Youth Services Shout Out

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-July listing:

Menomonie Public Library      Youth Services Librarian (part-time) 

The Menomonie Public Library is seeking a self-directed individual with a passion to provide quality library programming and services to the City of Menomonie and surrounding area. The ideal candidate should possess excellent customer service and communication skills, experience with technology, and the ability to work with children.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

1. Develops and conducts all weekly preschool programming, including age-appropriate story times.
2. Plans, organizes and conducts monthly programs for families.
3. Conducts outreach efforts to daycares and other agencies serving children and their caregivers/parents.
4. Assists patrons with reference and reader’s advisory questions.
5. Provides tours for groups who request.
6. Attends workshops and classes to improve skills.
7. Creates special interest displays including book displays and bulletin boards.
8. Prepares bibliographies and parent resources.
9. Maintains records of Youth Services activities.
10. Performs light housekeeping, including laundering puppets.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Required: Associate’s degree and a minimum of six months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• The ideal candidate will have:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Children’s Literature, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, or related fields
  • Library coursework or equivalent experience/training in programming and youth services

This part-time position starts at $22 per hour, with paid time off. Some evening and rotating weekend hours are required.

A background check is required for this position. A valid driver’s license is required.

View the full job description. To apply, please email your cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Joleen Sterk, Library Director, sterkj@menomonielibrary.org by Friday, July 26th at 6 p.m. Menomonie Public Library is an EOE.

Every so often as I go back through my efiles, I find a forgotten post that I meant to share earlier (oops). High time for this one to see the light of day. Marge

A Taylor Swift Party for kids? Yes, please. In this ALSC blog post swiftie and ALSC blogger Amy Steinbauer breaks down her wildly successful "Shake It Off" themed Taylor Swift karaoke party held at the library.

Amy writes: "In celebration of her new album, I threw a Swiftie karaoke program at the library! In the past, the Swift events have been more geared towards teenagers and that has left a lot of younger patrons out of the fun, so I wanted to correct that. I opened it up to all ages, and it was super popular with the under nine year old patrons and teens."

Please click here to read the details she provides. ["Shake It Off" Taylor Swift-themed Karaoke at the Library. Steinbauer, Amy. ALSC blog. May 2, 2024.]

This tip seen in Nicolet Federated Library System’s Nic News Weekly, June 28, 2024 
Jason Reynolds/Simon & Schuster Travel Grant

Jason Reynolds/Simon & Schuster Travel Grants will be awarded annually to five black/African American youth/teen services public or school librarians to attend the ALA Annual conference.

The grants provide up to $3000 (and not less than $1500) to cover actual expenses for five black/African American librarians selected by ALA for travel, housing, registration, and cost of ticket to the Coretta Scott King (CSK) Awards Breakfast.

• Application opens September 1, 2024
• Application deadline is December 1, 2024

Recently we shared an ALSC post from Tess Prendergast here at our YSS blog about ways to incorporate early literacy tips conversationally with caregivers. Shortly after that post published Lindsey Krabbenhoft at Jbrary weighted in with additional thoughts and ideas on this important work.

Lindsey writes: "First I’ll draw your attention to Why & How to Offer Supportive Early Literacy Messages by Tess Prendergast. I especially like how Tess stresses the “Supportive” part. She says, “For caregivers who do not yet know why kids need rich language and literacy experiences, early literacy tips should offer validation, support and encouragement, not judgment.” When I speak to other staff who offer storytimes a common concern I hear is that early literacy tips come off as preachy, judgmental, or didactic. To add to Tess’s advice, I try to think of it like I’m the early literacy cheerleader of storytime. Here to pump you up and congratulate you on spending this time with your little one in all the ways that support their communication."

To read her additional thoughts on how she uses OWL (observe, Wait, Listen) as a mdeling technique that can also be used in lieu of literacy messages. Great food for thought and practice!

Click here to read her full post and resources. [Being an Early Literacy Cheerleader in Storytime and the Power of Waiting Krabbenhoft, Lindsey. Jbrary blog. June 24, 2024.]

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 an early July listing:

Hales Corners Library  Youth Services Librarian and Programs Coordinator   (full-time)
Do young people think you are magic? Do you use jazz hands on a regular basis? Are you a “Jack of All Trades” librarian looking for a job that suits your many talents and skills? Then this opportunity is for you! This position manages children’s and young adult services, including collection development and maintenance. Serves as the primary contact for managing the library programming budget, contracts, and supplies. Provides reference service to the general public and serves as librarian-in-charge when so designated. This person shall be an active member of the community and well-known within the area schools. Work assignments are general given with broad statements of objectives and performed with a considerable degree of independence. 

To view the full job description and apply, visit Indeed.com. Review of applications begins on July 19, 2024. Position open until filled.

Stephanie Lewin-Lane  Director, Hales Corners Library

(414) 529-6150, ext. 20

HalesCornersLibrary.org

Image by G.C. from PixabayAshley Borman, Technical Services Librarian at the Clintonville (WI) Public Library, is back with another weeding tips column. 

Do you have a collection in your library that is seldom used, or are there some items in a small collection that are used frequently but the rest of the collection just sits? How do you know when it is time to eliminate the entire collection? It’s usually hard to let go and eliminate something completely, but this is how we make room for new collections or expanding popular collections.

When I first started at Clintonville, I was amazed at how much stuff was crammed onto the shelving. There was nowhere to go with new materials. After an intensive weed of the entire library to make room for new materials, I started looking at the collections the library actually had and what was still used. 

One of the collections I discovered was the Music Cassette Tapes. There was one shelf and I think only one or two of them had been checked out in the last few years. This collection was past its prime and was dead. Time to throw it in the discard pile! I took the whole collection and discarded it the same time. It is not very useful to have 2 items in one whole collection.

At this time, I also analyzed the use of our audiobooks on tape and VHS tapes (which were very numerous, even though usage was dying out). Because we had soooo many and some of them were still getting used somewhat regularly, I decided to phase these collections out over time. I ran a report of circulation statistics for both of these collections and started with discarding items that had not circ’ed in the last 2 years, reducing over half of the collection. 

After 6 months, I ran another report, discarding things that had not circ’ed in the past 1 year, and again after another 3-6 months, ran a report of things that had not circulated in 1 year and that had over 100 checkouts. Eventually, these collections were whittled down to a small enough amount so that it was easy to remove the rest of the collection. The whole process of phasing out these collections took about two to three years, and in the end, it made so much room to expand the other forms of films and audiobooks.

Another collection that was phased out was our Adult Easy Readers.  I don’t know about you, but I find that most adults tend to not like to advertise that they need easy reader books. This collection was seldom used. So, I started with a weed of what had not circulated AND was in poor condition or outdated. Then, I took what was left in this collection and integrated it into our regular Adult Fiction. Some of the books were still not used, and eventually got removed from the collection. But some of them were used that people had not found before because they didn’t go to that section to look at books.

These are just a few examples of phasing out or changing collections. Phasing out a collection doesn’t necessarily mean discarding every item in it. Sometimes combining smaller collections or integrating them into a larger collection is the best option. 

If you are wary, just remember, libraries change with technology and the world, just as much as everything else. We can’t hold onto every collection. Sometimes, making room for new things requires saying goodbye to the collections patrons no longer utilize. Remember the age old saying, “When in doubt, throw it out!”

 

The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) believes our Wisconsin library colleagues deserve recognition for all of their amazing work. Help WLA by nominating them (or yourself!) for one of the Association’s awards at wisconsinlibraries.org/awards-honors.

Nominations are accepted from July 1 through September 6, 2024.

Nominations for the awards below are for accomplishments during the year preceding the award. Nominations not chosen during the previous year can be updated for reconsideration for the current year.

There are a few changes for 2024:

• WLA has re-launched the WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award!
• The SSCS Paralibrarian of the Year Award is now part of the awards managed by the WLA Awards & Honors Committee.
• Nominations are no longer being accepted for the Muriel Fuller Award. Instead, this award may be conferred to a WLA member within the current pool of award nominees at the discretion of the Awards & Honors Committee. 

Learn more at wisconsinlibraries.org/awards-honors

From Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources 6/21/24

• WI Stormwater Week (Sept. 21-29, 2024) is a great time to teach kids about water, where water pollution comes from and drains to, and most importantly, ways to protect our local water resources. Check out our sample library program geared at kids ages 6-10. The program includes a menu of different activities and resources to get kids across Wisconsin excited about stormwater and taking actions to keep their local waters clean. Help celebrate WI Stormwater Week by leading a library program in your community and help “Keep Only Rain Down the Storm Drain”.

• Visit https://www.wistormwater.com/library-resources for program resources and to request a FREE WI Watershed Poster.

• Questions? Contact Christal Campbell @ campbell.christal@danecounty.gov.

Thanks to Angela Meyers of Bridges Library System for this link!

Have you ever found yourself with an unexpected windfall of cash for programming that needs to be spent? Well, Adrienne De Luna at Creative Chronicles blog has some marvelous tips on gear and items you can spend those extra bucks on to make your youth programming easier. 

Please stop here to read her shopping list with links to sources for each item! [Top Ten Must-Have Items for Teen and Youth Library Programming. De Luna, Adrienne. Creative Chronicles blog. May 9, 2024]. 

From Jeni Schomber's DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources, May 24, 2024.

BadgerLink Bulletin - Spring 2024 Training Recordings from training sessions on BadgerLink’s For Library Staff page and Youth Services resource guides are now available to view on the Training Page.

 

• Library Staff Page for School Librarians
• Library Staff Page for Public Librarians
• Resource Guides for Youth Services Librarians

 

In a recent Teen Librarian Toolbox column in School Library Journal, the ever thoughtful Karen Jensen laid out the case for teens only programing.

Karen writes: "Occasionally, I am asked about various topics dealing with teens. I was recently asked about teens only programming, and have been working on putting my thoughts into some concise writings. I’m a firm believer in the importance and value of teens only programming. As you’ll see below, my thoughts cover everything from safety to having moments where they aren’t being asked to be caregivers of younger siblings (yes, I’m an oldest child). I also believe it is important that we communicate that a program is teens only and then hold firm to that boundary, even to the parents of that 11-year-old who they swear is developmentally advanced or the 19-year-old who recently graduated and just wants to hang out with their friends (because having legal adults with minors who don’t all necessarily understand the new and very legal dynamics of their age differences can get tricky)."

Stop here to read the full post [Why Teens Deserve Teens Only Programming. Jensen, Karen. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. School Library Journal. May 20, 2024.]

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 another early June listing:

Oak Creek Public Library    Substitute Librarian  (part time)

Salary

$20.14 Hourly

Location 

Oak Creek, WI

Job Type

Casual Part Time: less than 1200 hrs/yr-No Benefits

Job Number

2024-00023

Department

Library

Opening Date

05/29/2024

Closing Date

6/19/2024 4:00 PM Central

 

Summary Description

Located along the western shore of Lake Michigan, Oak Creek is in the midst of a development boom and is one of the fastest growing cities in southeastern Wisconsin. In two decades, the City’s population grew over 25 percent, and substantial growth and development is projected into the future. Adding vibrancy and a sense of place to the community, the City’s Drexel Town Square features a modern mixed-use development anchored by a civic center plaza, City Hall, and Library facility. The City’s elected leadership strategically invests in Oak Creek’s future as demonstrated projects already underway.
 
The Substitute Librarian provides excellent customer service to library patrons, performs clerical work relating to library services, and assists in other support tasks as assigned. Hours vary as needed to suit the needs of the library.  

Duties, Functions and Supervision/Accountability

Provide high quality, approachable customer service to patrons via various communication methods, such as in-person, phone, email, online chat and text, with a focus on reference, technology and readers’ advisory.  Maintain confidentiality in all interactions and communications with patrons.

Prepare informational and promotional materials about library events and resources.

Participate in the maintenance and inventory of the library collection.  

Develop feasible, realistic solutions to problems or questions.

Maintain and prepare library statistics as requested.

Follow and enforce library policies and procedures.

Serve as Librarian-in-Charge as required.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution or currently enrolled in an MLIS program at an ALA accredited institution. 
Knowledge or training related to reference services and strong communication and public service skills required. 

Please include a resume & cover letter with your application. To apply for this job, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oakcreekwi/jobs/4523865-0/substitute-librarian.

 

Maria Dietrich ● Youth Services Manager
City of Oak Creek ● Library

8040 South 6th Street ● Oak Creek, WI 53154
Library Main Number: 414-766-7900
Direct: 414-766-7931

from Jeni Schomberg, Public Library Consultant, Library Services Team  DPI's Division for Libraries and Technology 

TALK (Text and Learn for Kindergarten) is a program that delivers early learning activities several times per week via text messages to caregivers of children under 6, in either English or Spanish. Based on Every Child Ready to Read, TALK activities build pre-literacy skills starting from birth, such as hearing letter sounds, building hand muscles and dexterity, and recognizing letters and numbers. Activities also build STEM and social emotional skills to help parents make sure their children are fully prepared for a successful school experience. Libraries can also use TALK to promote library events. 

WiLS is partnering with MCLS to bring this innovative early learning program to Wisconsin libraries. Come join us for an informational webinar to learn all about this exciting, affordable program and how it can work for your patrons!

 

Webinar Details

Jun 13, 2024 11:30 AM

Registration Link

*This webinar will be recorded and delivered to registrants after the session.

 From the WRLS Stay in the Know Weekly Newsletter  5/28/24:

In a recent ALSC blog post, Nomi Hague, a member of the ALSC Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee, shared resources to help libraries who are working with kids experiencing trauma on some level. These resources are part of that committee's outstanding Early Childhood Trauma Toolkit that they produced in January of this year.

Click hereClick here to read the post. [Trauma Toolkit. Hague, Nomi. ALSC blog. May 22, 2024]

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 an early June listing:

Prairie Lakes Library System                Programming Coordinator (full-time)
We're are excited to announce that we are hiring! Please see below for more information and share with anyone you think would be interested. A full description is available on our website at prairielakes.info/about-plls/employment.

Title: Library Programming Coordinator
Closes: 6/30/2024
Start Date: Flexible
Salary: $61,800 - $67,825 Hiring Salary Range
Reports To: System Director
Location: Remote, System Offices, Library Sites

Qualifications:Four-Year Degree.
Eight (8) years of professional library experience.
Demonstrated experience planning and delivering library programming for youth, underserved, and adult populations.
Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally and effectively with individuals, small groups, and large groups.
Masters Degree in Library/Information Science from an ALA-accredited program is preferred.Position Information: The Library Programming Coordinator is responsible for providing member libraries and the communities within the service area of the Prairie Lakes Library System (PLLS) with outstanding service and consultation. With an emphasis on library services for youth and families, the Library Programming Coordinator will provide member libraries with professional consulting and coordination support in the areas of youth services, inclusive services, and adult services.

In this newly created position, we are looking for a dynamic candidate who will have the opportunity to build a strong program of support for the member libraries of PLLS in the above areas from the ground up. The Library Programming Coordinator will build relationships with member library staff, conduct library visits, facilitate conversations, distill trends of need, create system-wide programming, and facilitate idea sharing between member librarians.

About Prairie Lakes Library System: PLLS is a federated public library system serving Southeastern Wisconsin. Formed in 2023 through a merger of two smaller library systems, we are engaged in an active process of organizational renewal. The service area of PLLS comprises the counties of Racine, Rock, and Walworth. The primary members of PLLS are 22 public libraries ranging from large urban to very small rural. PLLS maintains relationships with affiliate partner organizations such as school districts and senior living facilities and provides contractual services to other library system partners. PLLS currently maintains two office facilities located in Waterford and Milton, Wisconsin.

Benefits: PLLS offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous paid time off (Vacation, PTO, Sick, and Holidays). PLLS also offers a variety of insurance options (Health, Dental, Vision, Income Continuation, Life, and Accident), as well as enrollment in the Wisconsin Retirement System.

To Apply: First, view the complete job description on our website. Then, send a cover letter, resume, and two professional references via email to jobs@prairielakes.info. We welcome questions, so please don’t hesitate to contact Jeremy Erickson (Business Manager) at jerickson@prairielakes.info.

View the full job description.

 As seen in the NFLS Nic News Weekly 5/24/24

CSLP Newsletter: May 2024
Check out the May 2024 Collaborative Summer Library Program Newsletter. Headings include:

• Summer Reading Champion Alumni Jenna Bush Hager Partners with CSLP for New Reading List
• Partner New Library Speakers Consortium Partnership
• Success Stories
• Adventure Partner