New YA Books this Week

Photo from bookriot.com

Looking for new recommendations for your teen readers? Book Riot's What's Up in YA page has a ton of new releases featured this week! There is something for everyone on this list and books in both hardcover and paperback. Highly awaited books from authors like Yamile Saied Mendez, Sarah Dessen, and Holly Black top the list!

See what's new in YA here.

[A Global Teen Leadership Takeover, Outlawed Musicians, and More New YA Books for May 6, 2026. Jensen, K. May 6, 2026. Bookriot.com] 

https://bookriot.com/new-ya-books-may-6-2026/

After School in the Library

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

In a post from Public Libraries Online, Raven Smith writes about teens and 'tweens using the library after school. Smith states, "some libraries have hesitated to fully embrace tween and teen services out of concern for disruption or limited space." Smith encourages libraries to take a different approach, and welcome the kids into their spaces, specifically intentionally creating space and programs for kids after school. 

In the Lansing Public Library, they've created a Teen Island, open every day after school from 3-5. They provide programming, snacks, games and more for kids. They have created a place where teens feel comfortable and welcome. Some of their tips include:

1. Dedicate space intentionally

2. Establish clear expectations

3. Build partnerships

4. Hire relational staff

5. Integrate youth into the broader vision

Read the full article, and more into their tips here.

[Making Space After School: How Lansing (IL) Public Library Serves Teens and Tweens. Smith, R. February 26, 2026. publiclibrariesonline.org.]

Midday Mingle - All About Teens

The next Midday Mingle is coming up quickly!

Image by cottonbro studio from Pexels

We are calling all youth services folk across the state serving the niche (sometimes elusive) but oh-so rewarding audience of teens. Many of us are flying solo in teen services, let's get together to program swap and connect!

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 PM (Zoom Link) to chat about teen services - specifically

 programming.  We will round table topics like:

• What's working for you
• Most successful program in the last year
• Upcoming program you are excited about
• What was a bust
• Back pocket program (programs you have ready to go if needed)
• Passive programs/activities
• Teen spaces
• set up/what's available
• rules
• do you work/program in them
• And anything else you'd like to discuss - the conversation will be driven be the attendees and go wherever is most useful to you!

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a member of YSS or WLA.

 

Time: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link 

 

Can't wait to chat with you all! 

Midday Mingles happen quarterly – expect to see several throughout 2026! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email yss

Immigration Books for Kids

Photo from readbrightly.com

In a timely article from readbrightly.com, Laura Lambert highlights books for children that speak to the immigrant experience in the United States. She asks, "what does [immigration] mean to a 3-, 6-, or 12-year old?" Included in her list are picture books like, What is a Refugee?, Danbi Leads the School Parade, and Yuyi Morales's award winning Dreamers. 

To see the full list of titles you can read the article here.

[Books for Kids About the Immigrant Experience in America. Lambert, L. Updated in 2026. readbrightly.com]

https://www.readbrightly.com/books-about-immigration-for-kids/

Midday Mingle Alert - Teens!!!

Image by cottonbro studio from Pexels

We've got another Midday Mingle on the horizon! We are calling all youth services folk across the state serving the niche (sometimes elusive) but oh-so rewarding audience of teens. Many of us are flying solo in teen services, let's get together to program swap and connect!

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 PM (Zoom Link) to chat about teen services - specifically programming.  We will round table topics like:

• What's working for you
• Most successful program in the last year
• Upcoming program you are excited about
• What was a bust
• Back pocket program (programs you always have ready to go if needed)
• Passive programs/activities
• Teen spaces
• set up/what's available
• rules
• do you work/program in them
• And anything else you'd like to discuss - the conversation will be driven be the attendees and go wherever is most useful to you!

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a member of YSS or WLA.

 

Time: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link 

 

Can't wait to chat with you all! 

Midday Mingles happen quarterly – expect to see several throughout 2026! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email kalford@menomonee-falls.org.

Dungeons and Dragons beyond the table

Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash

Dungeons and Dragons has had a resurgence in the last few years, and authors of young adult books have taken notice. D&D features heavily in a number of new books for teens and 'tweens. Kelly Jensen writes for Book Riot, "over the last year or so, there's been a swell of D&D appearing within the pages of young adult literature." And, those books aren't limited to one genre. There are romances, fantasies, realistic fiction and more! 

See the list of recommended titles here.

[Roll For It: Dungeons and Dragons in YA. Jensen, Kelly. 11/13/2025. BookRiot.Com]

https://bookriot.com/roll-for-it-dungeons-and-dragons-in-ya/

Tips and Info from DPI's November 6, 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 November 6, 2025 edition:

 

Hello All,  Check out these youth services resources and reminders!  CSLP Summer Symposium – Registration is open!  Thursday, December 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Check out the Collaborative Summer Library Program for manual highlights, program ideas, and to hear from the CSLP 2026 Summer Reading Champion, Dan Santat!  Register to attend live.  Can’t attend the live event? Register to receive the recording.   Building Community Based Summers (BCBS) Wisconsin Cohort  The application for the Spring 2026 Wisconsin Cohort is open!   The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Bureau of Libraries is looking for six libraries to participate in the 2026 Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) Cohort.     The BCBS learning framework will empower library staff to weave equity into their summer services and programming by exploring how equitable their current programs are, whether equity goals are being achieved, and what impact summer programs are having on those community members needing them most.    The deadline to apply is Friday, November 14, 2026. Applicants will be notified of their status by Monday, November 24, 2026.  2026 Summer Teen Internship Informational Webinar  Registration for the DPI Bureau of Libraries Teen Internship informational webinar at 10 a.m., January 30, 2026, is open.  Attendees will learn about the goals of the internship, what is expected of the library, the mentor, and the intern, and how to apply for the program.   Up to $2500 in funding is available for each of the selected Wisconsin public libraries to hire a paid summer intern who reflects the voice and perspectives of their community. This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applications will be accepted into the program.  The Teen Internship is supported by the Institute of Museums and Library Services with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding and is conditioned upon the availability of government funds which may be limited for any reason including, but not limited to, congressional, legislative, gubernatorial, or administrative action.  Vibrant Emotional Health is sharing Free 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline resources  The 988 Lifeline is a national network of crisis contact centers that connects people with skilled, compassionate crisis counselors 24/7, offering support for anyone in suicidal crisis or struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, or substance misuse.  Libraries of all kinds can request a free package containing 3 full-size flyers, 3 half-size flyers, 10 postcards, 10 bookmarks, and 10 stickers to help spread awareness of this vital resource to patrons.  These materials provide important information about how to access help via call, text or online chat.  By displaying these resources in your library, you can play a crucial role in connecting community members to life-saving support.  Request your free materials at this link  Nourishing Minds: A Free Toolkit for Teen Mental Health Programming in Libraries  Wednesday, November 19 from 2 to 3 p.m.  Join the Programming Librarian (ALA) for this free webinar to learn how to use Nourishing Minds, a free digital toolkit created by the Seattle Public Library for supporting teen mental health programming. The Nourishing Minds Framework, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and with support from The Seattle Public Library Foundation, is a comprehensive approach for libraries to support teen mental health. Over the course of three years, Seattle Public Library staff tested the digital toolkit, supporting librarians and teens with meaningful teen-focused programming. In this webinar, hear from the Nourishing Minds team about the framework, resources, and how libraries have used the toolkit to create teen programs.  For more information and to register, visit: https://programminglibrarian.org/webinars  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

Tips and Info from DPI's October 23, 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 October 23, 2025 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services resources and reminders!  Building Community Based Summers (BCBS) Wisconsin Cohort  Save the date! The application for the Spring 2026 Wisconsin Cohort opens on Wednesday, October 29 and closes on Friday, November 14 at 4 p.m.  The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Bureau of Libraries is looking for six libraries to participate in the 2026 Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) Cohort.     The BCBS learning framework will empower library staff to weave equity into their summer services and programming by exploring how equitable their current programs are, whether equity goals are being achieved, and what impact summer programs are having on those community members needing them most.    BadgerLink Bulletin  Calling all Public Library Staff – we want to hear from you. Take the 10-minute HeritageQuest survey today. Survey closes November 7.   Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter  The CSLP October newsletter, now available, is full of great information including Manual resources, Summer Symposium registration, Universal Design: Inclusive Approach to Public Librarianship webinar registration, and more!  Talking Teen Services Webinars  Hosted by the Colorado State Library Youth and Family Services Team, this series of webinars offers practical strategies for working with youth and teens.   Register here for the Understanding Teens: Building Positive Relationships webinar October 29 at 12 p.m. CST.   Webinars are archived and are available for free.     Jeni Schomber  Public Library Consultant

Tips and Info from DPI's September 4, 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 September 4, 2025 edition 

Hello All,  Check out these youth services resources and reminders!  Consider Joining a CSLP Committee  Collaborative Summer Library Program committees are the engine that keeps CSLP moving forward, and vibrant committees lead to a vibrant CSLP. That is why we invite all member library staff members to join a committee annually. Only through your input can we continue to improve.  Sign-ups for 2026 CSLP Committees are open until October 15. While the duties vary, committee obligations generally run for one calendar year. All committee work is done virtually, either through email, or through phone or online meetings. Attending the CSLP Annual Meeting is not required.   Each committee has different size and participation criteria. To help you decide which committee to volunteer for, please visit: https://www.cslpreads.org/committees/ to review the responsibilities of each committee. Most CSLP committees are open to all, however some have limited seats or require previous CSLP experience.  Applications are open Tuesday September 9 through October 15 - CSLP Committee Application form   Collection Management Confidence: Confronting Self-Censorship  Friday, October 3, 2025, at 1 p.m. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ree81uBATqWX8xd_IZx5nA  The surge of book challenges in recent years has amplified conversations about library policies and procedures.  Intellectual freedom issues have been the focus of staff trainings, discussed in public meetings, and debated in the news media.  With all the big talk about book bans, there's a quieter dialog happening about library staff self-censorship:  the conscious, subconscious, and even self-conscious choices about purchasing, displaying and doing programming with certain titles.  This judgement-free webinar will define self-censorship and explore ways to manage fear, bias, and tension as a public librarian today.  Presenters:  Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Director, Cooperative Children's Book Center and Teresa Schmidt, Public Library Administration Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction  Understanding Teens – A Talking Teen Services Colorado State Library webinar series  Wednesdays, October 1st, 15th, and 29th, 2025 – 12 to 1 p.m.  Teens are important patrons in our libraries, with unique and evolving needs. In this series of webinars, we will share our approach in working towards welcoming, inclusive teen services by using staff training. Our goals with our staff training are to establish a base of empathy through better understanding of teens and their current experiences, and to offer practical strategies in working with youth. We will hold three sessions in this webinar series; each session will include working through a different part of the training. We will share our adaptable outline and references for attendees who would like to use the training in their own libraries.  Individual session descriptions are listed on each registration page.  Session 1 - Intersectional Factors   Session 2 - Biases and Stereotypes  Session 3 - Building Positive Relationships  First Day of School with BadgerLink Resources  Check out what the BadgerLink content providers have been up to this summer!  Library Card Sign-up Month – A Wisconsin Libraries for Everyone story  A testament to the power of libraries and the incredible people who make it happen.  Jeni Schomber  Public Library Consultant

Resources - Teen Behavior in the Library

Image by Cyn Yoder from Pixabay

A recent blog post by Leah Langby in IFLS Library System's Keeping Up with Kids blog had some great resources to help staff navigate teen behavior in libraries. Thanks for sharing Leah!

To read this helpful post, please stop here. [Teen Behavior in the Library. Langby, Leah. Keeping Up with Kids blog. June 27, 2025.]