Tips and Info from DPI's July 30, 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 July 30, 2026 edition:

Weekly Resources & Reminders

Hello All,

Wisconsin's Early Learning and Development Guidelines Revision Project  In partnership with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Department of Health Services (DHS), the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is updating the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS). The reason for this revision project is to incorporate:  User feedback  New research in the field Promising innovations from other states  A complete draft of the updated Wisconsin Early Learning and Development Guidelines is now available for public review!

The following content is shared as provided by the organization. The DPI Bureau of Libraries does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events.   Talking Teen Services: Preparing Teens for College Through Academic Library Collaboration - Registration Open Now!   Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 12 p.m. Have you ever wondered how you could encourage the young people you see in your library everyday to understand the value of using academic libraries at their future college campuses? Come explore today's academic libraries for yourself and begin considering how you could help build this bridge for high schoolers in your community whether or not there's a community college or university campus in your town.  Participants will learn about what a visit to an academic library can look like for high schoolers, how to talk about why academic library visits are useful, and program ideas for preparing teens for college. Sponsored by the Colorado State Library and presented by Caitlin Cooke, Teaching and Learning Librarian at Auraria Library.

We Love Libraries! Booklist  In celebration of the American Library Association's 150th anniversary, the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) has compiled the We Love Libraries! Booklist, featuring books about books, reading and libraries. The list is free to download and share, and includes recommended titles for ages birth to 18.

Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter    Check out the latest Collaborative Summer Library Program newsletter full of great information and resources, including the Summer Reading Annual Survey, Building Community Based Summers (BCBS) National Cohort announcement, Theme and Slogan Listening Sessions, and more!

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

WLA Honors YSS Members

Two members of YSS will be honored at the WLA Fall Conference in Middleton at the end of the month.

Alison Loewen, current YSS past chair, will be honored with the 2025 Demco Librarian of the Year Award! Alison has served on the YSS board for the past four years. She is being honored as an innovative collaborator and leader in early literacy within her community and beyond. You can read more about her accomplishments here.

Marge Loch-Wouters, longtime YSS member and recent YSS blog administrator, will be inducted into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame. She is being honored for her almost fifty years of work on behalf of youth librarians and youth in the state and nationally. You can read more about her accomplishments here. 

Both honors will be given at the WLA Awards and Honors banquet on Thursday evening October 30 at 6:30 pm at the Marriot West conference center. 

For those not attending the banquet, there will be a chance to join some of the honorees at an informal get-together starting at 8:45 pm following the banquet at the Marriott’s bar hosted by Jamie Matczak and Marge Loch-Wouters. We hope to see many youth folks there to celebrate!

Join the 2026 CLEL Bells Committee!

If you're interested in lively, collaborative, in-depth discussions about early literacy, CLEL Bells is the place for you!

Be part of advocating for quality children’s books that support early literacy. The English CLEL Bells Committee is recruiting new members for the 2026 award season!

What are the CLEL Bells? One of the two early literacy book awards from CLEL, the English CLEL Bell Awards are an annual recognition of five high-quality children’s books that provide excellent support of early literacy development in young children ages 0-5. The five winners are selected from a shortlist of 25 honored titles.

Come join the committee! Here’s more from our members:

• “Be prepared to fall more in love with children's books.” 

• “Do picture books have a place in your heart and your work space? They fill mine!” 

• “Get ready to think critically about early literacy and lean into great conversations.” 

• "I couldn't have had this experience at my library."

• “Where else can you dissect books with the lens of early literacy and storytime?” 

  
  

Apply now for the 2026 English CLEL Bells Committee. The application closes on March 28, 2025. All applicants will be notified by March 31, 2025.

Please contact clelbellawards@gmail.com with any questions.

Best regards,

Mary Ann Lawler

Chair, 2026 English CLEL Bells Committee

How All Staff Can Support Storytime

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Recently Jaime Eastman, writing at the ALSC blog, shared some wise words about how all library staff (not just the staff who actually do the storytimes) can support and advocate for storytimes with families. 

Jaime writes:"While our patrons may only see one or two faces in storytime, the reality is that it takes an entire team for our storytimes to succeed. Over the years, there have been many iterations of what supporting storytime looks like. We’ve learned that for it to work, staff must be all in for storytime. How does that work? Let me tell you more."

To check out her tips, please stop here. [All In for Storytime: Tips for Library Staff at Every Level. Eastman, Jaime. ALSC blog. January 2, 2025.]

New "Babies Need Words Every Day" Booklist

From the December 2024 ALSC Update newsletter:

ALSC’s Early Childhood Programs & Services Committee is excited to announce an updated version of our Babies Need Words Every Day booklist!

This FREE resource provides libraries’ youngest patrons and their caregivers with age-appropriate books to build literacy skills and introduce topics including daily life, math, bodies, and family.

You can find a printable 2-page PDF of the booklist here, which we encourage you to share with your patrons and use for your own collection development and programming purposes.

 Download the New Babies Need Words Every Day Book List

Calling All Early Literacy Advocates

This just in from CLEL. It’s a great opportunity to get involved on a national level and meet and work with other early literacy advocates.

Did you know that CLEL (Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy) has no paid employees and is powered by an all-volunteer Steering Committee? We need your help for next year! Consider applying today. 

NEW for 2025 - up to 4 Steering Committee members can be from outside of Colorado!

Learn more and apply: https://www.clel.org/announcements/call-for-new-leadership/

Thoughts on a Librarian's Parental Leave

Image by Andrea Don from Pixabay

In a recent ALSC blog post, librarian and new parent Claire Laitman, writes about how using the library as a new mom deepened her understanding of great service for parents of babies.

Claire writes: "People say you can’t be truly prepared for parenthood, but as a librarian, I have to admit I felt pretty ready to have a baby. I had read all the books, spent countless hours on the children’s floor and had a strong sense that I’d find my way. But when my daughter was born, I suddenly felt immersed in a new world where the parts of myself I could normally rely on were suddenly out of grasp. My mind, normally sharp and analytical, felt scattered and hazy. My confidence that I could figure most things out was replaced by a lingering imposter feeling. Despite my fears of taking her out of our safe apartment and into the world, the expanse of time ahead of us was even more daunting, so I decided to take my baby to see my happy place. On a cold morning in January, I bundled us up and off we went to our local library. This outing became an anchor of our early time together, and allowed me enjoy the library in a whole new way. Here are a few of my experiences and the discoveries and ideas that came out of my library visits in this new patron role as a first-time parent."

To read her thoughtful insights on experiencing library programs, service and communication through the lens of a new parent, please stop here. [Takeaways from a Librarian on Parental Leave. Laitman, Claire. ALSC blog. August 30, 2024.]

Two Great Youth Resources

 Thanks to Kristie Hauer at WVLS' Youth Information Exchange for these two tips

Summer Learning Tips to Go! English/Spanish Text Messaging Service from Start With a Book

They write on their website:
"Sign up now for our 2024 summer learning tips, in English or Spanish. A fresh season of mobile tips is here! You'll receive three messages per week, featuring hands-on activities to keep kids reading, creating, exploring — and learning — all summer long! See examples of our summer tips below.

Text (855) 773-1019 toll-free with the words "READING' for tips in English and 'LECTURA' for tips in Spanish Messaging rates may apply.

Here are examples of the kinds of tips and activity ideas you'll receive though our text messaging service:
Alphabet city
On a walk together, look for the shapes of letters in the buildings all around you. More ideas: Builders and Buildings

Mapmaker
After reading a favorite book, have your child draw a map of the book's setting. More ideas: Map Making

Be a reading role model!
Make sure your kids see you reading and writing, whether it's reading the morning newspaper or making a shopping list. More ideas: Be a Reading Role Model

Nature scavenger hunt
Make a list of things to find outside (such as an acorn, stone, or feather). Give your child the list and let the hunt begin! More ideas: Outdoor Explorations"

Free Talk with Me Toolkits from the Smithsonian

"Talk with Me Toolkits provide caregivers chances to talk with their children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk. The Toolkits give caregivers ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme, and feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through each toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!"

Kits include:

• Air and Space: Can It Fly
• Art: Colors, Shapes, Lines
• Art: Light and Shadow
• Me and My World: My Neighborhood
• Music: Animal Tracks
• Nature: Who Lives in the Soil

This project is developed by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy at Pennsylvania State University, and Middle Country Public Library. It adapts an original set of toolkits, developed by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, for a grant with the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Cheerleading - and Waiting - for Early Literacy

Recently we shared an ALSC post from Tess Prendergast here at our YSS blog about ways to incorporate early literacy tips conversationally with caregivers. Shortly after that post published Lindsey Krabbenhoft at Jbrary weighted in with additional thoughts and ideas on this important work.

Lindsey writes: "First I’ll draw your attention to Why & How to Offer Supportive Early Literacy Messages by Tess Prendergast. I especially like how Tess stresses the “Supportive” part. She says, “For caregivers who do not yet know why kids need rich language and literacy experiences, early literacy tips should offer validation, support and encouragement, not judgment.” When I speak to other staff who offer storytimes a common concern I hear is that early literacy tips come off as preachy, judgmental, or didactic. To add to Tess’s advice, I try to think of it like I’m the early literacy cheerleader of storytime. Here to pump you up and congratulate you on spending this time with your little one in all the ways that support their communication."

To read her additional thoughts on how she uses OWL (observe, Wait, Listen) as a mdeling technique that can also be used in lieu of literacy messages. Great food for thought and practice!

Click here to read her full post and resources. [Being an Early Literacy Cheerleader in Storytime and the Power of Waiting Krabbenhoft, Lindsey. Jbrary blog. June 24, 2024.]

Offering Early Literacy Tips Can Be a Snap

Recently, Tess Prendergast wrote about supportive ways to offer early literacy tips to caregivers in storytimes.

Tess writes: "As librarians, we know that the early literacy material we offer at storytime helps to support children’s early language and literacy development in many different ways. Parents and caregivers play key roles in their children’s language and literacy development. However, no one is born knowing exactly how to support early literacy and language. Caregivers simply might not know the high value and lasting impact of everyday things like talking about different food items in the grocery store, or singing together. Therefore, as children’s librarians we are well positioned to help pass on this information by offering what are called early literacy tips (also called “asides”) during storytimes.

Offering these kinds of upbeat, no-pressure, positive tips might be just the thing a new parent or caregiver needs to feel confident about encouraging their child’s language and literacy growth. I cannot think of a better place for parents and caregivers to learn something new (and fun) about the power of early literacy than at storytime."

Stop here to read her practical tips to help you shine! [Why & How to Offer Supportive Early Literacy Tips. Prendergast, Tess. ALSC blog. June 16, 2024]

Learn More About ECRR Texts for Caregivers of Tots in WI

from Jeni Schomberg, Public Library Consultant, Library Services Team  DPI's Division for Libraries and Technology 

TALK (Text and Learn for Kindergarten) is a program that delivers early learning activities several times per week via text messages to caregivers of children under 6, in either English or Spanish. Based on Every Child Ready to Read, TALK activities build pre-literacy skills starting from birth, such as hearing letter sounds, building hand muscles and dexterity, and recognizing letters and numbers. Activities also build STEM and social emotional skills to help parents make sure their children are fully prepared for a successful school experience. Libraries can also use TALK to promote library events. 

WiLS is partnering with MCLS to bring this innovative early learning program to Wisconsin libraries. Come join us for an informational webinar to learn all about this exciting, affordable program and how it can work for your patrons!

 

Webinar Details

Jun 13, 2024 11:30 AM

Registration Link

*This webinar will be recorded and delivered to registrants after the session.

Serve and Return = Great Early Literacy Practice

Jbrary's Lindsey Krabbenhoft recently shared some thoughts and a great set of materials from the Center on the Developing Child. They discuss the importance of "serve and return" interactions with young children. 

Lindsey writes,  "If I could only say one thing to caregivers about early literacy it would be about serve and return interactions. Sometimes it feels like all the research comes back to this foundation: 'Responsive interactions between children and the adults in their lives — from caregivers to educators to extended family members — help shape brain architecture and the foundations of lifelong health and well-being.' "

Please stop here to access the resources and read her post. [My Favourite Early Literacy Message. Krabbenhoft, Lindsey. Jbrary blog. April 22, 2024.]

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 mid-April listing:

Oconomowoc Public Library
Library Early Childhood Specialist/Reference Assistant (part-time)

The Oconomowoc Public Library is currently accepting applications for a part-time Early Childhood Specialist/Reference Assistant. Current shifts are Tues. & Wed. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one evening shift. The position is also part of a Sat./Sun. weekend rotation. Schedule subject to change. Starting $17.04 per hour. To apply, submit an online application & resume by 10 a.m. on April 29th. Position available until filled.

The Early Childhood Specialist/Reference Assistant plans, implements, and evaluates quality, research-based early literacy, and early learning library programming for families with children between the developmental stages of infancy through preschool.

For additional information, please contact Human Resources at (262) 569-3225.

Job Description Summary

• Organizes and delivers weekly story times for preschool-aged children and their caregivers.
• Creates developmentally appropriate early childhood and family programs aligned with the library’s mission statement.
• Under the supervision of the Youth Services Librarian, assists with preparing, publicizing, presenting, implementing, and clean-up of events for children and families.
• Maintains and evaluates the library’s 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Program.
• Serves library patrons by answering reference questions, providing reader’s advisory, resolving patron problems, and providing guidance in use of information resources during regularly scheduled reference desk shifts.
• Assists patrons with use of library equipment, including microfilm, internet, computers, photocopier, scanner, printer, and coin-operated print release station.
• Acts as staff member in charge when working evenings and weekends, and monitors patron behavior, addressing any problems in a firm but respectful manner.
• Serves as back-up shift coverage at reference desk and youth services programs in case of staff illness or absence.
• Maintains order in the children’s areas of the library.
• Prepares displays that feature and emphasize themes being presented.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

See full job posting for more information.