Weekly Digest: this one’s packed with opportunities, new & updated resources, and events

by | Jan 4, 2024 | digest

Opportunities to participate in the larger library community

WAPL 2024: Call for Session Proposals

(from WAPL) This year’s conference is May 1- 3, 2024 at the Holiday Inn Stevens Point Convention Center. The conference theme is “Power to the Public,” which means:

  • Empowering library staff through conference sessions that kickstart creativity and fuel innovation.
  • Empowering the public to learn, play, and connect at the library through the spaces, programs, and services we offer.
  • Empowering stakeholders to support and advocate for their local public library.

We want to hear your voice! 

We encourage innovative proposals on a wide variety of topics – proposals don’t need to match the theme. Learn More & Submit a Proposal

We welcome proposals from libraries of all sizes and from individuals who work in a variety of roles – from front line staff to technical services to programming and more!

We also welcome proposals from vendors, consultants, trustees, friends, and other library partners.  While this is a very broad theme, proposals are not required to fit within it.

We will accept session proposals from December 21, 2023 through midnight on January 26, 2024. 

Hosted by the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL), a division of the Wisconsin Library Association, this annual conference brings together the public library community to share big ideas and learn from each other through interactive breakout sessions and special events.  Watch the conference webpage for updates! Please contact the WAPL Programming Committee with questions:

ARSL Leadership Institute participant applications open on January 3rd

(from Leah and ARSL) The Association for Rural and Small Libraries Leadership Institute seeks to provide timely, relevant leadership development opportunities for rural and small library workers from around the country.  Applications for the 2024-25 Leadership Institute participant cohort opened Wednesday, January 3, 2024.  Some things to know:

  • Applicants do not have to be current ARSL members, as membership dues and travel grants to ARSL Conferences are included as part of the Institute.
  • The program will take about 5 hours per month for 18 months, in addition to working on a leadership project at your library and attending the ARSL conference in 2024 and presenting at the conference in 2025.
  • Ideal candidates will:
    • Have aspirations to lead in their rural/small library and community
    • Interest in expanding library service to reach under-served communities
    • Have worked in libraries for less than 10 years
    • Not have an Masters in Library and Information Science (or equivalent)
    • Possess an enthusiasm for learning and professional growth
  • For all the information, check out the ARSL website!

The ARSL Leadership Institute is a grant-funded pilot program that seeks to provide timely, relevant leadership development opportunities for rural and small library workers.

All fun and games

UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction are looking for public and school librarians from across Wisconsin to help develop a new desktop educational video game focused on research occurring at the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center.  Participants will be able to generate game ideas and test the game, as well as share ideas for implementing the game in different settings.

Required Activities for Involved Librarians:

  • Participate in a one-day, in-person project workshop at UW-Madison. (Date & Time: February 9, 2024, from 10:00am – 7:00 pm) [Dinner from 5:30-7:00; Lodging and a travel stipend provided if needed]
  • Participate in two follow-up group meetings: Online, Spring 2024
  • Provide feedback on early prototypes of the game: Online, Spring/Summer 2024
  • Brainstorm ideas for how games could be used in various contexts

Check out the CALL FOR PARTICIPATION for more details and for an application link. The DEADLINE for the application is Wednesday, January 10th.  If you have questions, contact Chris.Baker@dpi.wi.gov.

Programming Resources

Free and virtual Ojibwe storytelling series

(from Liz Arbuckle) Boozhoo,

In Ojibwe culture, winter is storytelling season!  In celebration, the Wisconsin Historical Society is again bringing four traditional Ojibwe storytellers virtually via Zoom, to people around Wisconsin. This series is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The sessions will be held Tuesday evenings, January 9-30, 2024 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. I’m hoping you can help us get the word out to your patrons. Would you be able to share the flyer I’ve attached by posting it on your community board or via your webpage or social media?  I’ve included it in PDF and jpeg formats.

Our storytellers include: Sirella Ford from Lac Courte Oreilles on January 9th, Tina Van Zile from Sokaogon (Mole Lake) on January 16th, Tinker Schuman from Lac du Flambeau on January 23rd, and myself, Liz Arbuckle from Bad River on January 30th. You can learn more about the storytellers and register via our webpage at: https://wihist.org/OjibweStorytelling  This is our third year of hosting an Ojibwe Storytelling Series. All of the previous storytelling events have been recorded and can be accessed via the Storytelling webpage. These are also free and available to the public.  (from Reb, Here’s a flyer pdf to download.)

Please let me know if you have any questions and I hope you can join us this month.

Miigwech,
Liz Arbuckle
Northern Outreach Coordinator, Wisconsin Historical Society
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
29270 County Highway G, Ashland, Wisconsin 54806
(715) 685-2667
liz.arbuckle@wisconsinhistory.org

Smokey Bear Reading Challenge

The USDA Forest Service is sponsoring a Smokey Bear Reading Challenge in celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday in 2024.  This is a national challenge, meant to complement the CSLP Adventure Begins at Your Library theme, is designed for 4-10 year olds.

  • Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction registered as the state participating library, and will be distributing incentives to all Wisconsin libraries in January.  These incentives include:
    • 1 roll of 500 Smokey stickers
    • 50 Smokey cards
    • 1 Smokey stamp
  • Libraries do not need to register individually for this, everyone will receive the incentives
  • The Smokey Bear Reading Challenge Toolkit is available now, it includes posters, bookmarks, reading lists, reading logs, and activities.

Taxes are coming!

For the last several years, Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance (UI) has shared a 1099-G tax information desk guide with Job Centers, Libraries, and other community partners who assist claimants.

This one-page reference sheet may continue to be shared with claimants who may have questions about their unemployment 1099-G tax statements. We anticipate 1099-G tax forms for 2023 will be available online January 12, 2024.

This publication is also available on the Internet in the DWD Publications Repository:  UCB-17893-P, Unemployment Insurance 1099-G Tax Information

Learning opportunities

2024 Teen Inclusive Internship Program Informational Webinar

Participants will learn about the program’s goals, what is expected of the library, the mentor, and the intern, and how to apply for the program.

  • The 2024 Teen Inclusive Internship Program will provide up to $3,000 in funding for each of the five Wisconsin public libraries chosen to participate in the program
  • Selected libraries will recruit and hire teens that reflect the diversity of their community
    • The teen interns will bring their skills, interests, and experiences to the library by developing a Connected Learning Project.
    • Participating libraries learned how to engage and support teens while creating career pathways to increase diversity in the field of librarianship.
    • Program runs from June 1 to August 31, 2024
  • Funded by LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) grant dollars, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

This webinar will be recorded and available for those unable to attend the February 8 or February 9 webinar.

Libraries Win website training schedule

This is the regular schedule for website training from Erica. You can find her calendar on the LEAN WI website. She sends out regular emails about schedule changes and topics. If you want to get her emails, please submit a HelpDesk ticket.
2nd Monday, 1 – 2 PM: Website Office Hour with topic
3rd Tuesday, 11 AM – 12 PM: Website accessibility learning group (invite)
3rd Wednesday, 11 AM – 12 PM: Website 201: open hour to ask your questions, review website basics
3rd Thursday, 1 – 2 PM: Website 201: open hour to ask questions
3rd Thursday, 2 – 3 PM: Website Office Hour with topic

Everybody’s favorite web conference

Registration is now open for the 12th Annual Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference, held on January 24-25, 2024. www.wildwiscwinterweb.com/

Fourteen sessions will be available in four different tracks, including Management, Marketing, Internal Communications (new), and Programming (new). Register for each session individually.

In addition, a “Stretch Break” will be held during one of the conference lunch breaks.

The 2024 conference features a lineup of such renowned speakers as Kelly Jensen (Editor at Book Riot), Dara Schmidt (Cedar Rapids Public Library), Laura Solomon (Ohio Public Library Information Network), Kym Powe (Connecticut State Library), Doug Crane (Palm Beach County Library System), nine-time Jeopardy! champion, Dr. Ben Chan, and many more.

There is no cost to attend! Thanks to support from Wisconsin public library systems, along with the Department of Public Instruction, registration for this conference is free.

Coming up on the IFLS calendar

New on website

Support Your Library public page

This advocacy page geared to the general public was developed by IFLS staff in consultation with librarians as part of the Intellectual Freedom Working Group. Feel free to link this content on your website, it’ll be updated regularly. If you’d like the content to appear on your own website, contact Reb with email or a HelpDesk ticket.

Library Love Story

It’s that time of year! Reb has updated the online form, A toolkit and promotional ideas will go out on Monday in Marketing Monthly. Please share widely and encourage people to participate.

New staff

(from Erica) We have exciting news – Brendan Tuckey will be joining the Libraries Win website team on January 8, 2024. Brendan has background in software programming and website design. However, most of his background is in building websites from scratch – writing them in CSS and HTML. Like many of you, he is going to learn WordPress and Divi.