Children’s Services

Children’s Resources

Readers' Advisory, Collection Development & Reviews

Workshops, Trainings & Get-Togethers

2020 School Librarian Panel Virtual Workshop

“Realities of and Relationships with School Librarians: A Panel”

Watch the recording!

Three public school librarians will gave a brief tour of their space(s) and described the realities of working in public school libraries: duties, schedules, challenges and accomplishments.

Anna Julson (Bridges Virtual Academy, Merrill) slides

Michele Green (Greenwood) slides

Paula Norman (Tomahawk) slides

What Kind of Collaborator Are You? see the full details on the WI Libraries for Everyone Blog

2019 Super Storytimes Workshop
2019 Madison Public Library - The Bubbler
2018 STEAM in Youth Services Workshop

Attendees learned how to create high-interest STEAM programs on a low-to-no budget, tackle local STEAM grant writing, test out virtual/augmented reality, the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten App, passive coding activities, AND tried an Hour of Code!

Emily Zorea, Youth Services Librarian of the Brewer Public Library in Richland Center, kick-offed the day with “Engaging Families, Youth, and Teens around STEAM and Thematic Programming.” Julie Kinney, Teen Librarian for Marathon County Public Library, and Tammie Blomberg, Director of the Rib Lake Public Library, led the group through the Hour of Code and talked about bringing coding concepts to teen and adult library users.

Find more from Emily at her Sowing Seeds Librarian blog.

Attendees participated in passive coding activities and left with inspiration and coding lesson plans in hand! Activities and lesson plans courtesy of Linda Liukas, author of the Hello Ruby book series. The Hello Ruby series written for children is a “whimsical way to learn about technology, computing and coding.”

2024 Smokey Bear Reading Challenge:

January 1 – November 28, 2024

 

The USDA Forest Service, in collaboration with the Georgia Public Library Service, is excited to announce the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge in celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday in 2024! They are collaborating with public library systems across the country for this year-long challenge.

This challenge is designed to be a fun and easy way to engage children in reading about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers, while exploring their local environment.

The challenge is designed for children aged 4 to 10, although anyone can participate.

Each Wisconsin public library will receive one roll of 500 Smokey stickers, 50 Smokey cards, and one Smokey stamp sometime in January.

The Smokey Bear Reading Challenge Toolkit is available now.

2024 Great Lakes, Great Read Program

This community read program has been announced by the Wisconsin Water Library and Wisconsin Library Association. The program will officially kick-off on February 1, with two book titles being announced on Earth Day, April 22 (one title for children, one for adults). The program is in development and interested libraries can join the Great Lakes, Great Read email list for updates.

Youth Performer Booking Spreadsheet

Did you have an awesome performer? Did a program wow attendees? Add the information to this spreadsheet.

Monthly Public Library Services Updates

2024 Summer Reading:

Adventure Begins at Your Library

Online manual code is now available. Email Kristie @

Major thanks goes to the Wisconsin Department of Instruction for a statewide membership to the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP). Find the complete manual on the CSLP website. 

2024 Summer Program graphics & templates

A variety of children’s reading log templates have been created in English and Spanish. If you need assistance using the templates or would like a different design, contact Kristie @

English reading logs

Spanish reading logs

English road trip log

Spanish road trip log

Summer program schedule brochure

Summer program schedule flyer #1

Summer program schedule flyer #2

 

 

2023 YSS Performers Showcase
2023 Summer Symposium documents

Summer Symposium notes

Presenter handout: TYLS 1-Hour

Presenter handout: Sample Calendar

Presenter handout: Ready Made Resources

2024 Summer Math Adventure

The Wisconsin Mathematics Council offers a challenge for students to practice their math skills during summer. Children complete the program by finishing 5 activities and can receive a bonus for completing all 25 activities.

Pre-K Challenge          K-2 Challenge          3-5 Challenge

StoryWalk® Exchange Spreadsheet

StoryWalks® available to borrow among the WVLS libraries.

Wisconsin Valley Library Service
300 N 1st Street
Wausau, WI 54403
715-261-7250