Childrens

Recently Lindsey Krabbenhoft at Jbrary shared her list of STEM toys and games that she uses at her library. The post was based on an article she wrote for YACCING Magazine, part of the British Columbia Library Association's Young and Adult and Children's Section.

Lindsey is thinking three main access points at the library:

• Drop-in Use – available in your public space any time
• Programming – for use with small or large groups with mediation by library staff
• Lendable Kits – to be checked out and used at home with caregivers

In this post she concentrates on toys and games you can consider lending at your library. The post contains some great ideas and, in the comments section for the post, youth librarians are adding their favorite library-friendly STEM recommendations.

Please click here to read the post (and share ideas at Jbrary about your successful STEM games and toys for library use. [STEM Toys and Games at the Library. Krabbenhoft, Lindsey. Jbrary. September 2, 2024.

In a recent ALSC blog post, Ann Baillie broke down her method and tips on creating escape room programs for any age and any theme. 

Ann writes: "When planning programs, I often try to create programs around based around patron requests. When kids ask me to do a program about a favorite comic book or TV show character, I make it happen. One of my favorite ways to fulfill a patron’s request is with an escape room. If you have never hosted an escape room before, these are fun programs where patrons have one hour to solve a series of puzzles to escape a room."

Please click here to read the full post with some great resources included to spark YOUR creativity! [Unlocking Adventure: Creating Themed Escape Rooms. Baillie, Ann. ALSC blog. July 26, 2024]

In honor of Labor Day, Karen Jensen at School Library Journal's Teen Librarian Toolbox blog recently published a post looking at statistics about teens in the labor force. She really breaks down what has been happening in the last few years - from the effects of COVID to child labor law protections being removed to a stagnant minimum wage - and raises some important issues.

To read her thoughtful post, please stop here. [It's Labor Day, Let's Talk Teens and Labor. Jensen, Karen. Teen Librarian Toolbox. September 2, 2024.]

Sam Jones is the Youth Services Librarian at the Beaver Dam Public Library. She shares tips to make your job easier in her Tuesday posts.

For my next few blog posts, I'll be posting some of my favorite crafts I did this summer. 
One that turned out extremely well was rock painting. I bought some really nice rocks from Amazon that were smooth and big enough for people to create detailed designs. We also used paint pens, which people enjoyed. The pens were cleaner than normal paint and easier to use on the rocks than paintbrushes. 
My favorite part of this program was creating our rock snake outside using the painted rocks. I gave people the option to leave their rock or take it home. 
I also shared that anyone could bring rocks throughout the summer to add to the snake. It grew a lot over the three months we had it out. 
Another tip for this project is to use a sealant before placing the rocks outside. Overall, this was a fun, easy project that got a lot of patron participation throughout the entire summer. 

Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources is chockfull of great resources. 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 information from the Sept 5, 2024 edition

ALSC National Institute – September 19th – 21st, 2024 in Denver, CO

 

• The ALSC National Institute is a two and a half day intensive learning and networking opportunity with a youth services focus. It is designed for front-line youth library staff, children's literature experts, education and library school faculty members, and other interested adults.
• I know of a few Wisconsin public library staff that are attending the Institute this year. If you also attending, and would like to meet up with your fellow Wisconsinites, let me know! I’ll get everyone connected behind the scenes.

Save the Date – CSLP Summer Symposium

 

• Thursday December 5th, 2024 – Registration coming soon (for this online opportunity)!
• 10:00 am - Welcome & Keynote: "You Belong in Libraries" with Mycal Threets
• 11:45 pm - "From Planning to Palette to Posting: Summer Reading Marketing with Cari Hillman (OH) & Katie Rothley (MI)
• 1:00 pm - "A Rainbow of Opportunities for Creative Programming" with Katie Brunner (CO) and Amanda Raiche (ND)
• 2:30 pm - "Coloring Our World Green: Sustainability and Summer Reading" with Keturah Cappdonia (NY) and Haleigh Mikolajczky (NY)

 

 

The Innovation Destination

 

• The Innovation Destination, official website of The Young Innovators Project, presents The Curious Kids’ Story-Game Adventure: The Mystery of the Burping Fish, a digital story-game (a story with game elements) and set of supporting resources, partially funded by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS). The story-game is designed to capture the imaginations of young, would-be inventors in grades 2-4 and motivate them to participate in its six fun-filled adventures while learning the invention process and gaining some teamwork and inquiry skills along the way.
• For more information visit the Digital Story Game information flyer

 

 

 

 

Registration for the 2024 Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Annual Conference is officially open! This year's conference promises to be an electrifying experience, taking place from November 5-8 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
 
Why Attend? WLA has crafted a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, including Dave Delaney, Dr. Brandy McNeil, and Dr. Alonzo Kelly, plus over 55 breakout sessions tailored to a variety of library types and roles.
 
Your registration includes access to:

• Keynotes and Luncheons: Featuring industry leaders and authors like Joanne Robertson and Amy Pease.
• Educational Breakout Sessions: Covering the latest trends, technologies, and practices in libraries.
• Exhibitors and Vendors: Discover new tools, services, and innovations to enhance your library's offerings.
• Special Events and Networking: Including an opening reception at iconic Lambeau Field!

Register now through October 1 to take advantage of early bird savings! Don't miss your chance to secure your spot at a reduced rate.

Visit the Conference Website for more details, speaker information, hotel room registration, full conference agenda and more.

The 2024 WLA Conference Planning Committee has been hard at work putting together all of the pieces for a wonderful conference and they have this special video message for you.

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 are early September listings

Oconomowoc Public Library       Early Childhood Specialist/Reference Assistant (Part-Time)

The Oconomowoc Public Library is currently accepting applications for a part-time . Current shifts are Tues. & Wed. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one Monday evening shift. The position is also part of a Sat./Sun. weekend rotation. Schedule subject to change. Starting $17.04 per hour. To apply, submit an online application & resume by 10 a.m. on September 19th. Position available until filled.
https://www.oconomowoc-wi.gov/723/Employment-Opportunities

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S. Verna Fowler Academic/Menominee Public Library    Youth Services Librarian  (full-time)
Youth Services Librarian
College of Menominee Nation
S. Verna Fowler Academic/Menominee Public Library
Regular Full Time, Full Time Benefits
Application Deadline: September 11 at 4PM

The S. Verna Fowler Academic / Menominee Public Library subscribes to the philosophy that every child is entitled to a free, readily accessible and specialized program of library services. The aim of the public library service is to introduce children to the love of reading and literature, to develop capable users of information and technology, and to encourage each child's development to his or her fullest potential.

The primary responsibility of this position is the coordination and implementation of library services for pre-school, elementary, and young adult library users. The Youth Services Librarian will have full supervision of the Children's area and maintain a quiet, safe, productive, and attractive environment. This position involves working directly with children and their parents or caregivers. This position works until the library closes.

Get all the details at www.menominee-nsn.gov/Employment/OtherJobs.aspx.

A message from Anne Moser, Anne Moser UW-Madison's Senior Special Librarian, Wisconsin Water Library and Education Coordinator, Wisconsin Sea Grant.

The 14th annual Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF) is fast approaching (October 14-20), and your library is invited to participate as an event host.  This year the Wisconsin Water Library at UW Madison is assisting the WSF in support of 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 week of the science festival. Hosting a bioblitz is easy and the Wisconsin Water Library (co-hosts a Great Lakes Bioblitz in the spring) have put together some resources for you.

 

1. A bioblitz resource guide contains important information you need to host your own bioblitz.
2. A free, one-hour informational webinar will be held on Thursday, September 19 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. Click to register for the webinar.

 

Recently Jennifer Sullivan, who blogs at Adventures in Storytime (and Beyond), published the first part of her survey results on what youth librarians are thinking - and feeling about their jobs which we shared on the blog. Burn-out was a major finding.

She has now published the second part of her results. These examine what youth librarians want their directors and administration to understand about youth work. 

Jennifer writes: "Youth services librarians and staff everywhere are struggling with excessive workloads, unrealistic expectations, vocational awe, understaffing, and a public that is more demanding and less civil. We are often overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated, leading to burnout and many leaving, or considering leaving, the field. If this trend continues, it will seriously impact the quality of library services for youth and families and the library's ability to meet community needs, undermining public perception of the continued relevance of the public library."

To read the fascinating results, please click here. [What Youth Services Staff Want Higher-Ups to Kno - Survey Results Part 2 Sullivan, Jennifer. Adventures in Storytimes (and Beyond). August 18, 2024.]

In a recent ALS blog post, Linda Ernst writing on behalf of ALSC's Membership committee, shares some great tips on managing busy schedules that helps us get our work done without killing us (or the people we work with.

Linda writes: "How can children’s librarians manage everything that lands on their plates? For many librarians facing staffing challenges, this is the new normal. The desire to excel professionally often comes at great personal expense, and reality reminds us that time and energy have limits. Hence, planning is more important than ever. "

To read her practical tips and suggestions, click here. [Endless Multitasking: Tips for Managing Busy Schedules. Ernst, Linda. ALSC blog. August 5, 2024.]

Last week, we shared the first in a series of three posts from  IFLS' Keeping Up with Kids blog on  a great webinar resource from U-Kentucky's Human Development Institute. Entitled "More Than Welcome: Libraries serving families of young children with disabilities", the webinar contains practical tips as well as a downloadable guide, and assessment tool. 

IFLS Youth Library Consultant Leah Langby has now summarized the webinar contents in two additional posts. 

In her second blog post summarizing programming issues, Leah writes: "Today we are covering Programming. Many early childhood experts are very focused on the importance of inclusion instead of offering separate programs for kids with disabilities. There are so many Universal Design strategies that libraries are already doing that make programs more accessible to all kids."

You can read the second blog post here.[Serving Families of Young Children with Disabilities. Langby, Leah. Keeping Up with Kids blog. August 28, 2024].

In the final post in the series, Leah examines community awareness and communiccation issues addressed in the webinar. Leah writes: "libraries, especially rural libraries, tend to not be aware of all they are already be inclusive. Many best practices are already out there! Sometimes there are just a few additional things you can do to make your library and your programs more welcoming and inclusive to everyone. My favorite tip from the webinar? Start somewhere, then make changes as needed as you go!"

You can read the final blog post here. [Serving Families of Young Children with Disabilities. Langby, Leah. Keeping Up with Kids blog. August 30, 2024].

Jeni Schomber, DPI's Public Library Consultant who watches over all things related to Youth Services in the state, just shared the newly announced upcoming summer library program themes for libraries that use the Collaborative Summer Reading Program (CLSP) materials.

• 2027 Slogan – Mysteries Await at Your Library (Spanish translation coming soon)
• 2028 Theme – Mythical Creatures (Slogan to be chosen in 2025)

And of course the other upcoming themes and illustrators are:
2025: Color Our World : Colorea Nuestro Mundo – Art (Mike Mullan)2026: Unearth a Story : Desentierra una Historia – Dinosaurs/Archaeology/Paleontology (Kaylani Juanita)