Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Once or twice a month on weekends, 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.

Here is a early May listing:

L.E. Phillips (Eau Claire) Memorial Public Library            Youth Services Assistant (part-time)

The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, seeks an enthusiastic, creative, organized team member who enjoys interacting with people of all ages, particularly children and their caregivers.  This Assistant position provides reference and reader’s advisory for the youth services division, assists with children’s programs, with direction, promotes library services through displays and bulletin boards, helps with division organization and communication through statistical tracking and so much more.

This is a part-time non-exempt position, averaging 19 hours per week. The starting wage is $19.59 per hour and includes paid floating holiday. The proposed schedule includes a variety of daytime and afternoon hours, a regular weekly evening shift and rotating Saturdays.

To apply please fill out the employment application and submit a cover letter. The deadline to apply is Monday, May 12th at 8:00 a.m.

Compete job description and details can be found on the City of Eau Claire’s website.

WVLS Youth Services Exchange

The Wisconsin Valley Library Service shares this recent information from their January 2023 newsletter.

YSIE Get-Togethers Continue in 2024

The first Youth Services Information Exchange (YSIE) of 2024 will be held virtually from 9 - 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 18. Resources on STEAM programs, kits, and passive programs will be shared. Attendees are asked to bring examples and ideas.

Due to staffing changes, WVLS hasn’t hosted a YSIE opportunity since late 2022. In this newsletter, WVLS Public Library Services Consultant Kristie Hauer talks about the importance of these discussion and information-sharing experiences and what to look forward to in the future.

Why is it important to continue these opportunities?
YSIE get-togethers are informal grassroots gatherings of library staff who serve youth. These collegial discussions are important to resource- and information-sharing as well as brainstorming, as participants are encouraged to share their own success stories as well as questions and advice. Learning from and sharing with our colleagues, whether virtual or in-person, can energize, inspire, and inform all who attend.

How many people do you hope will attend on January 18?
It would be great to have 10-12 youth services staff at our first get-together of the year and work together to grow it from there!
 

What are possible topic areas for 2024?
The first YSIE will discuss STEAM programs and resources as well as passive programs. Possible topics for future YSIEs include all ages/multigenerational programming and collection development, including collection organization. While each get-together will focus on one or two topics, there will also be time for participants to bring their own topics for discussion.
 

Are youth services staff from libraries outside of WVLS welcome to attend?
Absolutely! Anyone with interest or involvement in youth services is welcome to attend. There will be 3-4 YSIE get-togethers in 2024. Get-togethers will be a combination of virtual and in-person. The in-person YSIEs will showcase the host library’s spaces and services that support youth. In-person get-togethers will be held at the Granton Community Library and Minocqua Public Library in 2024.
 

How else can library staff who serve youth share information?
There is a WVLS Youth Services Information Exchange group on Facebook! This is another communication channel for youth services staff to post program and service ideas and resources.
 

Check out the latest edition of Monday Mentions for registration information for the January 18 YSIE or contact Kristie at khauer@wvls.org.

UW Madison iSchool Spring Youth Services CE Courses

Lots of great online spring CE courses coming up. For all courses, you get 10% off your registration when you register at least 2 weeks in advance.  These courses are asynchronous - which means you can access the content each week at a time most convenient for you!  

Check out the offerings:

Teens in the Library     Feb 5- March 17 (6 weeks)     Linda Jerome, La Crosse Public Library

You’ve got teens in the library–now what? Or maybe you’d like to have more teens in the library, so how exactly do you do that? This course will help provide library staff with a foundation upon which they can build successful service to teens in their community through programming, attractive space for teens in their library, teen collections, and outreach and community partnerships. Learn to create opportunities for teens to become happy, healthy, and successful adults. Class discussions will address how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected teen services, as well as strategies for success moving forward.

Programming with Purpose    Feb 26-March 24 (4 weeks)  Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, St Paul (MN)  Public Library

We all want our libraries to have strong programming. How do you know if your library is producing meaningful programs that align with vision, support the mission, and recognize staff capacity versus simply falling into the “more is more” trap? Regardless of your library’s size, there are ways you can bring intentional thinking into programming so you’re supporting the community while working smarter. This course will explore broad perspectives on identifying programming values and goals as well as in-depth strategies for planning thoughtful, intentional programs for any age. Participants will actively focus on defining programming priorities that are informed by both current practices and goals; using a methodical practice to identify pain points and realistic solutions; implementing a project charter tool; and effective communication to aid in change management. 

STEAM for Youth Services   Mar 4 -March 31 (4 weeks)    Kirsten Caldwell, La Crosse County Library  

Are you interested in learning more about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) for youth ages 0-5? This course will cover why STEAM is important for children, how libraries can support them in their learning, and how to include STEAM skills in library programs and storytime. We will also look at what’s coming next with STEAM in preschool. 

Babies in Libraries   March 18- April 28 (4weeks)   Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library

Library service to patrons begins at birth. How can library practitioners offer the best programs, collections, and services possible to the youngest members of our communities (0-23 months)? After laying the groundwork for developmentally appropriate practice, this course will provide strategies and ideas for providing outstanding services to families with young children. Whether you are new to the profession, considering starting a baby storytime, searching for outreach partners, or looking to refresh your collection, this course will build a foundation for working with the very young.

There are alot more classes of interest in other areas as well. Check out the full listing of tutorials and classes.

And if YOU have an idea for a class you'd like to develop and teach, reach out the iSchool continuing ed department at ce-info@ischool.wisc.edu.  Sharing your knowledge and expertise is a great thing. The planners there are always happy to have new proposals. You can do it!

"Get in the Know" of WI Youth Library Services!

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

A message from Jeni Schomber, DPI Public Library Consultant, Library Services Team 

Do you want to stay in the know about youth services news and resources but don’t know where to start? 

The DPI (Department of Public Instruction) Library Services Team provides Youth Services support to the public library community through program coordination, resource sharing, and consulting. 

Subscribe to the YS Listserv to receive occasional emails about youth and teen programming, professional development opportunities, Library Services Team updates, and so much more! 

Simply include “subscribe to YS Listserv” in the email subject line and hit send.

AQuestions, reach out to Jeni at: 608-266-2749   jennifer.schomber@dpi.wi.gov 

 

Say My Name

Maria Trivisonno asks us to consider the importance of learning and saying children's names in our work with them. She also feels it's equally important to recognize that each name is precious to children and that we need to learn names and pronounce them correctly. 

She writes "Most youth librarians can attest to the benefits that arise when you learn the names of their young customers.  When I greet children by name, they are often surprised initially surprised that I know them. The next reaction is to smile. This simple gesture gives young patrons actual proof that we are committed to their well-being…that we care.  In my experience, it makes any behavioral issues I must address easier—they more fully believe I have their interests in mind."

Maria includes a list of recent books that address the issue of pronouncing kids'  names correctly.

You can read the full post and booklist here. [Hello! My Name is... Trivisonno, Maria. ALSC blog. October 23, 2023.]              

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Once or twice a month on weekends, 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.

Here are late November listings:

Edgerton Public Library   Children's Services Coordinator (part-time)

Library Assistant – Children’s Services Coordinator
The position is 30 hours per week and includes 2 Saturdays per month. The person filling this position will be responsible for creating, executing, and evaluating programming for children from birth through age 11. Hours vary from mornings to early evenings to accommodate programming for toddlers through school-aged children. A flexible schedule is a must! 

Detailed job descriptions are available at the circulation desk and on our website at https://www.als.lib.wi.us/EPL/about-us/employment/ . A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required. The starting wage is $18.88 per hour. Please send a letter of interest, resume, and 2 letters of reference to: Edgerton Public Library – Director, 12 Albion St., Edgerton, WI, 53534 or email to smith.beth@als.lib.wi.us. Deadline:  5:00 p.m. on December 9, 2022. 

Spring Green Community Library     Youth Services Librarian (part-time)

The Spring Green Community Library is looking for a creative, energetic team player to lead our youth services projects. This position with work with the director to plan youth and teen programs, make community connections, and manage the youth and teen collection.

The day-to-day of the job would consist of spending time helping out on the desk, delivering books, communicating with community partners, running story times, and planning future crafts and programs. The YS Librarian with the help of the YS Assistant works to provide excellent service to the kids and families of Spring Green.

Home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, American Players Theater, the House on the Rock, and Tower Hill State Park, the vibrant village of Spring Green is the crown jewel of the River Valley, a place where nature and art meet. Just 45 minutes from Madison, our quiet village boasts endless recreational and creative opportunities in Wisconsin’s beautiful Driftless Region.

The busy community library belongs to South Central Library System where we maintain a collection of over 35,000 items and circulate over 80,000 items each year with an annual budget of $270,830. Located in the village center, the Spring Green Community Library serves the village, the River Valley School District, and its outlying communities with a passionate staff, active Friends of the Library group, and widespread community support.

Wage Range: $15-16 per hour

Schedule: 22 hours per week, including one Saturday a month

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or experience in a public library or early childhood setting.

Applications accepted until position is filled Please submit a cover letter and resume to Emily Whitmore at ewhitmore@springgreenlibrary.org

Urban Institute Reports Trends in Children's Services at Public Libraries

From the Monday Memo, November 14, 2011 (Arrowhead Library System)

The Institute for Museum and Library Services blog, posted information about a new study released by the Urban Institute. The report, “Children’s Services at Public Libraries: A Port in the Storm,” emphasizes that public libraries provide resources and experiences that support children’s literacy development, such as arts and crafts, songs, drama, and story-telling:

“As policymakers search for solutions to improve child outcomes during a time of constrained budgets, one group of institutions is often overlooked. As  community anchor institutions, public libraries increase children's access to books and computers, and provide meaningful learning opportunities. These functions are particularly critical for children from high-need families who often fall behind in school. Most children living in poverty have few or no books at home, as well as limited access to the Internet.” 

However, the report also outlines that the distribution and availability of those services are inconsistent, often lacking in areas where they are most needed. The full commentary is available online at MetroTrends, the Urban Institute’s report card and toolkit for researchers, students, journalists, elected officials and the public on the state of metropolitan economies: http://www.metrotrends.org/commentary/libraries-imls.cfm

Spring Continuing Ed Courses through UW-Madison SLIS

Looking for some continuing education opportunities. Perhaps consider some of these courses offered through UW-Madison's School of Library and Information Studies.

• Connecting Teens with the Best in New Teen Lit
  February 14 - March 27
  $175
  1.8 CEUs/18 LEUs
  
  
• Core Elements of Children's Services
  February 28 - May 7
  $350
  2.8 CEUs/ 28 LEUs
  
  
• Graphic Novels in the Library
  April 4-29
  $95
  1.4 CEUs/14 LEUs