Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Imagine Your Story Webinar, Courtesy of Our Michigan Neighbors!

The Library of Michigan’s Youth Services Advisory Council did an Imagine Your Story Webinar with ideas for early lit-teens last week and you can find it here: https://youtu.be/WrHglCmfszI.

[Recorded 1/7/2020]

Programming ideas and tips for the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s 2020 summer reading program, “Imagine Your Story,” are shared from your peers in the field.

This program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Cathy Lancaster
Youth Services Coordinator
Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915

Meet the Newest Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature!

This just in!  Jason Reynolds, rockstar author and poet extraordinaire, has been named the newest Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature!
Click HERE to see the official press release and HERE to see the brief video segment aired on CBS This Morning.


Monday, January 13, 2020

Call for Conference Proposals - Lake Superior Library Symposium

The Lake Superior Library Symposium is an amazing small, multi-type library conference. It has been held in Duluth each June for the past eight years. The passionate planning team invites library staff from northern WI  & MN to share great content that appeals to everyone working in libraries. Many of us from throughout WI have attended this one-day gem of a conference and it is a marvelous learning opportunity.

This year's conference  will be held Friday June 5 at UW-M's Kathryn A. Martin Library in Duluth. If you are coming from a distance, plan for a few extra days before or after to stay and play along MN's rugged North Shore of Lake Superior! Fobazi Ettarh has just been announced as conference keynoter and June 4 preconference speaker!! Watch for registration information and a full schedule in April.

In their proposal call, LSLS folks write: "Be a presenter at LSLS20! This year's theme is "Mapping Our Identity." At this year's conference we will ask, and hopefully start to answer, the questions of “Who are we?,” “Who do we want to become?,” and “How are we getting there?” For more information or to submit your proposal, visit our website. Please submit your proposals by March 29.

Possibilities for presentation topics include:
Redefining Boundaries - How have we, as individuals or organizations, broken barriers to create a new sense of who we are? How do we balance our work with our personal lives? What do we do – and just as importantly, what don’t we do – to reinvigorate and advance our missions?
Expanding Our Reach - What partnerships have we been involved in, and how have they changed how we position ourselves? How can interdisciplinary approaches positively shift who we are and what we do? What types of programming, marketing campaigns, tools, or services have we implemented to reach farther than we used to?
Defining Ourselves - How do our personal identities intertwine with the identity of being a library worker? What happens when we shift jobs or professions partway through our careers? How does learning about our past influence who we are and who we’re becoming?
Protecting Our Identity - How do we ensure the security of the data we collect, the information and resources we steward, and the systems we use? How do we help our patrons protect their identities? How do we show that we value and advocate for the diverse identities of our communities?
Perceiving Libraries - How are libraries perceived, by library workers and by our communities? What do we find helpful about how library workers are perceived, and what might we like to change? How do we capitalize on the positive perceptions? How do we address what’s misunderstood?"

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Reminder - YSS Meet-up Ahead!


YSS Regional Meet Up - Upper MidEast Region 

Friday, January 24 | 1:30-4:00 PM

Cost: $0

Manitowoc Public Library

707 Quay St, Manitowoc, WI 54220


Agenda:
1:30 pm     Welcome and Introductions 
  • Share one idea you have for SRP/SLP! Big or small, we want to hear them all!
2:15 pm   Manitowoc Public Library Tour 
3:00 pm      Tech Toy Playtime
  • Explore all the new (and old) tech toys in Manitowoc’s Idea Box!  
4:00 pm       Wrap up 
 
Bring a friend or colleague that isn't a YSS member yet and let them see the benefits YSS membership has to offer!
 
Please RSVP here.

 
Questions? Email Katherine Schoofs at aramkids@aramlibrary.org

Thursday, January 9, 2020

C.A.L.L.: Conference About Libraries & Learning

C.A.L.L.: Conference About Libraries & Learning
Monday, April 6, 2020

 Accessibility: Breaking Barriers
It is our distinct pleasure to invite you to the Conference About Libraries & Learning (C.A.L.L.). The conference is a collaboration between UW-La Crosse Murphy Library, the School District of La Crosse & La Crosse Public Library and will take place on the UW-La Crosse campus on Monday, April 6, 2020. Librarians from all types of libraries (school, public, academic, special, etc.) are encouraged to attend. 
Now in its fourth year, C.A.L.L. has chosen Accessibility: Breaking Barriers as its 2020 theme. Libraries are often considered the last democratic institution. But in fact, there are still lasting barriers that prevent patrons from accessing all of the resources that the library has to offer. We are now accepting presentation proposals on the topic of accessibility including and not limited to: 
  • Political climates
  • Physical means and spaces 
  • Intentional collection development 
  • Equitable access 
  • Comprehensive programming 
  • Ingrained barriers in libraries 
  • Literacy (information, digital, media, reading, etc.)
  • Outreach and engagement
  • High speed internet access
  • Socially excluded users
  • Perceptions of librarians as unwelcoming
  • Lack of professional staff or trained staff

Submission Details
To submit a conference proposal, please use the submission form.  Presentation sessions are 30 minutes each with 15 minutes scheduled for questions/discussion. Collaborative and interactive presentations are encouraged and panel presentations are also accepted. The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, February 10, 2020 and notification of acceptance will be Monday, February 17, 2020.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact Liz Humrickhouse at ehumrickhouse@uwlax.edu.

We look forward to seeing you at the Conference About Libraries and Learning!

Cindy Halter, School District of La Crosse
Teri Holford, UW-La Crosse Murphy Library
Liz Humrickhouse, UW-La Crosse Murphy Library
Linda Jerome, La Crosse Public Library

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Moment of Reflection

Although New Year activities are traditionally reserved for looking forward, looking backward can be an opportunity to reflect on growth, success, and even moments of struggle that resulted in great things happening later.

Take a moment to think of three good things that happened in your professional library practice in 2019. Keep reading when you are done. 

Now, think of three good things that happened in your personal life in 2019. Keep reading when you are done.

Building on strengths is a powerful strategy to make our choices more effective. What is working well at the library? What collections are being checked out frequently? What programs are well received? What is strong in your library that you can highlight in advocacy conversations and then tell stakeholders you are building and expanding on?

Now think of your personal life. What is going well? What can you continue to invest in that is already blooming?

Thank you for everything you do that keeps our libraries strong. I wish you the best in 2020.
-Emily


Photo by Jenni Chen, license CC BY  https://jennichen.fi/

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

ALSC Blog Post - Best of the Decade: Children's Librarianship

It is time to look at the best of the decade in children’s librarianship and literature, because what a decade it has been! There’s been highs and lows from drama in publishing to people holding one another accountable for better books, better representation, better [programming and better everything. Let’s take some time to celebrate the good that has happened. And strive to do even better in the decade to come!
These awards are solely my own opinion, not the opinions of ALSC and are completely for fun!

Best Newbery Award Winner: I’m very partial to Merci Suarez Changes Gears (the last and best Newbery winner of the decade!) but have to admit that I’m of course biased because that was my year on the committee. From Rebecca Stead starting the decade strong with When You Reach Me, to a sports book in verse winning with The Crossover by Kwame Alexander in 2015- I have to give the cake to the picture book Newbery Medal Winner of Last Stop on Market Street Matt de la Peña: a book that truly exemplifies all six of the Newbery criteria in a very short word count!

Best Caldecott Medalist: This category was a tough one. I loved the wordless art in the 2010 winner, The Lion & the Mouse,and who can not appreciate the dark humor in This is Not my Hat, or the beauty and creativity in The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend.Since I am making the rules for these “awards” on my own, I’m declaring a draw for this winner and asking for people’s votes in the comments. Because I can! Help me make a decision please!

Best Programming Trend: From learning a digital language in coding programs, to finding the inner zen with yoga, to cuddling away with therapy dogs, to making it out of the library in escape rooms, to a surge of makerspaces and sensory programming… the list goes on and on and on!  I am going to call Makerspaces the trend of the decade, they have been booming and evolving in nearly every library from big to small!

Most Unique Circulating Items: Circulating Technology, Library of Extraordinary Things, the name changes depending on the library but libraries aren’t just for books anymore. You can get laptops, iPads, phone chargers, umbrellas, cupcake tins- but my favorite item would be how you can get a borrowed stroller with a baby doll from the Elmhurst Public Library. So. Awesome.

Best Change Made: With a new decade, comes changes in the field, and this decade was one for the books. From the new Early Learning Digital Media Award, to lifelong donations from the ,1876 Club, I think a most momentous change is ALSC’s noteworthy decision to rename the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. Will this pave the way for award name changes in the future? Only time will tell.

Best “serial” Series: We’ve seen Magic Treehouse, rebrand and renumber with Merlin Missions, we’ve watched Scholastic’s Branches make great strides in fun beginning chapter book series, we’ve seen the Princess in Black band together with her allies, we’ve watched Geronimo and his clan take over the universe and our dear Wimpy Kid have awkward exploit after awkward exploit. But I have to give it to Dav Pilkey’s latest creation: DOG MAN!!!!!!! A series where truly every book gets better than the last!

Most Exciting Substance: Is glitter a thing of the past? Is slime the new silliest item? Are rubber band balls making a comeback? Do ukuleles count as a material? With an increase in books, programming, and fun- I give the most exciting substance to SLIME! Because who doesn’t want to have a slimey time in the library?

KidLit Adaptation: There’s nothing new about movies being made from children’s books, but TV shows and now Netflix shows have taken a new rush. Netflix has gone on a spree buying rights to children’s books . To All the Boys I Loved Before, Dumplin, Series of Unfortunate Events, the controversial 13 Reasons Why series, I have to give it to Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Such a well done series, that actually sticks to the booms surprisingly well. I need to watch this again. And read them all again.

Best library “buzz words”: New trends, new phrases, new hashtags take over the world: computational thinking, racial equity, social innovation, big body play, digital divide. I’m not sure if #weneeddiversebooks counts, but it’s my winner- keep those #ownvoices coming!

Best interactive picture book: In 2011, Herve Tullet published “Press Here,” a book with an engaging and fun concept that kids could be involved in the story. The book had huge success and was later published in big books and more formats. Tullet has written several others and started a trend of interactive picture books from Christie Mathesons, Tap the Magic TreePlant the Tiny Seed, and Touch the Brightest Star.  Jessica Young’s Play This Book and Shake the Tree by Chiara Bignocchi, and Get Out of My Bath! by Britta Tecktentrup! There’s the Dinosaur Vs. Series, and It’s a Tiger! and Don’t Push the Button and Olaf 1-2-3! My winner is Tap the Magic Tree, because it can be timely in all four seasons- pretty impressive! Can this come out in big book format yet?

This post has been fun, but the decade was definitely a lot to cover- thanks for an amazing decade in children’s literature and librarianship.  Let me know more nominations and more best ofs. We could recap 2010 for the whole new decade, but  I cannot wait to see what’s to come!
These awards were solely my own opinion, not the opinions of ALSC and are completely for fun!

Monday, January 6, 2020

Call for Proposals - CALL Conference, La Crosse

C.A.L.L.: Conference About Libraries & Learning
Monday, April 6, 2020

 Accessibility: Breaking Barriers
It is our distinct pleasure to invite you to the Conference About Libraries & Learning (C.A.L.L.). The conference is a collaboration between UW-La Crosse Murphy Library, the School District of La Crosse & La Crosse Public Library and will take place on the UW-La Crosse campus on Monday, April 6, 2020. Librarians from all types of libraries (school, public, academic, special, etc.) are encouraged to attend. 

Now in its fourth year, C.A.L.L. has chosen Accessibility: Breaking Barriers as its 2020 theme. Libraries are often considered the last democratic institution. But in fact, there are still lasting barriers that prevent patrons from accessing all of the resources that the library has to offer. We are now accepting presentation proposals on the topic of accessibility including and not limited to: 

  • Political climates
  • Physical means and spaces 
  • Intentional collection development 
  • Equitable access 
  • Comprehensive programming 
  • Ingrained barriers in libraries 
  • Literacy (information, digital, media, reading, etc.)
  • Outreach and engagement
  • High speed internet access
  • Socially excluded users
  • Perceptions of librarians as unwelcoming
  • Lack of professional staff or trained staff

Submission Details
To submit a conference proposal, please use the submission form.  Presentation sessions are 30 minutes each with 15 minutes scheduled for questions/discussion. Collaborative and interactive presentations are encouraged and panel presentations are also accepted. The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, February 10, 2020 and notification of acceptance will be Monday, February 17, 2020.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact Liz Humrickhouse at ehumrickhouse@uwlax.edu.

We look forward to seeing you at the Conference About Libraries and Learning!

Cindy Halter, School District of La Crosse
Teri Holford, UW-La Crosse Murphy Library
Liz Humrickhouse, UW-La Crosse Murphy Library

Linda Jerome, La Crosse Public Library

Experience the ALA Youth Award Announcements Live!


From the ALA press release:

"On Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at 8 a.m. ET (7:00 am Wisco time!!), the American Library Association (ALA) will reveal the next classics in children’s and young adult literature during its Youth Media Awards announcements from Philadelphia. 

Libraries, schools and book lovers from around the globe will follow the action live by visiting http://ala.unikron.com, Facebook Live @AmericanLibraryAssociation or following hashtag #alayma20. 

Each year the ALA honors books and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards, including the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, award winning titles rarely go out of print and stay on library shelves for decades to come. 

School libraries and classrooms across the country will host viewing parties and compare award mock election results to ALA selections. Those that miss the live broadcast can view a complete list of 2020 award winners immediately after the announcements and may view an encore recording of the event later in the day at http://ala.unikron.com.   

The ALA Youth Media Awards are part of the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits taking place from Jan. 24 – 28, 2020 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Additional information on the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits is available at www.alamidwinter.org."

Friday, January 3, 2020

October 2019 YSS Board Minutes - WLA Conference Edition

Wisconsin Library Association
Youth Services Section Board Meeting
Thursday, October 10th at 7:30am

Present: Katie Kiekhaefer, Sarah Cournoyer, Katherine Schoofs, Sue Abrahamson, Emily Sanders, Anne Hamland, Florence LaBeau, Jenny Wegener, Katherine Freund, Aimee Schreiber, Abby Seymour,Brooke Newberry, Julia Lee, Ashley Borman, Nancy Aycock, Beth, Stacy, Murray, Lynn, and other YSS members.

Approve Minutes, Agenda:
Motion by Sue Abrahamson, seconded by Katherine Schoofs

Welcome and Introductions

Overview of the year in YSS thus far: Katie
"I wanted to start us off with some background to what YSS has done so far in 2019 to give us all a reminder of how far we've come since we last met in person at our Board retreat in January and also give our visiting members some background, as well."

  • Held meet-ups in Central Wisconsin, Southeastern Wisconsin, and Northwest Wisconsin
  • Hosted YSS socials at both WAPL and WLA
    • 48 people attended the YSS social at WLA last night
  • Released 12 Months of Coding into the world
  • Brought Miranda Paul to WLA for the YSS Luncheon Speaker
  • Rejoiced in having a marketing committee that sent 7-ish messages and countless engaging social media posts to membership about all of the amazing things YSS is doing
  • Fielded a full, competitive ballot for WLA elections in 2020
  • Published over 175 posts on the YSS Shout-Out Blog
  • Awarded the Burr Worzalla Award to Chad Sell for Cardboard Kingdom
Old Business:

Marketing Committee: Anne, Sarah, Katherine
  • many channels to find us, increasing visibility, and promoting membership
  • Sue said to share the monthly email with non-YSS members with a "sorry if cross post"
Public/School Libraries Group: Katie
  • I would encourage all of you to stop by the DPI booth in the exhibit hall at some point to learn more about the work the WEMTA/WLA Networking Group is doing and to also give some information to them. WEMTA is the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association.
  • Ways to help the group (and more importantly earn a sticker):
    • Google Form and perhaps a QR code that you can use on your phone - then, if the booth is unstaffed, people can DIY
    • Cards with issues/topics and ask people to put in order by importance to them or most to least desirable or easiest to hardest - depending on the approach of the question. Result would help in determining direction to what we or other players might do. Then, ask them why they ordered them that way--gives us more insight. Rank from "Less Challenging" to "Most Challenging" Follow up: Tell us any additional thoughts or circumstances that influenced your ranking. Also, do you have examples of favorite collaborations that you want to share?
  • These responses and other work done by this group will be used to guide next steps and inform the Tidbits quarterly newsletter being shared with both public library staff and school librarians
WLA Board Liaison Report: Sue
  • membership up, Student SIG mainly UW, not UWM, LDI, mentor program relaunch next year and YSS could get involved, YSS budget approved
YSS Powerhouse Presents: Katie
  • After WLA, Katie will resume talks with Hannah Bunting at the WLA office to talk about the plan for WLA hosting and storing our YSS webinars going forward
  • In an ideal world, we would schedule three webinars for 2020. Goal is to have a manageable number, consensus of the group that two is good, three is a bonus. Does anyone have suggestions? Anne, you had mentioned seeing what systems are already covered. It could be a good way to transition our relationship with the systems from having them host to having them help us shape our content.
  • Suggestions of membership topics of interest include:
    • Maybe a Best of YSS at WLA Round Up? Pick three presenters and have them present a condensed version of their talks?
    • Collection Development help
    • Story Time books
    • Teen
    • Readers Advisory (across the board)
    • Sensory Story TIme and Inclusive Programming
    • Outreach: how to literally get your direction to let you leave the library
    • Professional Development: how to get it (how to get the resources, but also how to advocate for yourself to your director and board)
    • How to get your board and your director to understand that you are a professional
    • Do we need to revisit who is on the YSS Powerhouse Presents committee? Julie Kinney was chair with Leah Langby and Emily Sanders. Does anyone want to take that on or should we do some brainstorming about those we could tap for leadership roles? (Others will take on a role)
2020 YSS Luncheon Speaker: Katie
  • Maris Dambekaln of Maris Associates has offered to work with YSS to bring author Michael Dahl as the YSS speaker for 2020. He has confirmed with Michael that the date works and I will be in talks with Brigitte, Maris, and Michael to get everything on our end. I have to clarify with him to make sure that he (and/or Capstone) would be covering the cost of Michael. When I spoke with him on Tuesday, that wasn't as clear. So, watch this space, but I'm hoping that all systems are a go.
  • YA author? Or Chad Sell? Native American author?
YSS Budget for 2020: Katie
  • Our budget request was submitted for 2020 and we requested $200 to cover new conference badge ribbons
New Business:

Regional Retreat/Meet-Up: January 24, 2020
  • This will be at Manitowoc Public Library
  • Kimberly Pelke at Oneida Community Library is willing to host a meet-up
WLA Leadership Meeting: January 10, 2020
  • Chair, Past Chair, and Chair-Elect invited by WLA
Welcoming New Board Members:
  • All present at meeting - - Jenny Wegener as Chair-Elect, Florence LaBeau as Director-at-Large, Katherine Freund as Director-at-Large
Brainstorming Initiatives for Next Year: What Can YSS Do For You?
  • Google spreadsheet for story time outlines and/or story time-proven books
  • Supercharged Story Times--'zine, "Spice Up Your Storytime Form"
  • Google form template
  • Specific topics featuring YSS members - - Whatcha Wondering Wednesday
  • Cardigan Newsletter: Research (what's relevant) Blog posts on relevant research (ways to advocate for your professionalism and your professional development)
  • Homeschoolers (vetted homeschooling resources--how do you find them? How can they be circulated? Parenting resources for those who have kids who are dyslexic--both homeschool and not)
  • Webinar: Resource training, how to best market to teachers. Virtual library cards. Public/School Libraries Group tie-in? School librarians feel threatened--funding in flux, state-wide...understanding the school librarian and their needs and situation: busting myths and gaining understanding. Webinar with school AND public side. Success story?
  • Webinar: weeding (a blog post) concentrate on topics (example: Pluto isn't a planet) tackling specific DDC/LC numbers?
  • Google doc/sheet for collecting Story Time - - Anne is bringing Supercharged Storytime folks, Anne suggested Brooke, Sue brought up not recreating the wheel, Katie brought up that some of the resource bloggers useful in the past aren't posting anymore, Sue brought up STEM, template suggested to include tags for relevant resources
    • promote and link to it through blog. Aimee on board to encourage interaction and comments, will put a call out on the blog - - use YSS email address for it
    • possibly a Friday Forum or Whatcha Wondering Wednesday post on social media
    • could feed program and webinar ideas
    • more timely for member needs
  • Aimee brought up Cardigan newsletter and the research it includes - - thinks this would be useful for webinar or program, also supports budget and advocacy for YS
  • Sue brought up Summer Slide controversy, shift toward Summer Learning, and the relevance to our membership - - Aimee calls it the Summer Boost
  • Murray (Marshfield) brought up the need to find and vet homeschool resources and resources for dyslexia
    • Katherine F. brought up that her homeschool population wants a place to create and "make a mess"
    • Manitowoc collaborates with local homeschool group - - the group coordinates events like a history fair, edible book fest, etc. and the library provides the space
  • Ashley suggested monthly blog post on collection weeding - - topics on what to pull, changes in the world. Aimee asked her to write it
WAPL Planning:
  • Time to start - Sue mentioned that proposals are due in February, consider programs, Directors-at-Large lead committee
Adjourn:
Ashley Borman moved, Emily Sanders seconded.