Entertainer Materials to Be Mailed Soon

The NFLS-sponsored entertainer for the summer is Kathy Prestidge and her program, "Every Story Has a Hero."

Kristin is in the process of laminating posters for your library. She also created a mini hand out that you can print to hand out at your desks. I will also email a press release that you can customize for your library.

Kathy's performance will last around 45 minutes, and it's appropriate for all ages.  She will tell stories and folk tales.  Kathy performed at the Summer Reading Workshop in February to give a preview of her summer program.

- Jamie

Young Adult Literature Webinar on April 21st

Announcing a new, 1 hour webinar from Infopeople.  Please let your staff and colleagues know about this event!

What’s New in Young Adult Literature 2015 Update

Presenter:  Michael Cart

Format:  Webinar

Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 

Start Time:  2PM Central

• Are you familiar with the latest trends in young adult literature?
• Are you looking for new authors?
• Do you need a list of the latest “hot” YA books?
• Do you want recommendations for the best adult and New Adult titles for YAs?

The world of young adult literature is a dynamic one that has become one of the most vibrant areas of publishing. Each publishing season brings a plethora of new titles, new forms, and new formats, many of which require new methods of evaluation.

Keeping up with these changes and the 5,000 + new titles flooding the market annually can be a full-time job. This webinar will help you identify new trends and the best new titles for your collections.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will be familiar with:

• Trends in YA literature and publishing
• New YA fiction that comprises “first purchases”
• Nonfiction for both recreational and classroom use
• Graphic novels and comics
• Adult books for young adults and New Adults

This webinar will be of interest to both public and school library staff with young adult collection development responsibility.

For more information and to participate in the April 21st webinar, go to https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=480 .

Webinars are free of charge, you can pre-register by clicking on the Register Now button. If registering with less than 30 MINUTES from the start of the webinar you can join directly from the thank you page by clicking the Join Now button. If you pre-registered you will receive an email with login link and a reminder email the day before the event.

If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar.  Check our archive listing at:  http://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar/archived.

GWR New Media Training Feedback

In March, 24 youth services librarians convened in Green Lake, WI for an intense two-day training on new media--the ever-evolving software (e.g. apps) and hardware (e.g. tablets) that are radically influencing the childhood experience.  You can read more about the Growing Wisconsin Readers New Media Training here: http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/NMT_description.pdf

NFLS participants were Lara Lakari of the Stephenson Public Library in Marinette, Katie Guzek of Brown County Library and Beth Lokken of Door County Library.  

Lara Lakari shared more about this about the training:

Attending the GWR New Media Training helped me understand the need for libraries to be part of the conversation when it comes to tablet use with children.  We need to be able to model appropriate use and recommend apps that have been evaluated for their support of the ECRR (Every Child Ready to Read) components: singing, talking, reading, writing, playing, and STEM.  We also can provide equal access to such opportunities.  

I have already started discussions with parents, caregivers, board members, and our staff.  I will be doing a presentation utilizing one of the apps we learned about at our all staff meeting next Friday to share these ideas.  My director and I are also working on a development plan that will allow us to acquire more iPads for use here at the main branch and at our smaller branches.

Teen Services Webinar

On March 31, YSS presented a webinar on teen services called "Teen Services Okay: Better Than Okay!" The presenters were Emily Heideman from Waupaca, Terry Ehle from Lester Public Library, and Becky Arenivar from Prescott.

The presentation had some great ideas on programming and using teens in the library as volunteers.

You can view the recording here:

April Youth Services Showcase

Check out this month's edition of the Showcase to find examples of: word of mouth marketing (out of the mouths of babes), blind date with a book programming, sensory play dates, and extreme plastic
re-purposing.http://pld.dpi.wi.gov/pld_showcase.

Tessa Michaelson Schmidt

Public Library Youth and Special Services Consultant