YOUTH SERVICES SECTION

PURPOSE

The Wisconsin Library Association's Youth Services Section (YSS) advocates for professional empowerment, collaboration, and innovative, inclusive, and intentional service. To that end, YSS provides a forum and resources for people in Wisconsin's libraries who share a commitment to serving children and young adults, their parents, caregivers, and teachers. It is a vital, dynamic group whose interests focus on providing quality library service and encouraging literacy and library use. YSS members include public and school library staff, library trustees and library supporters who work together to benefit youth in Wisconsin. To become a member simply check the YSS box on your WLA membership or renewal form. To become actively involved, please contact the current YSS Chair or Chair-elect to find out more about committee and conference opportunities for volunteering.

Youth Services Shout-Out-YSS! Blog

An up-to-date spot for librarians around Wisconsin to find relevant news, events, and resources.

EVENTS

WLA's Youth Services Section Presents:  Teen Programming Inspiration (webinar)

Tuesday, April 18 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Free for WLA Members, $25 for Non-Members

Join us for the next installment of WLA’s Youth Services Section (YSS) Presents: Teen Programming Inspiration on Tuesday, April 18th from 3-4:00pm.  Four amazing library staff working with teens will share their teen programming successes, failures, and words of wisdom to keep us all motivated to create teen programming. This webinar will be followed by another entry in May on Teen Advisory Groups and volunteers. We all know that teens can be a tricky group to bring into the library and hope that this webinar series will empower and energize staff to keep doing the important work of serving this age group!

Presenters:

• Terry Ehle, Youth Services Coordinator, Lester Public Library, Two Rivers, WI   
• Kahlil Griffin, Branch Manager of Simmons and Uptown, Kenosha Public Library, Kenosha, WI
• Abby Seymour, Teen Services Librarian at the E.D. Locke Public Library, McFarland, WI
• Laci Sheldon, Youth Services Director, McIntosh Memorial Library, Viroqua, WI

REGISTER

WLA's Youth Services Section Presents:  Growing Community Leaders through Teen Advisory Groups and Volunteering (webinar)

Thursday, May 11 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Free for WLA Members, $25 for Non-Members

Talking with teens, hearing their opinions, and watching them grow can be one of the most rewarding experiences. But sometimes it's difficult to harness that teenage energy into an experience that works to give them some ownership of what happens in the library. Join four librarians who have successfully wrangled their teens into either advisory boards or volunteers, which in turn has resulted in amazing things like a teen created podcast and teen representation at library board meetings.  They’ll share ideas on how to recruit, balance the workload, and keep things organized. 

Speakers:

• Emily Sanders, Assistant Director/Youth Services Librarian, Barrett Memorial Public Library
• Caitlin Schaffer, Youth Services Librarian, Oconomowoc Public Library
• Valerie Spooner, Youth Services Librarian, Rusk County Community Library
• Taylor Wilcox, Teen Librarian, Waupaca Public Library

 Register

LEADERSHIP