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

Up Your Grant Writing Game

Image by aymane jdidi from Pixabay

WLA Youth Services Section is hosting Up Your Grant Writing Game! A webinar to help youth services librarians finetune their grant writing skills!

Dollars are scarce these days, but great ideas abound!  Learn how to be grant-ready, streamline your story-telling, and prepare a solid budget for successful grant applications.

Thursday, September 18, 2025

3:00 - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Tracy Herold 

Tracy Herold has worked in public libraries for over 30 years. Having received her MLIS at UW-Madison, she started her career in children's librarianship at Chicago Public Library.  Throughout her career, she has launched public Internet access, built a building, implemented an automated sorter, planned for new carpet, moved two facilities and built three bookmobiles.  In her current role as director of Dane County Library Service, she has worked with libraries to help them write successful grants for the Beyond the Page Endowment that supports humanities programming in Dane County libraries in perpetuity.

Register here. The webinar is free to WLA members and $25 for non-members.

Tips and Info from DPI's May 292 , 2025 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 May 29 2025 edition  

Hello All, Check out these valuable youth services resources and reminders! Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter Check out the latest CSLP Newsletter, full of lots of great information including a Partnership Spotlight, Author Talks, Mural Toolkit, and more. Wisconsin Science Festival Science in a Bag Now in its 5th year, the Science in a Bag program partners with libraries all  throughout Wisconsin to distribute free, hands-on STEAM kits to families. To learn more about Science in a Bag and fill out the application form to receive bags at your library location, please visit our Science in a Bag web page. Contact Jerrod (jbuckner@morgridge.org). WiLS Ideas to Action Fund Through this fund, WiLS provides grants of up to $5,000 so WiLS members can bring their innovative and collaborative project ideas to life. The proposal form and reporting are simple and lightweight, so applicants can focus on the success of the work and the benefits to the community. Read more about the Ideas to Action Fund on the WiLS website and submit your proposal by June 2nd. Play Make Learn Annual Conference August 21st and 22nd at Memorial Union in Madison, WI.  Registration is now open for the PML Conference! Register by May 31st for the Early Bird Rate. The Play Make Learn (PML) Annual Conference is a place for collaboration and discovery in the design, research and practice of playful learning, games for learning and positive social impact, making and makerspaces, STEAM education, research/practitioner partnerships, and arts in education (formal and informal spaces). PML creates an inspirational space for preK-12 educators, designers, developers, innovators, librarians, museum professionals, makers, and researchers to tinker together, share knowledge, and celebrate one another’s work. Have a great weekend

Apply for the WiLS Ideas to Action Fund

Just a friendly reminder that the WiLS Ideas to Action Fund application period is only open for a few more weeks! 

Through this fund, WiLS provides grants of up to $5,000 so WiLS members can bring their innovative and collaborative project ideas to life. The proposal form and reporting are simple and lightweight, so applicants can focus on the success of the work and the benefits to the community. 

Read more about this funding opportunity on the WiLS website and submit your proposal by June 2nd! Questions? Contact WiLS at information@wils.org. 

Tips and Info from DPI's March 14 , 2025 Youth Services Newsletter

 Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is now in a cool new format!

The email newsletter is 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 March 14, 2025 edition. Happy Pi Day!

View as a webpage / Share. Hello All, Welcome to the new DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources email. The Library Services Team at DPI recently transitioned to a new email delivery platform. Although my weekly emails to you may look different, they will continue to provide quality and relevant library and youth services information and resources. Enjoy the new look! Congratulations to the CCBC! We are pleased to share the news that the CCBC received a major honor from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. To read more about the Carle Honors and to see the School of Education news release, visit our website: https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/eric-carle-honor/. Public Library Information Exchange Community Showcase  The Public Library Information Exchange (PLIX) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) connects library professionals and MIT researchers to co-design learning experiences, develop and share facilitation practices, and integrate creative learning into public library programming. PLIX strives to increase equitable access to and broaden participation in STEAM programming. Register for the free Community Showcase on Thursday, April 24th from 12 - 1:30 PM Central time, where librarians and educators from around the country will share how they've used PLIX programming in their communities, and what they've learned along the way. Can't make the showcase? Check out the PLIX activities and how librarians have remixed them, or check out one of their upcoming monthly virtual workshops. Gain confidence in your program facilitation skills with the facilitation resources on the PLIX website, sign up for their free 8-session self-guided email-based mini-course, or explore the archive of their Facilitating Creative Learning online course. Games and Learning National Leadership Grant As many of you might be aware, the Wisconsin State Library Agency and the Washington State Library are currently engaged in a three-year National Leadership Grants for Libraries project being funded by the Institute for Museum & Library Services; the project involves robust collaboration from numerous partners and subject matter experts in the "games + learning + libraries" space as we aim to do unprecedented, cutting-edge research, evaluation, and resource development surrounding games-based library services.  We are currently in phase #1 of the project, with Field Day Learning Games (housed within the Wisconsin Center for Education Research of UW-Madison) acting as our research lead. Right now we are conducting a comprehensive literature review (of both historic and contemporary scholarship) of papers, journals, articles, blog posts, data, research, etc., specifically related to "games & libraries" and/or "games-based library services". HOW CAN YOU HELP?: Please email Chris Baker (chris.baker@dpi.wi.gov) directly attaching ANY papers (.pdfs and .docs are preferable), literature, links to online resources/papers, DOI numbers, etc., related to "games & libraries". It could be something you've written yourself, read at some point, or might just be generally aware of; as long as it fits into the "games + libraries" scholarship space, Chris is interested! WiLS Ideas to Action Fund Applications opens April 1, 2025 The WiLS Ideas to Action Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 so member organizations can bring their project ideas to life. The Fund encourages partnerships and collaborations among WiLS members and with community partners, supports innovative and exploratory new work, and seeds the development of processes, methods, or resources that can be used by other WiLS members. Have questions about WiLS Ideas to Action Funds? Watch the recording of WiLS' webinar on preparing your proposal or contact them at information@wils.org.   Have a great weekend!

WiLS Ideas to Action Fund Applications Opens April 1

 As seen in Nicolet Federated Library System's Nic News Weekly, February 21, 2025

WiLS Ideas to Action Fund application period opens April 1 The WiLS Ideas to Action Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 so member organizations can bring their project ideas to life. The Fund encourages partnerships and collaborations among WiLS members and with community partners, supports innovative and exploratory new work, and seeds the development of processes, methods, or resources that can be used by other WiLS members. The total amount awarded in 2024 was $37,740. To date, the WiLS Board has awarded over $220,000 to 55 Wisconsin libraries and cultural organizations. For examples of successfully funded projects, see the proposal for Appleton Public Library’s Piano Project or Tomahawk School District’s 2020 proposal to create an eSports club. Have questions about WiLS Ideas to Action Funds? Watch the recording of WiLS' webinar on preparing your proposal or contact them at information@wils.org.

Talk Story Grant Applications Open

The 2025 Talk Story Grant is now open for applications.

Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture is a family literacy initiative that connects Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI),and American Indigenous or Alaskan Native (AIAN) communities across generations.

The Talk Story micro-grant celebrates and explores AANHPI and AIAN stories through books, oral traditions, and cultural arts to provide interactive and enriching experiences for all ages.

Eligibility: Libraries and community organizations that serve AANHPI or AIAN children and their families are eligible to apply.

Grant Amount: $500

Due Date: March 15, 2025 11:59pm AoE

Apply: www.apalaweb.org/talkstorytogether/grant

For more info contact:

familyliteracy@apalaweb.org
talkstorygrant.aila@gmail.com

Tips and Info from DPI's Jan16, 2025 Youth Services Newsletter

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is chockfull of great resources. 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 are some highlights from the January 16, 2025 edition:

TeachingBooks Webinar

TeachingBooks is presenting a webinar on Wednesday, January 29, at 12:00 p.m. on using TeachingBooks at the Public Library.  Register at TeachingBooks.net/TBPLWebinar

Calling All Young Authors and Illustrators!

Kate Klise (author) and M. Sarah Klise (illustrator) were thrilled to receive an Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature Award from the Wisconsin Library Association for their picture book, How Mr. Silver Stole the Show. To celebrate, the Klise sisters are offering free, 60-minute creative writing and drawing Zoom workshops to Wisconsin public libraries in March for children ages 7 and older. During each workshop, Kate and Sarah will tell the tale of how they discovered the true story of a stray kitten who wandered into a fancy St. Louis hotel in 1947, two days before a pedigreed cat show, and then walked away a winner. Kate will also share her top tips for creative writing while Sarah demonstrates her favorite drawing techniques. Participants will then have a chance to write and illustrate their own story with the Klise sisters’ guidance and encouragement.

Kate Klise (right) and her sister Sarah Klise (left) began
making books together as children. No wonder they
love sharing their best writing
 and drawing tips with creative kids today. 

The free Zoom workshops will be offered on: 

     Workshop A: 

     Saturday, March 1         11 am- noon 

     

     Workshop B: 

      Saturday, March 8t       3 - 4:00 pm

The workshops are free, but space is limited. To register or to learn more about Kate and Sarah Klise’s summer online classes, contact kateklise@gmail.com

CSLP Summer Reading Champion Announcement

• We are thrilled to announce that Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medalist and #1 New York Times-bestselling author, is our 2025 Summer Reading Champion!

• Register for the 2025 Summer Reading Kickoff featuring Katherine Applegate on Wednesday March 5 at 1 p.m.

• Register here to attend live (limit 3,000 participants). If you cannot attend live and would like to receive a link to the recording, complete this form.

Grant Opportunity Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture

• This family literacy initiative connects Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI), and American Indigenous or Alaskan Native (AIAN) communities across generations. The Talk Story micro-grant celebrates and explores AANHPI and AIAN stories through books, oral traditions, and cultural arts to provide interactive and enriching experiences for all ages. This grant provides financial support to libraries and community organizations who are motivated to promote intergenerational literacy through programming, services, and collections. 
• The Grant Information and Application fields can be accessed on the APALA website: apalaweb.org/talkstorytogether/grant/  and the AILA website: ailanet.org.
• To submit your proposal, please use the online form (CORRECTED LINK): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_qMvwxUX3LLWhCMPGY3jG1_SWNsrnfo2ZFKOWg8vCx_uTfw/viewform 
• Deadline March 15, 2025
• Grant Amount: $500

Have a great weekend!