Youth Services Shout Out

 
 

Tuesday, December 3, 2024
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM 
(Event time is subject to change.)

Get a jump start on plans for your summer reading program!  

 

The 2024 Virtual Performers Showcase, presented by the WLA Youth Services Section, will connect performers with members of the Wisconsin library community through live virtual demonstrations and marketing materials offered by magicians, puppeteers, storytellers, musicians, and anyone who presents library programs for children, youth, teen, and family audiences.   

 

This Zoom event will give you the chance to:

• Sample performances from a variety of library performers who offer entertaining and educational public programs for children, teens, and families.
• Interact with performers in live Q & A sessions after each demonstration.
• Communicate with other attendees through the conference website - a great way to connect with other libraries that may be interested in partnering with you to bring a performer to your area.

A digital directory of performers will be made available to attendees for future reference. Can’t attend the live virtual event? A recording of the showcase will be available to registered attendees for 60 days after the event.  

 

Registration is $20 for WLA members, $40 for non-members.   Registration closes Nov 25, 2024

 

Host a team watch party!  Group discounts are available for three or more attendees from the same library.   Visit the event webpage to learn more.  

 

The first 20 participants to register will be entered into a drawing for a free registration!

                                                        

Learn More including how to register

 

This September YSS board meeting update is from Cathy Pescinski, our YSS 2024 Chair and Teen Librarian at Shawano County Library.

Greetings from YSS! At our latest Board meeting, we started out by talking about some of the resources we use for inspiration in coming up with programming ideas and collection development. I will list some of those at the end of the article. 

Laura Sauser from WLA informed us that we have 9 performers set so far for the Performer's Showcase Tuesday, December 3rd and registration will be opening shortly. Registration is open for registrations so far for the YSS webinar, "Engaging and Affirming Neurodivergent Youth In Community Spaces: The Fellowship" scheduled for Thursday, November 14 at 3:00 p.m. (see link below to register) 
Jeni Schomber from DPI encouraged us to check out DPI presentations at the upcoming WLA conference (BEBS, Teen Internship, DPI What do the Numbers Say, Games, Learning, and Libraries) and Dr. Enderle's State of Education address in the Capitol rotunda where she discusses public libraries in addition to education in Wisconsin. (see link below) Lastly, she participated in the in-person meeting of CSLP where they voted on 2027 Slogan: Mysteries Await at Your Library and 2028 Theme: mythical creatures. She will get the codes for 2025 to the system folks for them to distribute to their consortium folks. 
Linda Jerome (YSS liaison to WLA Board) let us know that Desiree Bongers has stepped down as WLA Board president. WLA Vice President Katharine Clark was appointed to finish Desiree’s term through the end of 2024. WLA has a new membership coordinator - Pam Beam. WLA is going to be kicking off regional events in 2025. The first one will be hosted by the Bridges system with a date to be determined. If your system would be interested in hosting one, please contact the WLA Board. She attended the Connecting Libraries Meeting. It is a quarterly meeting with school librarians and media specialists. They discussed Battle of the Books. (see link below) She will be attending the Wisconsin Out of School Alliance - STEM Advisory Council.
We discussed ways to connect with YSS folks at the WLA conference in Green Bay. Final details are being firmed up and will be sent out soon. 
Lastly, election time is coming up - the fun one! Lol We are still looking for people to help fill positions on the YSS Board. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, any YSS Board member, Laura Sauser at WLA, or Rachael Arndt on the WLA Board for more information. Nomination deadline is October 18th. (again - see link below!)
Link-a-Palooza!
Information sources:

• Facebook pages: Teen Services Underground, Storytime Solidarity, CSLP’s Official Summer Library Programming Group Facebook, We Need Diverse Books, Diverse Reading
• PBS LearningMedia 
• The OT Toolbox - Occupational Therapy Activities and Resources 
• Play to Learn Preschool 
• For storytime: KCLS Tell Me a Story, Jbrary 
• The Very Ready Reading Program - resource available to borrow from IFLS
• Lego Librarian

Engaging and Affirming Neurodivergent Youth In Community Spaces: The Fellowship Webinar: https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/yssDr. Enderle did the State of Education address in the Capitol Rotunda: https://dpi.wi.gov/news/dpi-connected/2023-state-education-addressBattle of the BooksWLA nomination form: https://wla.memberclicks.net/nomination2024
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the meeting or any of the activities of the YSS Board. We are here to serve you!
[Note: Want to read the February-August 2024 YSS board minutes? YSS members (after logging in) can access the 2024 YSS board minutes as well as previous years’ minutes at the YSS page of the Wisconsin Library Association website. Do you want to read the minutes but are not a YSS member? Please consider becoming a member by joining WLA so you can stay updated on all the YSS action.] 

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 Oct 4, 2024 edition

Artful Connections: Stephanie Haines’ Vision for Inclusive and Inspiring Communities FREE webinar

• The Collaborative Summer Library Program’s (CSLP) Inclusion Committee is proud to present this webinar on Wednesday November 20th at 1 p.m. CST
• Stephanie Haines is the Arts Education & Accessibility Program Manager at the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). Stephanie oversees the IAC’s arts education research project Partnering Arts, Communities, and Education (PACE) as well as Poetry Out Loud, Indiana State Poet Laureate program, and Creative Aging programming statewide. Stephanie earned a Master of Arts degree in arts administration from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in visual art education from the University of Indianapolis. She has more than 15 years of experience working with teaching artists and arts integration programming, with specialties in professional development and artist lesson planning. Stephanie is a visual artist primarily in the mediums of painting and drawing.
• For more information and to register, visit:https://www.cslpreads.org/inclusion-resources/

BadgerLink Bulletin

• New Resource Highlight: Library and Information Science Source - Newly upgraded resource in BadgerLink, Library & Information Science Source replaces LISTA with Full Text and contains 131 more active full text journals and magazines. Find how to share this resource with fellow librarians as well as an upcoming training opportunity on October 29.
• September Training Recordings are now available.

The CSLP Store is Open!

• The CSLP Store for 2025’s “Color Our World” summer reading theme is now open:https://shop.cslpreads.org/
• Virtual Catalog
• DPI has purchased an online manual for each Wisconsin public library (including branches). Themanual access code will be sent to all System Youth Consultants the week of October 7th. Please contact your system consultant directly for the access code.

The CSLP Outreach Committee needs your help!

• The CSLP Outreach Committee recognizes the role of the library as a community connector. The committee is working on creating a toolkit to provide support and resources that empower libraries to build community relationships, serve a diverse range of community members, and expand library services beyond the library building.
• Use this form to help us gather resources for the CSLP Outreach Toolkit. A resource could be an example of successful programs or outreach services, future programming ideas, relevant articles, webinars, websites, and relationship building ideas, just to name a few. The toolkit is digital, so it is important that the resource is available online so that we can link to it on a webpage.

 

STAR Net: Libraries and their impact on Quality of Life Survey

• The team at STAR Net is investigating how the concept of Quality of Life presents itself at public libraries, both in interactions with patrons, and in the everyday work of library staff. Please consider completing this short survey, which will be used to identify training resources for public library staff, as well as next steps for a research agenda.

Upcoming IFLS webinarImproving Literacy: Understanding Dyslexia and Reading InstructionTuesday, November 121-2:00 pm

According to recent data, only 37% of Wisconsin third-graders ranked as proficient or better at reading. There has been a lot of discussion nationally and statewide about the ways literacy instruction has been failing kids, especially dyslexic kids, and Wisconsin Act 20 was passed last summer to try to address this issue. Join two dyslexia tutors and former public school educators for a crash course about dyslexia and understanding some important things about the current landscape of reading and reading instruction. Understanding this background will help library workers who want to do more to support all emerging readers, especially those with dyslexia. Look for another webinar in January with some more specific and simple ideas of ways libraries can help kids and families.

Presenters: Orton Gillingham tutors and special education veterans Starla Dixen and Becky Glade

This webinar will be recorded. It provides one continuing education contact hour for public library director recertification.

Register

We want you for the YSS Board!

The YSS Executive Board is preparing the ballot for the 2025 WLA election season and invites you to get involved. Whether you’re a current member or new to YSS, you can make a difference by joining the YSS Board.

Nominations are due October 18. To nominate yourself or a colleague, submit the nomination form: https://wla.memberclicks.net/nomination2024#!/

What positions are available?

Director-at-Large (2 spots!): Serve as members of the Executive Board and assist in various YSS activities throughout the year including conference planning. Directors-at-Large serve a 2-year term.

Secretary: Acts as recorder during meetings and assists in various YSS activities. The secretary serves a 2-year term.

Chair Elect: Acts for the Chair in case of vacancy in that office, coordinates activities and meetings with the Chair and plans the YSS booth at the WLA annual conference. This is a three-year position, the first year as Chair Elect, the second year as Chair and the third Year as Past Chair.

How often does YSS meet?
The YSS Board meets online monthly and in person at the WLA conference.

Do I need to be a member of WLA to serve on the board?
To qualify for an elected position, you must be a WLA member in good standing.

What kinds of things does the YSS Executive Board do?
The YSS Executive Board helps to facilitate all the great things that YSS is doing in our state including (but certainly not limited to) YSS Presents webinar series, regional meetups, Children's Book Award Committee and the YSS Shout Out blog.

How do I apply?
If you are interested in becoming a member of the YSS Executive Board, submit the nomination form before October 18th.

Who can I contact with questions?
If you have questions, please reach out to Rachel Arndt, Chair of the Nominating Committee, at rachel.arndt27@gmail.com.

 

Save the date for the 12th annual Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium! Save the date for the 12th Annual Lake Superior Libraries Mid-Winter Unsymposium at Superior Public Library in Superior, WI! Join us on Friday, January 10th, 2025, for an afternoon of networking, discussion, and collaborative learning & problem-solving! Get this date on your calendars!
Sometimes you need a break from the average conference: you need an UNCONFERENCE! At the LSLS Unsymposium, you determine the conversation. Participants brainstorm a host of topics, which are then selected in a bottom-up, democratic manner. Rather than listening to a single speaker, you get to ask questions, interact, and offer your own expertise on a topic chosen by the whole group. So...everyone wants to talk about collection development? Done. You’re the only one who wants to talk about library-themed cupcakes? Maybe we’ll talk about them next time! Together, we’ll discover our common challenges and develop solutions collaboratively. You'll come away from the Unsymposium invigorated by lively discussions and ready to take that excitement back to your library.



The Unsymposium is free and open to everyone.
 

• WHEN:  1:00-4:30 pm, Friday, January 10th, 2025
• COST:  Just your time!
• WHERE:  Superior Public Library
• HOW DO I REGISTER?: Check back soon!

QUESTIONS? Contact us!More information here!

A huge congratulations to all the awardees this year!
And a special shout-out to Terry Ehle and Kris Adams Wendt, both former chairs of the Youth Services Section and noted youth librarians in our state. Hope all youth librarians going to WLA this fall can come to the ceremony and celebrate these youth librarian leaders!
WLA Announces 2024 Award Recipients, Library Hall of Fame Inductees

We are pleased to announce the 2024 WLA award and honors recipients and the inductees into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame.

They will be recognized at the Awards & Honors Ceremony during the WLA Annual Conference on November 7, 2024, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay.

Many thanks to the Awards & Honors Committee, the WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award Selection Committee, and the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame Steering Committee for their hard work, and to everyone who submitted a nomination.  

To learn more about these outstanding award recipients, visit the WLA website and the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center website.

Library of the Year

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire McIntyre Library, Eau Claire

WLA/DEMCO® Librarian of the Year

Terry Ehle, Youth Services Coordinator, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers

Paralibrarian of the Year

Danielle Zeamer, Library Services Associate, Brown County Library, Green Bay

Trustee of the Year

John Van Dyck, Brown County Library, Green Bay

Programming Innovation Award

The Library Memory Project from Bridges Library System, Waukesha

Citation of Merit

Kristen Mildenhall, Friends of the Middleton Public Library, Middleton

Muriel Fuller Award

Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Manager, La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse 

WLA/WEMTA Intellectual Freedom Award

Rebecca Puhl, Library Director, Phillips Public Library, Phillips.

 

2024 Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame

Kristine "Kris" Adams Wendt

Dr. Mohammed M. Aman (1940 - 2024)

Kurt Kiefer

Carla J. Stoffle

 

Awards & Honors Dinner

 If you have already registered for the conference and now would like to register for the Awards and Honors Dinner and Ceremony, please fill out this separate registration form and select "Other Attendee."  Tickets are $39.00 per person. 

 

AWARDS & HONORS DINNER REGISTRATION

As reported in WI Library information channels:Get in the Game: DPI & Washington State Library Awarded Grant for Games-based Library ServicesTuesday, October 1, 2024

It’s ‘game on’ for the Department of Public Instruction’s Library Services Team, who have big plans in the works for Wisconsin libraries and other libraries throughout the nation to ‘get in the game’, too!

As reported earlier, the Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the DPI and Washington State Library a nearly $250,000 grant for a three-year project, titled “Empowering & Innovating Games-based Library Services: National Best Practices for Gaming Collections & Programming.”

So, why “Games-based Library Services?” The answer may be seen as both a pragmatic and philosophical one. In addition to recent datahighlighting the staggering popularity of various games-based media (i.e., board games, video games, card games, virtual reality) with people of all backgrounds and ages, library research suggests something similar; according to the 2023 American Library Association report by Kathi Inman Berens and Rachel Noorda,“Gen Z and Millenials: How They Use Public Libraries and Identify Through Media Use,” the authors note that 53% of young library users identity as gamers – indicating immense potential that could influence library services for years to come. Games of all formats offer libraries a rich opportunity to enhance circulation and programming numbers while welcoming entirely new users into their spaces. There is no better time than now to improve games-based library services nationwide.

“We aim to demonstrate that embracing gaming in libraries means embracing innovation in libraries,” said Chris Baker, DPI Public Library and Games & Learning Consultant - and one of the leaders of the project. “Libraries that seek to remain not only relevant but forward-thinking and responsive to their communities’ needs must prioritize games-based collections and programs looking to the future. This project provides immense opportunity.”

The grant project gets underway this fall. The project is designed with three phases in mind, generally aligning with the three years of the project schedule. The DPI will be seeking robust input from Wisconsin (and nationwide) libraries in phase #1 about current and past games-based library service offerings, and then direct participation in games-based services implementations for select libraries in phase #2.

Phase 1

The Library Services Team will partner closely with David Gagnon, Director and Scientist of Field Day (a Learning Games studio and research lab housed within the Wisconsin Center for Education Researchof UW-Madison) to conduct rigorous nationwide research and a literature review of past and current games-based library services, ultimately to develop a comprehensive and foundational research report. Nationwide libraries (including Wisconsin) will be asked to participate in valuable surveys emailed out during this phase. At the same time, Washington State Library will collaborate with the non-profit organization Game to Grow and local games developer Heart of the Deernicorn to initially pilot games-based programs and collections throughout Washington libraries (with a particular focus on justice-facing youth facilities), acquiring rich feedback from users and librarians along the way.

Phase 2

The research and feedback from the first phase will converge to support a more practitioner-focused strategy, bringing additional librarians statewide and nationwide into the fold to begin developing replicable and scalable games-based library service models. This phase will be facilitated with intentional input from targeted populations of library staff and library users via an open call for participation during the second year of the project– with the key goal of developing games-based library best practices, direction, and guidance, all through a lens of access and equity.

Phase 3

The information generated in the first two phases will be utilized to develop a deeply-informed and comprehensive ‘Games-based Library Services Toolkit’ - an easily accessible, digital resource guide, which will be accessible for free to all libraries nationwide for years to come.

Project management of the three-year process will be spearheaded by the non-profit WiLS, supplemented by the participation, communication support, and promotional leverage of both the American Library Association’s popular Games & Gaming Round Table and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies.

For more information about this project, visit theIMLS Awarded NLG-L Grant page. 

If you’d like your library to be added to a shortlist for involvement on the project (including being surveyed in phase #1, and/or possibly joining a games-based library service“Fellowship” in phase #2), please email Chris Baker at Chris.Baker@dpi.wi.gov. Join the Wisconsin Games + Learning + Libraries WISELearn group for the most up-to-date information about project-related surveying, which will occur this fall and winter. Stay tuned!

 

Congratulations to the DPI Library team!

 

Free for WLA members; $25 for non-members 
Visit the YSS page on the WLA website to learn more and register here 
Islands of Brilliance is a Milwaukee-based non-profit that uses art and creative technologies to empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals and open pathways to employment and independence. The Fellowship is one of the newest programs from IOB, which focuses on transition-age participants in six mid and small-size cities across the state. In this webinar, three staff members will share insights about The Fellowship program design and implementation, as well as key insights about supporting and engaging neurodivergent youth and young adults within community spaces.

Presenters:
Dr. Kate Siekman: Director of Learning and Outcomes
Kate has 12 years' experience in education and autism therapy. With teaching licenses in alternative and special education and a doctoral degree in occupational therapy, Kate has cultivated a passion for alternative access to learning. Kate seeks the best educational experiences for the students and families she serves, using her creativity in pedagogy to deliver dynamic student outcomes.

Natalie Derr: Lead Creative Technologist
Artist and experimental creative Natalie Derr aims to use her background in Digital Studio Practice and Painting and drawing as a tool for creative intervention in the exploration of students' identities. As IOB’s Creative Technologist, Natalie is passionately curious about our diverse imaginations and how to exercise empathy by sharing artwork.

Woodzick: Statewide Outreach Manager
Woodzick holds an MFA in Contemporary Performance and has 18 years of experience as an arts educator and digital marketer specializing in new media. They are passionate about amplifying the voices of fellow neurodivergent artists and are the proud co-host of the Brilliant Voices podcast.

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 20, 2024 edition

FREE STARnet Webinar

• Exploring Local Waters: A Place-Based Approach to Water Education and Conservation
• October 10th from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
• Join STAR Net and members of the We are Water project team as we delve into the unique water systems of the Four Corners Region of the southwest. We will highlight culturally relevant engagement strategies around local water topics, discuss place-based approaches to inspire action for local conservation efforts, and showcase how to plan and implement your own Water Celebration Day using the assets and partners in your community.
• Register here

 

BadgerLink Training – Wisconsin’s Online Library

 

• Check out the latest BadgerLink training opportunities coming up this fall. Click here for the Schedule.
• Can't attend a session(s) but still interested? Recordings will be shared with registrants and posted to the BadgerLink training page.

 

Consider Joining a CSLP Committee

 

• Our committees are the engine that keeps CSLP moving forward, and vibrant committees lead to a vibrant CSLP. That is why we invite all member library staff members to join a committee annually. Only through your input can we continue to improve.
• Sign-ups for 2025 CSLP Committees are open until October 15. While the duties vary, committee obligations generally run for one calendar year. All committee work is done virtually, either through email, or through phone or online meetings. Attending the CSLP Annual Meeting is not required. You are welcome to sign up for more than 1 committee if your time allows, however each committee has different size and participation criteria.
• To help you decide which committee to volunteer for, please visit: https://www.cslpreads.org/committees/ to review the responsibilities of each committee. Most CSLP committees are open to all, however some have limited seats or require previous CSLP experience.
• Apply now! - CSLP Committee Application form
• The sign-up period is September 9 through October 15.
• If you are currently serving on a committee that you enjoy, let your Committee Chair know you want to sign up again or feel free to try a new committee.

 

CSLP Summer Symposium Save the Date

 

• Thursday December 5th from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST
• Registration opens on November 6th
• See attached flyer for more information

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-September listings

Hartford Public Library       Youth Services Librarian      (full-time)
Do you love making a difference? The Hartland Public Library is looking for an innovative and customer-service-focused Youth Services Librarian to join our team and bring amazing programs and literacy opportunities to our community! This full-time position (40 hours/week) involves both independent work and collaborating with other librarians and staff members to perform such responsibilities as Storytimes, planning unique children’s programming opportunities, hosting bi-monthly school visits, and purchasing materials for our children’s collections, amongst others.

This position is non-supervisory and reports directly to the Library Director. Schedule includes one evening per week and one Saturday a month. The ideal candidate would have excellent public-facing skills, along with an ability to build and maintain community and patron relationships. Please refer to the position listing on our website for a complete list of duties, responsibilities, and the application process. This position is eligible for health insurance, paid time off, and inclusion in the Wisconsin Retirement System. Hourly salary starts at $24.00, with a range dependent on qualifications. The position will be open until filled, but priority will be given to applications received by October 1, 2024.

Greenfield Public Library      Children’s Librarian (full-time)The Greenfield Public Library in Greenfield, WI, is seeking a full-time children’s Librarian to work in a robust and active department that is dynamic, creative, organized, tech-savvy, and community-minded.  The ideal candidate will work well independently and collaboratively, have comprehensive knowledge of children’s literature, a strong work ethic, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

The Children’s Librarian reports to the Youth Services Manager and is responsible for providing library services to children and families in and outside of the library.  This position provides excellent customer service to library patrons, assists patrons and staff in meeting their reference and information needs, plans and conducts programs with a focus on children and their caregivers, promotes youth services to the community, manages assigned library collections, participates in the day-to-day operation of the library and administers other library services as assigned.

The City of Greenfield is nearly 12 square miles with over 37,000 people. It has two fire stations, an active community center, a popular Sunday Farmer’s Market, 14 city parks, and five county parks.  With five aldermanic districts and a full-time mayor, the boundaries of the City include three school districts:  Greenfield, West Allis/West Milwaukee, and Whitnall.  Greenfield is proud to be the Home of the Knockout Rose.

Please review the full job description for the children's librarian position at https://tinyurl.com/yzr5xc8k.

Application Process
Applications are accepted through the City of Greenfield's online application site.  Visit https://tinyurl.com/2rkm3tn3 for instructions to apply online.

Required Education/Training and Experience

  *   Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution.
  *   One (1) year experience in library operations required (public library experience preferred).  Experience, knowledge, or training related to youth services preferred.
  *   Excellent communication, project management skills, and strong customer service skills are required.
The Greenfield Public Library reserves the right to utilize equivalencies where deemed appropriate regarding education and experience requirements and may consider combinations of education and experience likely to lead to success with essential duties and responsibilities.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, non-exempt position.  Ability to work 40 hours per week, including evenings, and a rotating Saturday and Sunday schedule.  Flexibility in scheduling is required.

The hourly rate for this position is $22.89-$26.28.  The City of Greenfield provides excellent benefits, including health insurance, vacation, paid holidays, and enrollment in the Wisconsin Retirement System.

Applications must by submitted by 11:59 pm on October 4, 2023.  EOE.

This just came in, shared by Alison Loewen from her networks. Thanks Alison!

The Mental Health Literacy Units of Instruction, created by DPI and OCMH, from have been downloaded thousands of times across 44 states and 14 countries since 2021!  As one of the nearly 2,000 Wisconsin educators who have downloaded the lessons, we wanted you to know about the newly released Mental Health Literacy Activities for K4 - 2nd grade!

 

Mental health literacy includes the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to develop and maintain positive mental health and seek appropriate help. New 15-minute activities for K4-K5 and Grades 1-2 help students to develop skills that are the building blocks of future mental health literacy, such as developing awareness and regulation of emotions, developing positive self-concept, and identifying activities that promote wellness.

 

Download the free activities on the Department of Public Instruction’s Mental Health Literacy and Wellness Education webpage.

Interested in learning more? Join DPI and the Wisconsin State Office of Children’s Mental Health on Wednesday, September 25th from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm for a webinar to learn more about the activities and review practical considerations for implementation. Please register for the webinar using the registration link. 

In appreciation,

 

Andrea

 

Andrea Turtenwald

Family Relations Coordinator

Office of Children’s Mental Health

State of Wisconsin

Pronouns | She/Her/Hers

Email | andrea.turtenwald@wi.gov

Phone | 608-445-0159

Web | https://children.wi.gov

 

Great Lakes, Great Read 2024-2025 Program announces free webinar series

Great Lakes, Great Read, the “one book, one community” program designed to inspire passion and connection to the Great Lakes Watershed through reading, will kick off the season with a series of three webinars to introduce the authors and books chosen for the 2024-2025 season. Meet GLGR authors Sally Cole-Misch and Joanne Robertson in conversation with Wisconsin Water Librarian Anne Moser on September 25 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. Registration is required. Individual author webinars will be held Oct. 2 with Sally Cole-Misch and Oct. 9 with Joanne Robertson. Both webinars will also start at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. Everyone is invited to join this Great Lakes basin-wide book club!

Local public libraries and bookstores can host watch parties, and individuals can register on their own or host their own watch party. Flyers are available to share with communities here: https://greatlakesgreatread.org/toolkit/.

Great Lakes, Great Read is modeled after One Book One Community and state- or province-wide annual reading programs that choose one book for libraries, citizen groups of all kinds and the public to read and enjoy over the course of a year. Whether you live near the Great Lakes or far away, their beauty, history and significance are impossible to ignore. They’ve been home to 120 bands of Indigenous people, provided drinking water for millions, held flourishing biodiversity and 20% of the world’s surface fresh water and more. Dive into this project and deepen your connection to a system that shaped the U.S. and Canada and continues to sculpt stories today.

The Great Lakes, Great Read program features two books: “The Water Walker” by Joanne Robertson is the children’s selection, and the adult selection is “The Best Part of Us” by Sally Cole-Misch.

“The Water Walker” is the story of a determined Ojibwe grandmother, a “nokomis” named Josephine Mandamin, who walks to raise awareness of the need to protect “nibi” (water). Robertson wrote and illustrated the book, which was published in 2017.

Published in 2020, Sally Cole-Misch’s award-winning novel, “The Best Part of Us,” explores a family’s connections to an island in the Canadian waters of an inland lake just north of Lake Huron, and how those ties are tested through nature and family dynamics.

The authors are available for in-person and online conversations and presentations with libraries, book clubs and other groups throughout the region during the 2024-2025 period.

The Great Lakes, Great Read website, https://www.greatlakesgreatread.org, offers further details on the authors, their books, book discussion questions, a toolkit and other resources, including contact lists for states and provinces.

This initiative is made possible by an Ideas to Action grant from WiLS in Madison, Wisconsin. In-kind support was provided by the staff with the Wisconsin Water Library at UW Madison, Wisconsin Sea Grant, the Wisconsin Library Association and UW-Parkside. Wisconsin Sea Grant and the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute support the Wisconsin Water Library.

Several organizations, including the Wisconsin Water Library at UW Madison, Public Libraries of Saginaw, the Gail Borden Library and the Library of the Great Lakes have partnered to create and carry out the Great Lakes, Great Read program. For more information and to sign up to participate, visit https://www.greatlakesgreatread.org.

— Wisconsin Sea Grant

 

 

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From the Wisconsin Library Association: WLA Announces 2024 Children's Book Awards

 

The Children’s Book Awards and the Literary Awards Committees of the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) have announced the recipients of their annual awards for 2024.   Many thanks to both committees for the many hours they spent reading to arrive upon these great lists of titles and authors. The time and expertise you shared is much appreciated! 

 

Children's Book Awards

The Children’s Book Awards recognize outstanding books for youth by Wisconsin-connected authors and illustrators. This year’s recipients are:

• The Elizabeth Burr/Sheridan Worzalla Award to What Happened to Rachel Riley by Claire Swinarski.  Named for notable Wisconsin librarian Elizabeth Burr (1908-1996) and made possible by Sheridan Worzalla, this annual award is bestowed upon the most distinguished work in children’s and young adult literature written and/or illustrated by a Wisconsin book creator.
•  The Wisconsin Notable Children's Author/Illustrator Award to author Miranda Paul.  This annual award honors Wisconsin authors, past and present, for their literary contributions.

What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski 

Anna Hunt is an eighth grader and is the “new kid” at East Middle School. She is into podcasts, and she has stumbled on to a mystery within the school walls. Last year the most popular girl was Rachel Riley, but this year she is not. Anna decides to investigate interviewing various classmates including Rachel herself. Rachel was blamed for a barn fire from the year before, but Anna believes that Rachel didn’t do it. Anna follows the evidence, and the story is told through notes, emails, texts, voice recordings, and Anna’s podcast episodes. This all leads to a mysterious website created by some of the boys at school. Anna finds the truth elusive but follows her instincts to the surprising conclusion. Primarily a middle-grade mystery that shines an important light on peer pressure, the power of silence, body image, and harassment.
About the AuthorClaire Swinarski is the author of multiple books for both kids and adults. Her writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Seventeen, Milwaukee Magazine, and many other publications. She lives in small town Wisconsin with her husband and three kids, where she writes books, wears babies, and wrangles bread dough. You can follow her on Instagram @claireswinarski.

 Honor Titles

Ten noteworthy honor titles written and/or illustrated by Wisconsin book creators were selected for Outstanding Achievement Award in children’s literature:

• How to Catch a Polar Bear - Stacy DeKeyser
• The Wishing Machine - Jonathan Hillman
• Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends - Lita Judge
• How Mr. Silver Stole the Show - Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise
• Starlings - Amanda Linsmeier
• Team Meena - Karla Manternach
• Full Moon Pups - Liz Garton Scanlon
• Always the Almost - Edward Underhill
• What Rosa Brought – Eliza Wheeler (illustrator)
• The Cartographers - Amy Zhang

Notable Wisconsin Author - Miranda Paul
Miranda Paul is an award-winning children’s author of One Plastic Bag and Water is Water, both named Junior Library Guild selections. 365: How to Count Your Year, released in September 2023, was named a CCBC Choices pick. In 2020, the CBAC recognized her and her husband’s book, I am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon as one of its Outstanding Books of the year.

Her titles have received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly in addition to being named to several recommended and “best of” reading lists.  10 Little Ninjas also was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month (August 2016).

Miranda makes regular appearances at schools, libraries, and bookstores, and has been a guest presenter at the Library of Congress Young Readers Center along with environmental activist Isatou Ceesay. Miranda also serves as Mentorship chair for We Need Diverse Books™ (www.diversebooks.org), volunteers for Books for Africa, and is a regional advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers (Wisconsin Chapter). She believes in working hard, having fun, and being kind. Learn more about her current and forthcoming titles at www.mirandapaul.com.

You can read the full information with press releases here at the WLA  Children's Book Award page at the WLA website

COMMITTEE MEMBERS | 2024

Chair - Murray Johnson

Hanna Collins, Youth Services Librarian, Slinger Community Library
Dawn Tevis, Youth Services Coordinator, La Crosse County Library 
Katrina Wulff, Youth Services Manager, Neenah Public Library
Ann Vickman, Portage Public Library
Sarah French, Irvin L Young Memorial Library

You can read more about this committee's work here at the WLA website.

 

CCBC Events  

 Sept-Dec 2024 

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is excited to share these  upcoming events, including the Charlotte Zolotow Lecture with Meg Medina in October, Starred Review Days in November, and more. We hope to see you  at the CCBC, around Wisconsin, or online soon! 

September 

• CCBC Shorts: A (Brief) Look at Books for Children & Teens September 25, 2024, 9:00 am - 9:30 am 

Online 

Registration 

October 

• Charlotte Zolotow Lecture Featuring Meg Medina 

October 17, 2024, 7:30 pm 

Memorial Union, UW-Madison 

Registration 

• CCBC Shorts: A (Brief) Look at Books for Children & Teens October 23, 2024, 9:00 am - 9:30 am 

Online 

Registration 

• Great New Books for Children and Teens for SEWI Library Systems and Area Schools 

October 30, 2024, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm 

New Berlin Public Library 

Registration

November 

• Making the Most of the CCBC 

At the Wisconsin Library Association Conference, KI Convention Center, Green Bay November 6, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 

https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/2024-wla-conference 

• Starred Reviews Days Hands-On Book Examination 

November 18, 2024 – November 21, 2024, 8:30 am – 7 pm 

November 22, 2024, 8:30 am – 2 pm 

At the CCBC, 225 N. Mills Street, Room 401, Madison (UW-Madison campus) Registration 

• CCBC Shorts: A (Brief) Look at Books for Children & Teens

November 20, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 9:30 am 

Online 

Registration 

December 

• Friends of the CCBC Book Sale 

 December 6, 2024, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 

 December 7, 8 a.m. – 1 pm 

 At the CCBC, 225 N. Mills Street, Room 401 (UW-Madison campus) 

Spring 2025 Preview 

Great New Books presentations highlighting titles from CCBC Choices 2025 at WSRA  (February), WEMTA (March) and several workshops around Wisconsin in March and April, in  addition to online. We’ll update our calendar of events as we know details.  

The CCBC serves preservice and practicing educators and librarians in Wisconsin. Part of the  School of Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison, the library receives additional support from  the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Division for Libraries and Technology. Visit the  CCBC website for access to CCBC resources, including thematic booklists, a CCBC-recommended  book search and intellectual freedom information for Wisconsin libraries and classrooms.    

Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) 

225 N. Mills Street, Madison, WI 53704 

https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/ 

ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu

Photo credit: Scott Elmquist

 

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) invites you to register and join us for the annual Charlotte Zolotow lecture. Please read (and share!) the information below. 

Meg Medina will deliver the 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Lecture on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. (Central), at Tripp Commons in the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison campus. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance. PBS Wisconsin will livestream and record the lecture.

 

Newbery and Pura Belpre award-winning author and current National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature Meg Medina will present original content in her lecture entitled “Writing the Truth in Contentious Times.” (link to flyer)

This free public lecture is sponsored by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) and the Friends of the CCBC, Inc., and is part of the Wisconsin Book Festival.