WLA Fall Conference Proposals Open

Ever think when you are looking at planned programs for an upcoming conference, "Gee I wish they would have a program on this or that?". Well maybe you are the person to propose that program and gather peers from your system, or colleagues you've met across the state to do a program yourselves!

Creating programs for conferences and sharing your knowledge is a great way to grow your professional development, leadership and know-how. And it helps you tailor the kinds of knowledge you think others can benefit from. So go ahead and give it a whirl!

WLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Nov 5 - 8, 2024 | KI Convention Center, Green Bay

Call for Proposals

Present at the 2024 WLA Annual Conference! Are you passionate about sharing your expertise and innovative ideas with your peers in the library community? We invite you to be part of the 2024 Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Annual Conference by submitting a proposal to present! 

We are now accepting proposals for presentations, panels, and workshops. Whether you're an experienced presenter or a first-time speaker, we welcome submissions from individuals across all library types and organizations. This includes public, academic, special, and school libraries, as well as individuals from various departments and backgrounds. WLA members and non-members are encouraged to apply.

Presenter Guidelines

• Breakout sessions will run for 60 minutes, with a maximum of four presenters and one moderator.
• Presenters may be part of up to two breakout sessions.
• Only proposals for in-person sessions will be considered.

Who Should Submit a Proposal?

• Library professionals from all departments and organizations, including youth services, outreach, adult services, marketing, and technical services.
• Individuals across the organizational hierarchy, including frontline staff, administration, directors, emerging and incumbent leaders, and more.
• People from all backgrounds and identities, including those who identify as BIPOC, neurodivergent, disabled, or LGBTQ+.

Submission Deadline

Please submit your proposal using the online form linked here: https://bit.ly/4a7D9KK by 5pm CST on May 17. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact wla@wisconsinlibraries.org.

 Submit Your Proposal

 

Throw-It Thursday - Requesting Donations

Ashley Borman, Technical Services Librarian at the Clintonville (WI) Public Library, is back with another weeding tips column. 

Have you ever played with the idea of creating a unique collection at your library? Maybe have power tools, or cake pans, or fishing gear available for check out? Having a “Library of Things” is becoming increasingly popular in public libraries. It’s a great way for people to be able to borrow something to do something they wouldn’t normally be able to do, or to test out something before investing in their own items. But how can you think about starting something if you don’t have the funding or the space? Ask the community for help.

Asking patrons and members of the community to donate their gently used items is a great way to start building a new collection. I have found the easiest way to do this is to talk to patrons. When they find out what you are doing and what you want, they are usually happy to spread the word to friends and family (and sometimes strangers!). Once I start telling people what I am looking for, and they spread it other people, items start to trickle in. Phones start ringing with questions (Yes, you can absolutely donate that! That sounds like exactly what I am looking for!). I will also post on Facebook that the library is accepting donations of gently used or new [items]. People will share the posts and again, people will start bringing things in.

I love when I ask for things and patrons start bringing stuff in. Sometimes, however, they bring in things that don’t quite work for what I have in mind. So I always like to have a disclaimer on my requests, the same as we have with book donations. Donations are accepted at any time, but it is up to the discretion of the librarians what we keep to use, and what goes to the Friends of the Library for their next book sale. Although, I change it to reflect whatever I am asking patrons to donate. There are always a few things that do not get used, but asking for help is such an easy way to get items when you don’t necessarily have the funds for them.

ASL for Stortime Webinar

From DPI's Jeni Schomber's weekly Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources Updates 4/4/24:

ASL for Storytime: Feelings Signs Webinar 

(CLEL – Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy)– Wednesday April 24^th at 2 p.m.

 Click here to register.

Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for emotions and activities to support self-awareness, an important social emotional skill. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way. 

About the Presenter:
Kathy MacMillan is a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and storyteller. She is the author of the Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press and Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Hands Up Press) as well as many other books for children, teens, librarians, and educators. She has worked in school and public libraries for over 25 years and has presented workshops and trainings for thousands of library staff throughout North America. Find her online at StoriesByHand.com.

School Public Library Collaboration/Networking

 From DPI's Jeni Schomber's weekly Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources Updates 4/4/24:

Connecting Wisconsin Libraries is a networking group of school and public libraries that meets quarterly to facilitate collaboration with WLA stakeholders and WEMTA stakeholders, and to foster collaboration between school and public libraries on a statewide level.

               

                Click here to join us for our next meeting on Thursday April 25^th at 3 p.m.

 

                Mary Ellen Graf from TeachingBooks will be presenting: 

Powerful Partnerships: Schools, Public Libraries, & TeachingBooks 
Collaboratively support readers at home, school, and the public library with TeachingBooks. Learn how to create and share reading lists, integrate TeachingBooks resources into school and library visits,      and cross-promote library programs and school literacy initiatives.

What to Do with Those Used Solar Eclipse Glasses

Image by Dave Davidson from Pixabay

After the excitement of the April 8 eclipse, many people are wondering what to do with their used glasses. Here are a few ideas shared this past week.

The Nicest Thing to Do With Your Eclipse Glasses After Today's Eclipse . Emily Long. Lifehacker. April 8, 2024

What to Do with Extra and Gently Used Eclipse Glasses?? Anne Holland. StarNet Community blog. April 11, 2024

DPI's Jeni Schomber also recommends these two resources:

• Astronomers Without Borders
• Eclipse Glasses USA

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Once or twice  a month on weekends, YSS posts round-ups of ads that are sent to us or that we come across. If you have a position opening up and would like to see it on the YSS blog, please forward the job ad link/descriptions to the YSS blog at the email address listed in the header above the day's blog post.

Here is a mid-April listing:

Elm Grove Public Library          Youth Services Librarian (part-time)

The Elm Grove Public Library is accepting applications for the newly created position of part-time Youth Services Librarian. Elm Grove is a beautiful village in eastern Waukesha County, with a lovely park, pond and walking trails immediately outside the library’s front door. The library is known for its strong customer-service focus and community relationships. The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting with developing and providing youth library programs and services; assisting with youth department collection maintenance; and providing reference, computer assistance and readers’ advisory services at the reference desk.

This position is 12 hours per week plus one eight-hour Saturday approximately every six weeks.

Master of Library Science degree from an accredited program is required.  Previous youth services and public library experience desired.  A successful applicant will be required to undergo a drug screening and a background check.  Deadline for applications is May 1, 2024.  Please send resume, cover letter, and Village of Elm Grove application form to the Elm Grove Public Library, Attention: Sarah Muench, 13600 Juneau Blvd, Elm Grove, WI 53122, or email application materials to Sarah Muench at muench@elmgrove.lib.wi.us. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Brown Co. Library Kress Family Branch (De Pere)    Youth Services Librarian  (full-time)

Brown County Library (BCL) is seeking a creative, energetic, and innovative Youth Services Librarian for our Kress Family Branch in De Pere. This role works with the BCL Youth Services Committee to plan and implement services and programming for patrons from birth through high school, as well as their caregivers.

The YS Librarian works closely with educational partners within the community to support education and literacy for all ages of youth. As part of the Kress Family Branch, this role serves under the branch manager, assisting a team of associates and clerks in supporting the needs of the branch, with a special focus on youth, families, and caregivers.

Kress Family Branch of the Brown County Library
Youth Services Librarian (non-exempt)
Wage: $24.14
Application Deadline: April 24, 2024
Apply Online: https://tinyurl.com/bdzf7bkj

Weigh in On CSLP Themes!

From DPI's Jeni Schomber's weekly Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources Updates 4/4/24:

All CSLP member library staff are invited to contribute thoughts about future summer themes and slogans. This April, you will have two virtual opportunities to give feedback on a slogan for 2027’s theme (Mystery/Detective/Suspense) and a theme for 2028. What type of sleuthing will 2027 bring to our libraries? Will we spend summer of 2028 getting our hands dirty in the garden? Standing under a tree during a rainstorm? Zipping into the future? You get to help us decide!

Register for one of our two listening sessions in April by clicking on the links below. We want to hear your voice! Ahead of the meeting, we will be providing the top 25 options for 2027 slogans and 2028 themes. Help us narrow it down to the ten that will be voted on by State Reps at the annual CSLP meeting!

Slogan/Theme Listening Session Option #1:
Thursday, April 18^th: at 3:00 p.m. Register Here

Slogan/Theme Listening Session Option #2:
Tuesday, April 23^rd: at 1:00 p.m. Register Here

WiLS Ideas to Action Fund Applications Open

The WiLS Ideas to Action Fund application period is open through June 3

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 2023 was $33,800. To date, the WiLS Board has awarded over $155,000 to 38 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 this webinar on preparing your proposal or contact WiLS at information@wils.org.

All WiLS general members are eligible to apply. If you are not a member, it’s free and the application process is quick and easy. Read more about joining WiLS here.

We recognize that sometimes the barrier to completing a project is not lack of funds, but lack of time. Instead of or in addition to funding, members can apply for WiLS staff time to support project planning, facilitation, survey design, marketing, or other project activities.


Visit https://www.wils.org/do/giving-back/ideas-to-action/ for more information and to apply.

Behind the Scenes (and Screens ) with Scholastic

Scholastic is not only a publishing powerhouse but also its books are the source of media series like the Magic School Bus, Babysitters Club, Clifford the Big Red Dog and more. 

A recent post in Kidscreen delved into a new enhanced partnership between the publisher and their 20 year relationship with 9 Story, a production, distribution and licensing company.

Check out the article here.

Boost Your Own Professional Development

Image by Manfred Steger from Pixabay

A recent ALSC blog post by the ever thoughtful Jaime Eastman breaks down the many ways you can boost your own professional development outside employer-provided opportunities.

Jaime writes: "Does your job require regular professional development or continuing education? Often, this means mandatory training facilitated by your employer. It covers important topics and may provide useful tools and resources. But what about development that’s just for you?...What if you could explore topics just because they resonate, not because someone said you had to? I firmly believe choosing development opportunities that excite you should be an option. I’ll also admit that might not be your reality right now. Let’s talk about ways to add professional development that really resonates. What sparks your joy?"

Stop here to read all her great suggestions. [Boost Your Career: Professional Development Tips for Library Staff. Eastman, Jaime. ALSC blog. April 2, 2024.]