YSS Midday Mingle: SLP Debrief on September 21

 

Now that all our fabulous summer programming has come to a close, join us on Monday, September 21st at 1:00 PM for an informal roundtable discussion about the highs and lows of summer at the library. Here are just a few of the topics we’ll be covering:

• Performer highlights: the good, the bad, the ugly
• Tracking and prizes: how do you do it?
• What kind of summer programming do you do? (Performers, passive, active)
• Managing summer volunteers
• How does your outreach change during the summer?
• Trends you’ve seen in your programming and/or collections during the summer
• Outdoor programming
• Avoiding/dealing with burnout

Don’t miss this opportunity to share ideas, gather inspiration, and enjoy the community of fellow youth librarians, all via Zoom!

You do not have to be a YSS of WLA member to participate. The Midday Mingle is open to all!

 

Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) Cohort Applications Open Soon!

Save the Date!   Application Period for the statewide Fall 2026 Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) Cohort Opens Monday, August 17, 2026.  Applications open next week for participating in the statewide cohort facilitated by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Bureau of Libraries for the Fall 2026 Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS).   Seven public libraries will have the opportunity to participate in Wisconsin’s BCBS Cohort.  BCBS participants will actively engage in challenging conversations, reflection, and activities with facilitators and each other to consider transformational concepts that view summer programs and services through a community-based lens. The BCBS learning framework will empower library staff who want to engage community voices and provide summer services and programming to all by equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to co-create accessible services and promote involvement across communities served by their library.   BCBS does not focus on specific summer programs and how to implement them. Rather, this systemic approach asks libraries to consider the ways that policies, staffing, budgets, and other tasks impact their ability to build community-based practices. Participants will engage in deep work to identify the “whys” behind their summer services, examine and reimagine traditions, connect and build relationships in their communities, and measure the impact of their services.    Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members. Libraries are encouraged to have staff from various departments and can include Youth Services, Adult Services, Programming, Outreach, or administrative staff.  Participation in the BCBS cohort will require participants to:  Attend six online 90-minute interactive discussions on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. beginning October 13 through November 17, 2026.  Complete the one-hour online WebJunction “Getting Started with Community-Based Summers” course before October 13, 2026. Participants will need to create a free account to access this course.   Work within your library and community to begin to consider and assess your existing summer programs and services through a community-based approach.  This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applications will be selected. In building a diverse cohort, the selection process is looking for representation of all library and community sizes, various geographic areas, and demographic community compositions. Applicants will be notified of selection status by Friday, September 11, 2026.  Please contact Jeni Schomber (jeni.schomber@dpi.wi.gov) or Kelly Wochinske (KLWochi@milwaukee.gov) with any questions.

Tips and Info from DPI's March 12, 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 12, 2026 edition:

Hello All,  Check out these youth services weekly resources and reminders!  2026 Programming and Activity Count Tracker  This workbook can be used to track programs and activities throughout the year, and prepare program, activity counts, attendance, and participation for Sections III and XIII of the Annual Report. Visit Wisconsin Public Library Annual Report for more information.  Summer Math Adventure Program The purpose of this Wisconsin Mathematics Council program is to bring fun, engaging mathematics related activities to students and families across Wisconsin. This year’s updated version includes all new activities for grades 6-8. All materials are free. If you are interested in receiving updates and the link to printable versions of the activities, please complete the 2026 WMC Summer Math Adventure Interest Form.   Promoting Your TeachingBooks Access at the Public Library  Wednesday, March 25, from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Make the most of your TeachingBooks access with tips and tricks for promoting the site to your library patrons. Explore resources that can be easily included in patron interactions and programs, increase staff awareness of time-saving tools, and bring reading to life in your community. Even if you can’t attend the live webinar, you can still register here to receive a recording of this session.  Job Posting: Project Coordinator Bureau of Libraries (DPI)  The Bureau of Libraries is seeking applicants for a Project Coordinator. This position is responsible for the coordination of complex projects and activities among staff of the Bureau of Libraries working with public library systems, Cooperative Educational Service Agencies, public and school libraries, vendors, and organizations representing external partners. For full details and how to apply, visit https://wj.wi.gov/20324  CSLP Theme and Slogan Wordsmithing Sessions  Do you adore wordsmithing words and phrases? Do you love word play? Staff from Wisconsin libraries are welcome to join the Theme & Slogan Committee for a deep dive into developing the short list of slogan options for 2029's Nature theme. Join us and share your thoughts.  We're offering two 90 minute Zoom sessions to try and get input from as many libraries as possible:  Register for Tuesday, March 24 at 1pm PST/2pm MST/3pm CST/4pm EST  Register for Wednesday, April 8 at 10am PST/11 am MST/12pm CST/1pm EST    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 29, 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 29, 2025 edition:

 

Hello All,  Check out these youth services resources and reminders!  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 to attend 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.

Camp Reads for Teens

Image by Nicole Turner from Pixabay

Nothing says summer like summer camp. So many memories are made through the fireside heart to hearts, s'mores, games, and of course time away from home. We've all had request for beach reads, but may I suggest introducing camp reads into your  reader's advisory with Dena McMurdie's list of must-read YA books set at summer camp.

McMurdie explains, "For many teens, sleepaway camp is their first time away from home and the watchful eyes of their parents — which is why novels set at summer camp are filled with coming-of-age themes. Spending time away from home, connecting with friends, and experiencing new things are excellent reasons why sleepaway camp is a rite of passage for many young people."

Stop here to see the list! [Highly Readable YA Books Set at Summer Camp. Dena McMurdie. Brightly blog. Undated.]

ICYMI: National Pollinator Month programs & content for Wisconsin Public Libraries to use in June 2022!

June is National Pollinators Month. In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and how everyone can help them, American Transmission Co. is teaming up with gardening expert and author Melinda Myers. Together, they will produce and provide educational programming and content to Wisconsin Public Libraries statewide for National Pollinators Month (June 2022). The content and programming will be made available to the libraries at no cost and the libraries may offer the programs and content to their patrons throughout the month of June.  Everything will be delivered to the libraries by mid-May.  Attached is a program factsheet with exactly what you’ll be able to offer your patrons and ideas on how you can work the content and materials into your June educational programming, including 3 live webinars, 3 videos, several Do-it-Yourself projects and more!

We hope you can utilize the content and materials to help get the word out about the importance of pollinators and how we can all do our part to help them.

If you have any questions, please email diana@melindamyers.com.

Summer is a Super Time to Share YSS Early Literacy Calendars

With all the additional patrons in the library, summer is a wonderful time to introduce your patrons to the YSS Early Literacy Calendars. Filled with easy activities emphasizing early literacy practices, the calendar is a terrific outreach piece and summer handout for parents, grandparents, and caregivers. Get your downloadable pdf file of the calendar on the WLA YSS Resources page right HERE. Each month was created by a different YSS member.

Letting Kids Be Bored in Summer

Pixabay Image

"What?!?!" you say.

In a fascinating article, psychologists suggest this very thing:

"There are activities and summer camps galore to fill children’s time and supply much needed childcare when kids are out of school. But psychologists and child development experts suggest that over-scheduling children during the summer is unnecessary and could ultimately keep kids from discovering what truly interests them."

Does this have implications for our work in summer? To read the brief, thought-provoking article, stop here.

June Is Audiobook Month: Audiobooks for Summer Reading

Submitted by Sharon Grover, Youth Services & Audiobook Literacy Consultant

Co-author, Listening to Learn: Audiobooks Supporting Literacy

Yes, you read that right, audiobooks are a legitimate way to read and should be part of every summer library program. In the summer, when everyone’s on the go, an audiobook can be an especially good way to squeeze in summer reading lists, reading for pleasure, or a shared family literature experience. If you're looking for great audiobook titles to include in your recommendations for summer reading, here are some suggested sites that will make it easy:

Sound Learning (http://soundlearningapa.org)

This terrific toolkit for teachers and librarians from the Audio Publishers Association is one-stop shopping for information on audiobooks and literacy-development, as well as a treasure-trove of teacher tips, suggestions for audiobook promotion in public libraries, and loads of great titles for every occasion, including summer reading.

Sync Audiobooks for Teens (http://www.audiobooksync.com)

This free program includes 30 titles (2 titles each week for 15 weeks) that can be downloaded and kept as long as you like. Geared toward teen interests and learning themes, this is an exciting, easy way to promote listening for teens ages 13 and up. Many adult listeners will find this list appealing as well.

Audiobooks for Kids and Teens (http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/kids-teens/)   

AudioFile magazine’s comprehensive list of titles is divided by age group and even includes titles particularly recommended for family listening. The large mix of genres, themes, and narration styles provides plenty of suggestions for all types of listeners. The AudioFile blog also offers ways to encourage discussion of what kids have read with their ears (https://blog.audiofilemagazine.com/category/audiobooks-literacy/).

Listen-Alikes for Grades 5-12

AudioFile also offers this broad selection of genres and themes paired together for listening and discussing. Check out the digital edition of the magazine for these titles in a five-page spread: http://digital.audiofilemagazine.com/i/657727-april-may-2016/21

And when you're doing audiobook Readers’ Advisory, don't forget the wonderful lists available from ALA: Notable Children's Recordings (http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncr), Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (http://www.ala.org/yalsa/amazing-audiobooks), and the premier Odyssey Award, jointly administered by ALSC and YALSA (http://www.ala.org/yalsa/odyssey-award). You also don't want to miss titles selected for the Audio Publishers Association Audies Awards, exciting audiobooks for all ages and interests (https://apa.staging.t-r.io/uploads/pdf/Audies_Nominations_Release.pdf).

Happy listening!