) are a bridge too far? Well, here is an opportunity to attend their first ever virtual conference Sept 15-16 from the comfort of your own office at a trez reasonable cost!

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced that registration for the 2016 ALSC Virtual Institute is now open. The Virtual Institute is one of the only virtual conferences devoted solely to children's librarianship, literature and technology.

This event will take place on September 15-16, 2016. Sessions will be held online. There is no special software needed to attend. Programming that was originally scheduled to be held at the canceled 2016 ALSC National Institute, will now be offered via the Virtual Institute.

ALSC has dedicated itself to finding a great way to deliver the content originally proposed for Charlotte Institute. The Virtual Institute is not only a great opportunity for affordable in-house staff trainings; it's also available without the hassle of additional travel fees.

“This is a new endeavor for us, but we are very excited for it. The 2016 ALSC National Institute Planning Task Force worked hard to put together a fantastic lineup of programs and speakers,” said Emily Nanney, chair of the task force. “We’re now pleased that they will have a venue to present their topics online and to a wider audience.”

Paper registrations must be submitted by August 26, 2016. Online registration will continue up to the day of the event. ALSC members receive a discount. Student and group discounts are also available. For more information and registration details for the 2016 ALSC Virtual Institute, please visit: www.ala.org/alsc/2016-alsc-virtual-institute

ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website: www.ala.org/alsc

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference is Near

What are you doing on Wednesday and Thursday, January 20 and 21 this year? With luck, you will be attending one (or more!) of the amazing free webinars at the Wild WI Winter Web Conference - all from the comfort of your desk or home.

What is W4?

The Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference, now in its fourth year, is a state-wide virtual conference developed by Wisconsin's own Jamie Matczak at Nicolet Federated Library System and supported by 15 other library systems in Wisconsin.  Eight-per-day, 60-minute web presentations, focusing on public libraries, are given over two blustery days in January.   

This year there is an amazing youth services track with nationally recognized speakers. Here is who's on deck:

Wednesday Jan 20

2:30 pm:
Developing Library Leaders 
Gretchen Caserotti, Director, Meridian Library District; Meridian, Idaho
What does it take to become a leader? Youth Service Librarians are in a natural position to move into administration and is it more important  than ever to take that leap as libraries evolve to deliver better, more effective services. In this session, Caserotti will reflect on what it takes to make that transition from front-line staff to management, based on her own experiences. She rose through positions from NYPL to Darien Library to Meridian Library, where she is now the Library Director. In this session, attendees interested in growing into positions of leadership and wanting to develop their own skills will learn about management, skill development, leadership, advocacy and more.

Thursday, Jan 21

10:30 am

Punch Up Your Teen Programming: Knockout Ideas Under $30 
Heather Booth, Teen and Tween Services Coordinator, Thomas Ford Memorial Library; Western Springs, Illinois (Teen Librarian Toolbox blogger)
It's the old bob and weave! Teens are a moving target, and by the time we've planned a program for them, they're often in a different place all together. This session will address the program qualities that teens respond to and how to employ those qualities in low-cost, high-interest events. Heather will draw on personal experience, share winning ideas from the field, and address promotion and marketing tools.

1 pm

Press Play! Injecting Play into Library Programs for Kids 
Lindsey Krabbenhoft and Dana Horrocks, Children's Librarians
Vancouver Public Library; Vancouver, British Colombia (jbrary bloggers!)
Play is one of the five early literacy practices but it is often overlooked and undervalued in children’s programming. In this webinar, we’ll explore practical program examples that infuse children’s programs with playfulness and creativity. We’ll feature programs and literacy messages for ages birth - 12. Discover new programming resources and learn how youth services staff are putting this new trend into practice.

2:30 pm

Road Maps and Sign Posts: Planning Ahead for a Successful Storytime 
Melissa Depper, Supervisor of the Storytime Specialists Team Arapahoe Library District; Centennial, Colorado  (Mel's Desk blogger; Flannel Fridays cofounder)
Our storytimes are packed full of enjoyable early learning experiences, and adding some basic organizational strategies before, in-between, and during our books, songs, and activities can help children have even more successful storytime sessions. Craft a message about behavior expectations that will address your community's needs and help everyone stay focused in storytime. Develop verbal transitions to maintain a smooth pace and direct children's attention between storytime elements. Consider intentional ways to turn standard storytime practices--including songs, rhymes, and flannels--into even richer opportunities for dialog and engagement.

Plus there are amazing sessions on leadership, small library power and so much more. To register for any and all sessions, visit the W4 website.

WAPL-acious!

Tom Lichtenheld

Ride the Rapids of Change to Wisconsin Rapids May 6-8 for the WAPL conference! The Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians along with a number of smaller sections in Wisconsin Library Association (including YSS) have a great conference in store May 6-8. Registration is a mere $75 for the jam-packed day and a half and early bird registration closes April 24. 

Check out some of the great YSS-sponsored youth library content. And of course that's not all the content. Stay tuned to this blog in coming days for more info on other programs to knock your socks off.

THURSDAY

10:30 am  Putting the Fun in Fines!  To fine or not to fine?  That is the question!  Join staff from the Lester Public Library as they share several simple and easy ways to turn fines into marketing gems.  Black Friday Sales, Scratch Cards, Fables for Fines and more.  Your patrons will be begging to pay their fines off! (Terry Ehle, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers; Chris Hamburg, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers; Jeff Dawson, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers)

1:30 pm A Winning Combination: How Library Directors Can Support Youth Services and Vice Versa  A public library’s youngest patrons are often thought of as its future taxpayers and, by extension, library funders. However, the relationship goes deeper than circulation of children’s materials and growth of teen services.  Youth services matter to public libraries beyond the numbers. Jointly presented and facilitated by DPI and the Youth Services Section of WLA, a panel of directors and librarians will offer their unique insights on programming, professional development, and pleasing the library board. (Jeff Dawson, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers; Terry Ehle, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers; Dawn Wacek, Rice Lake Public Library; Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Department of Public Instruction)

3:00 pm   Student Job Fair - Organize One for Your Community! Learn about success in planning the annual Wisconsin Rapids Student Job Fair. Started in 2012, the McMillan Memorial Library and the Boys & Girls Club collaborated in an effort to create a Student Job Fair for high school and college-age students. With an outstanding response from the community and support from local businesses, each year this event has grown immensely. Learn how you can collaborate with organizations in your community to create a similar and successful program. (Jennifer Bahnaman, Youth Services Librarian, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids; Robert Wefel, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Wisconsin Rapids Area)

5:00 pm  YSS Business Meeting   Afraid of boring, process junkie dry-as-dust info here? No worries. This is the beating heart of how we build success in our unit. It's a not-to-be-missed opportunity to network and learn!

FRIDAY

8:30 am   High Hopes: Teaching Parents to do Early Literacy at Home  Integrating early literacy components into library storytimes is great, but helping parents incorporate early literacy activities into their daily routines at home is better! The Oshkosh Public Library will showcase their homegrown High Hopes Early Literacy Storytime program developed to educate, encourage and empower parents to grow their everyday interactions with their children into early literacy building activities. The discussion will include: tips for teaching parents, the outcome measurements process and ideas for community outreach. (Adeline Miller, Oshkosh Public Library; Marie Boleman, Oshkosh Public Library)

11:00 am Literary Mash Up - Writing Programs for the Elementary Age - Need a new program for the elementary age that strongly supports literacy development, is research based, uses strategies and best practices? Experience a Literary Mash-Up—gain knowledge on writing research, gather resources and ideas, understand why inventive spelling is encouraged, learn peer critiquing with three pluses & a wish, and have a model in place to work from. If you don't like to write...all the more reason to attend! (Anne Kissinger, Wauwatosa Public Library)

11:45 am  Influences, Inspiration and Dumb Luck –Inside the Mind of a Children’s Book Creator

Author Luncheon –with Tom Lichtenheld, WLA Burr Worzalla Children’s Book Award winner

YSS Powerhouse Presents -Peek Behind the Curtain

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You have probably read a few posts about YSS Powerhouse Presents webinars or seen them publicized...but what's the story behind them?

What is YSS Powerhouse Presents?
These webinars are an idea of the Youth Services Section (YSS) board of the WI Library Assocation. Our section has over 300 members who are experts on all things youth. The board reasoned, "Why not give our members a chance to shine and get an opportunity to present to peers across the state?" So each webinar is presented by YSS members (just like you) who have a passion for youth services and a yen to share successes.

Why webinars?
Many people cannot get to state level conferences. Webinars are a perfect bite of CE (an hour or so) that can happen right at a person's desk on a variety of topics. It extends the program work YSS does at conferences.

How does it all work?
Each webinar is planned by a YSS committee. The committee reaches out to members to get volunteers or encourage members to take the leap and learn a new skill -webinaring! Then the committee reaches out to WI library systems to find willing partners to schedule/host the webinars.

What are we hoping for?
We believe that YSS is in a perfect position to provide leadership in youth services continuing education. Along with the DPI, the CCBC and SLIS and SOIS, we can offer expertise on many aspects of youth services. Plus we want to provide value to our members!

How many have been done?
The first webinar: Programming 101 (link to the archived webinar) was presented in January and hosted by South Central Library System. The second at the end of March on Teen Services (link to the archived webinar) was hosted by Nicolet Federated Library System. The third is scheduled for April 27 on School Age Programming and presented by Outagamie Waupaca Library System (registration/information link)

Are there more coming?
You bet. We have 2-3 more in the works for fall.

How can I get involved?
Be a YSS member! Drop a line to one of the organizers with a topic you'd like to present or co-present on and we'll get you in the queue. Or volunteer to help be on the organizing committee. Contact: langby@nfls.lib.wi.us, Tessa.Schmidt@dpi.wi.gov or lochwouters@gmail.com

Together we ARE stronger!

Get Smart!

If you are like me, learning new ways and being inspired by my peers is what I love best in my library practice.

The Spring 2015 (well in WI, spring also includes a healthy dose of winter) schedule of UW-Madison's Continuing Education courses is out and it is filled with youth services folks from WI (and many YSS members!) presenting online courses with content of value to everyone working with kids-  whether you work in Wisconsin or not!

Here, for your edification, in calendar order are some great learning choices! Registration is open now; costs are reasonable and learning potential is unlimited!

Power Children's Programming - on a Budget
January 26-March 5
Strategic thinking and savvy tips combine with crowd-sourced ideas from students to make programming ideas and planning a snap. Everyone wins. Disclosure - taught be me!

Connecting Teens with the Best in New Teen Lit
February 10-March 21
Ruhama Kordatzky-Bahr returns with her powerful and friendly window into the world of recent teen books. Always a worthwhile course - with the bonus of gaining chops in booktalking!

Exploring South Asia through Children's and YA
February 23-March 20
Wisconsin's own Svetha Hetzler and the dynamic Rachel Weiss (THE founder and tireless advocate of the new South Asia Book Award) open up a world of books that feature children from a part of our world that we all need to discover. Global power!

Child Development, Library Space and Behavior: Set Up Your Library for Success
You've read her blog, you've heard her present at workshops and conferences, now get some direct peer-to-peer learning from our colleague Sara Bryce (aka S. Bryce Kozla; aka PLSanders). She breaks down spaces, behaviors and gives brilliant tips on making library use by kids a forever win-win.

Wonderful WAPL!

The Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries conference in Sheboygan is over. What a powerful conference for youth services librarians!

Our keynote speaker was Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician-librarian and director of Wisconsin's Reach Out and Read program which puts books in the hands of children at well-baby visits. His powerful presentation to librarians who serve all ages brought home the importance of reading to children early and often - and also showed the devastating effects that adverse events early in children's lives have decades later on their health. It was great to hear more than youth services librarians hearing his powerful messages.

Magic School Bus at the Bookworm Gardens

There were opportunities to network and reconnect with youth colleagues and adult services peers from around the state as well as outstanding programming. Youth Services-sponsored presentations included discussion  on creating age appropriate storytimes, stealthy programming power, our Book Worm garden tour, teens writing a summer reading blog for the library and incorporating international holidays into family programming. There were also a number of other great programs including discussions on fine-free libraries, networking power, Library as Incubator's Books as Art Programs; dealing with reluctant employees, navigating the new state stats (which include drop-in programs, passive programs and reading programs beyond SLP - squeeeeeeeeeeee!)

The Youth Services Section board met and discussed a number of issues including upcoming board elections, plans for WLA in WI Dells in November, how to have a more inclusive board at the WLA board level and more (minutes will be available soon!). It was great to see so many members at the board meeting and we are excited to move forward.

If you couldn't come this year, we hope you can next year. This is a small (270 attendees ) conference that packs a big punch of information and networking goodness!