Tips and Info from DPI's April 23, 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 April 23, 2026 edition:

Weekly Resources & Reminders Hello All,  Check out these Youth Services Resources and Reminders!   Happy National Library Week!  View the Bureau of Libraries National Library Week announcement from Wisconsin State Librarian Ben Miller.  Wisconsin Science Festival: Science in a Bag  The Science in a Bag library application form is now open. This program provides free, take-home STEAM kits to libraries all across Wisconsin. Full of engaging, accessible activities that spark curiosity and creativity, these kits help bridge the bridge gaps in access to educational resources, support lifelong learning, and reinforce the library’s role as an inclusive community space where science and exploration are available to everyone. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2026. Quantities are limited, so apply soon!  America 250 Resources at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction  America 250 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and offers a meaningful opportunity for educators to explore our nation’s history, ideals, and ongoing story with students.  Although primarily for the classroom setting, the America 250 page provides resources and materials that public libraries may use for engaging with this historic milestone.   University of Kentucky Storytime Survey  Researchers at the University of Kentucky School of Information Science are inviting you to take part in an online survey exploring if, how, and why public library staff incorporate content such as books, songs, and other activities related to community, diversity, and belonging into their children’s storytimes.  They are interested in hearing from library staff who have experience with this type of children’s programming, as well as library staff who do not have experience with this type of children’s programming. The survey will take about 30 minutes to complete. If you agree to participate, please complete the survey at: https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ihWIS34KAMeQho  Jeni Schomber Public Library Consultant The DPI Bureau of Libraries does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events.  Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov

Tips and Info from DPI's March 26, 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 March 26, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services resources and reminders!  BadgerLink Bulletin – TeachingBooks for Libraries  Attention, librarians of all types! Check out TeachingBooks Monthly Lesson Ideas to easily share fascinating multimedia titles for young readers in your newsletters, social media, and instructional and programming plans. Explore TeachingBooks for Libraries for jumping-off points that deepen discussions, inspire reading interest, and support connections to books and authors for young readers.   Wisconsin Science Festival Virtual Kickoff Party  This virtual party is a great way to learn more about what participating in the festival really means, get the scoop on the featured topic for the year, meet other STEAM enthusiasts, win prizes at trivia, and more.  Join us, April 16th at 11:30am, as we kick off the 2026 Wisconsin Science Festival!  Register for the Kickoff Party.   CSLP Newsletter  Check out the latest Collaborative Summer Library Program newsletter full of great information and resources, including voting to name the Mysteries Await at Your Library 2027 mascot, a BCBS National Cohort announcement, Dinosaurs 101 for Librarians webinar, the final Wordsmithing session, Manual highlights, and more!  Northeast Science Camp for Librarians  Save the Date for the 2026 Northeast Science Camp for Librarians! We are excited to announce this year’s Northeast Science Camp for Librarians will be held on June 8-10, 2026, at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. Science Camp is an engaging and affordable 2 ½ day immersion into science topics, offering opportunities for library workers and library students interested in science, health sciences, and technology to learn, meet, and network in a fun, laid-back atmosphere. Registration opens April 17, 2026. Visit Northeast Science Camp for Librarians for more information.   Jeni Schomber  Public Library Consultant  The DPI does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events. They are provided for your consideration only. Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov

Play Make Learn 2026 Registration Open NOW!

Calling all creatives, educators, librarians, games & learning practitioners, and education researchers!

Play Make Learn is getting ready to bring you the best in research and practice on educational games, making, arts, playful learning, creative education, and more! The Play Make Learn 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, and arts in education. 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 – each year!

Play Make Learn 2026 will be hosted on July 9^th and 10^th (with optional pre-conference activities on July 8^th) the at the beautiful Memorial Union on the historic University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in Madison, WI.

 Register Now!

• Registration is open now (until we sell out) — but don’t wait! Register by May 29, 2026 to secure the Early-Bird discount. Play Make Learn has sold out for multiple years in a row; don’t miss your chance to attend! We have different pricing options available.
  
  

Call for Proposals still open!

• You are invited to submit a proposal to present at the Play Make Learn Conference! Applicants will be asked to select themes that applies to their proposal, including: Playful learning, Games for learning and positive social impact, Making and makerspaces, STEAM education, and Arts in education. There are multiple session “formats” to choose from for your proposal, including: Hands-on Workshop (75 minutes, 1-6 presenters), Organized Panel Presentation (75 minutes, 3-4 presenters), Individual Presentation (15 minutes, 1-2 presenters), Poster, Playful Demo, or a “Break the Mold” session. For more details about session strands and formats, please visit our Call for Proposals webpage.
  
  
• In the interest of providing diverse perspectives any individual will be limited to participating in a maximum of two sessions. Posters and Arcade Demos do not count towards this maximum.
  
  
• Sessions should focus on new insights, learnings and innovations of broad interest to the PML community and should not be promotional in nature. If you are a for-profit company interested in showcasing your product to the PML audience, please reach out to conferences@education.wisc.edu for sponsorship opportunities.
  
  
• We believe that everyone has unique contributions to bring to the conference. PML aspires to foster a learning community that has a diversity of perspectives and practices. Are you a first time presenter, young person, or practitioner considering submitting for Play Make Learn and need additional support? Reach out to our planning team at: conferences@education.wisc.edu.
  
  

 This year's conference theme: “Scrappiness”

• Setting out to create something involves both big dreams and many obstacles. We quickly run into time constraints, limited materials, access challenges, administrative rules, and the inertia of how things have always been done. We push against that resistance. We fight to get in and get on with it. We are scrappy. We pull from the bottom of our own buckets of energy. We are outsiders, leftovers, left-outs. We are educators who deserve more but make do. We are makers who build with the materials at hand. We are inventors who cobble together rules to turn our surroundings into a game.
  
  
• “Scrappiness” means using whatever is around us—the trash, the leftovers, the scraps. We cut construction paper and leave tiny bits behind. We make a meal and compost eggshells and orange peels. Those leftovers become opportunities to make again, to play, and to learn. A cardboard box becomes a rocket ship. Compost becomes soil for a community garden. From scraps, we create beautiful art, meaningful experiences, and community.
  
  

Questions? You can email organizers at conferences@education.wisc.edu or connect with Chris.Baker@dpi.wi.gov!

UW Madison iSchool Fall CE Courses

There are some great course coming up this fall to enhance your youth services work. If you enroll up to two weeks before the course starts, you are eligible for a 10% discount. 

Roll with it…Gaming in Libraries

Sept 8 – Oct 5 (4 weeks)  $165

Games are a multifaceted (and often, underutilized) way to engage with patrons of all ages at your library. In this class, we’ll discuss collection development and policy creation for video games, board games, and TTRPGs (tabletop role-playing games). We’ll also strategize the development and implementation of gaming clubs, from casual board game meet-ups, running Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, to after school video game clubs and more! Instructor: Dusty Karls, La Crosse Public Library

Bringing the Science of Reading into Library Storytimes and Play Spaces

Sept 15 – Oct 26 (6 weeks), $275

The “Science of Reading” is a term gaining traction and informing legislation but it is not new. Gough & Tunmer brought us their model for reading comprehension in 1986, The Simple View of Reading, and described a simple formula: RC = D x LC. Reading Comprehension (RC) is the product of Decoding (D) and Language Comprehension (LC) proficiencies. The science of reading remains grounded in this same research and now encompasses thousands of studies. As librarians, we can employ specific strategies to incorporate this knowledge into our programming and play spaces. Let’s focus on concrete ways we can bring this research into our daily work to assist our youngest patrons on their lifelong reading journey through weekly reading assignments, discussions, and reflection on our current practices. Instructor: Katelyn Martens-Rodriguez,  Washington County Library (MN)

STEAM For Youth Services
Oct 6 – Nov 2 (4 weeks) $165
Are you interested in exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) for youth ages 0–5? This course will highlight why STEAM matters in early childhood, how libraries can foster curiosity and discovery, and how to incorporate STEAM into programs and storytimes in developmentally appropriate ways. We’ll also explore what’s emerging in the field of preschool STEAM. You will learn:

• Understand how young children’s brains develop alongside early STEAM skills and milestones.
• Identify and explain the core concepts of STEAM and how they appear in early childhood learning.
• Design developmentally appropriate library programs or storytimes that integrate STEAM concepts.
• Explore current trends and future directions in early childhood STEAM learning.

Instructor: Kristin Caldwell, formerly La Crosse County Library

Trauma-Informed Care: An Introduction for Libraries

Oct 13 – Nov 23 (6weeks) $275

Trauma-Informed Care started in the healthcare field, but there is a lot to being trauma informed that can equip libraries to best serve our complex communities. A trauma-informed library is a place where staff understands the perspectives of people who have experienced trauma and provides positive and unbiased service. All the decisions we make are opportunities for retraumatization or healing; so we might as well make them deliberately! Learn how to apply a trauma-informed lens to improve your service, space, and work culture. Topics:

• What “trauma-informed” means in a library context
• Toxic stress and the brain, and what that means for our work interactions
• Applying trauma-informed principles to library work
• The importance of workforce wellness in a Trauma-Informed approach
• An introduction to the concepts of historical trauma and institutional oppression

Instructor: S. Bryce Kozla, Washington (OR) County Cooperative Library Services

Youth Services 101
Oct 13 – Dec 7 (8 weeks) $360
Looking to ground yourself in the basics of youth services for public libraries? Whether you are new to the field, need a refresher, or just need a breath of fresh air, this course will look at the past, present and, future of great service for children and teens. Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the basics of child development and trends
• Create age-appropriate collections and programming
• Perform advocacy and outreach activities
• Establish effective community partnerships
• Build kid-friendly environments
• Work through difficult patron situations
• Learn about recent trends in youth services
• Libraries and the Customer Experience, Oct 20 – Nov 16

Instructor: Brooke Newberry, La Crosse (WI) Public Library

You can see these additional courses of interest at the iSchool CE page go.wisc.edu/ischool-ce

• Advanced Public Library Administration, Sept 8 – Nov 30
• Introduction to Digitization Projects, Sept 8 – Nov 2
• Public and Community Library Services, Sept 15 – Dec 7
• Basic Public Library Administration, Sept 15 – Dec 7
• Basics of Cataloging, Sept 22 – Nov 16
• NEW! Starting Strong: A Guide to the Initial Phases of Library Facility Planning, Oct 6 – Nov 16
• Making a Collection Count: Collection Management Basics, Oct 13 – Dec 7
• Nonfiction RA: Beyond the Basics, Oct 20-Nov 16
• Libraries and the Customer Experience, Oct 20 – Nov 16

Tips and Info from DPI's June 26, 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 June 26, 2025 edition  

Hello All, Check out these valuable youth services resources and reminders! WiSciFest Bioblitz The 15th Annual Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF) will be held October 16-26, 2025. Again, this year, the Wisconsin Water Library at UW-Madison is assisting the WSF to support libraries' participation in the WiSciFest Bioblitz - a community science event that collects data on biodiversity in Wisconsin.  Libraries are a perfect fit for hosting a mini bioblitz and the Water Library is here to help. A bioblitz gives community members the opportunity to explore and record the surrounding flora and fauna and can run for one hour, one day or for the whole run of the science festival.  A free, one-hour informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 11:30. This is an opportunity to learn the basics of community science and how you might participate. The webinar is designed for both new and experienced bioblitzers. Learn more and register for the webinar.  CSLP Newsletter Check out the latest Collaborative Summer Library Program newsletter featuring a Partnership Spotlight, Library Staff Self-Care tips, Manual Highlights, and more. You may even recognize a Wisconsin public  library or two highlighted in the Color Our World video! SLJ Picture Book Palooza Thursday, July 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join School Library Journal July 17th for the fifth annual SLJ Picture Book Palooza, an all-day, free virtual celebration of authors and artists from around the world, who bring picture books to life with their extraordinary art. Register for a day dedicated to their craft and hard work, with a schedule that includes keynotes, author panels, and illustrator spotlights with visionary creators. Visit the exhibit hall, chat with authors and publishing teams, download digital galleys & resources, and be prepared to be inspired as you build your collection, one picture book at a time. Registration and more information Building Community Based Summers (BCBS) National Cohort Save the date! The next CSLP-sponsored BCBS national cohort will be offered in the fall of 2025. Watch for an announcement later this summer and in the meantime, be sure to subscribe to the Collaborative Summer Library Program newsletter for news and announcements.  Jeni Schomber Public Library Consultant The DPI does not sponsor or endorse external resources or events. They are provided for your consideration only. Contact: jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov