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WVLS Scholarships and Grants
2026 Scholarships and Grants
2026 Play Make Learn Conference
WVLS is awarding a scholarship to member library staff to attend the 2026 Play Make Learn Conference taking place July 9-10 at the Memorial Union in Madison.
The Play Make Learn (PML) Annual Conference is a place for collaboration and discovery in the design, research and practice of playful learning, games for learning and positive social impact, making and makerspaces, STEAM education, research/practitioner partnerships, and arts in education (formal and informal spaces). PML creates an inspirational space for preK-12 educators, librarians, and researchers to tinker together, share knowledge, and celebrate one another’s work. More conference details can be found here: https://dpi.wi.gov/play-make-learn.
Valued at $1,000, this scholarship will only cover the following expenses:
- Full Conference Registration
- 2 nights of conference lodging
- Round-trip mileage to Madison and hotel parking (if needed).
2026 WAPL Conference Scholarships
WVLS is awarding scholarships to member library staff to attend the 2026 Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference taking place April 27-29 at the Osthoff Resort. Registration is scheduled to open soon, and lodging information is already available on the Conference website. Early Bird registration will be $325 for WLA Members and $490 for non-members.
Up to $1,000 is available for the scholarship, to cover some/all the following costs:
- Conference registration (WLA member or non-member rate)
- Mileage reimbursement (WVLS rate) to/from the conference
- Up to 2 nights of conference lodging (April 27-28)
Scholarship Recipients:
ReAnna Oestreich, Dorchester Public Library
Emily Mueller, Frances L. Simek Memorial Library (Medford)
2026 Summer Math Adventure Grant
The 2026 Summer Math Adventure Grant offers WVLS libraries the opportunity to introduce or expand math-focused programming during the summer. Participating libraries will receive $500 in funding and up to 10 free booklets per age group to help bring the Wisconsin Mathematics Council’s Summer Math Adventure program to their communities.
Grant funds may be used to support:
- Printing additional program booklets
- Developing marketing and promotional materials
- Enhancing or creating math related programs
- Purchasing incentives for participation
- Acquiring math-focused resources, such as puzzles and games
2026 Power-Up Conference Scholarship
WVLS is offering scholarships to support attendance at Power Up: A Leadership Conference for Youth Services Managers and Staff. This virtual conference brings together youth services librarians and staff from public libraries, schools, after-school programs, museums, and other community partners to explore leadership, collaboration, and emerging practices in youth services.
Sponsored by The Information School at UW–Madison, Power Up will take place virtually on Thursday, March 26, making it easier to participate. Sessions will focus on building leadership skills, strengthening partnerships, and gaining ideas that can be applied to everyday youth services work.
Scholarship Recipients:
Loralee Petersen
April Hansen
2026 PLA Conference Scholarships
WVLS will award scholarships to area library staff to attend the national 2026 Public Library Association (PLA) Conference.
Offered biennially, the PLA Conference is the largest public library event in the world, where thousands of public library workers, advocates, and vendors come together for an unparalleled opportunity to learn, connect, and be seen. This three-day event is jam-packed with over 100 educational sessions, awe-inspiring speakers, bestselling authors, networking opportunities, and an exhibits hall with vendors offering the best library products and solutions.
Valued at $1,800, this scholarship will only cover the following expenses:
- Advanced Conference Registration ($414 for PLA members/$673 for non-members)
- Roundtrip transportation via Conference Bus * ($100-125)
- 3 nights of conference lodging (average $199 per night, plus taxes)
- Round-trip mileage to Wausau for bus departure and parking, if needed (cost will vary; 2026 mileage rate)
- One Author Lunch ($70) **
Scholarship Recipients:
Virginia Roberts
Melissa Highfill
Heidi O’Hare
Jill Roth
2026 IUG Conference Scholarships
The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) is awarding scholarships to member library staff to attend the IUG 2026 Conference in Chicago.
Offered annually, the IUG Conference consists of three general conference days, with dozens of sessions ranging from general interest to specialized topics. Many opportunities are given to meet and share ideas with other librarians from around the world. Programs are prepared by individuals from member libraries and members of the Innovative Interfaces staff.
More conference details can be found here: https://www.innovativeusers.org/iug_2026.php
Valued at $2,000, this scholarship will only cover the following expenses:
- Regular Conference Registration ($475)
- Roundtrip Transportation (cost will vary; 2026 mileage rate)
- Up to 3 nights of conference lodging (Approximately $1,100 for three nights)
- Option of one Preconference ($50-100)
Scholarship Recipients:
Nicole Metz-Andrews
Allison Puestow
Carol Ruth Wessler Memorial Scholarship
Note: Applicants interested in the 2026 Play Make Learn Conference scholarship should use the information/application on the left side of this page.
The monies in this fund are to be invested as a special fund, the earnings of which are to be disbursed for the purpose of providing financial assistance for continuing education opportunities in the areas of reference, referral and interlibrary loan services for personnel employed by WVLS libraries.
As long as the applicant can describe how their attendance is likely to improve their ability to perform the reference/referral and interloan tasks currently assigned to them, their application will be given serious consideration by the WVLS Board of Trustees and/or its Executive Committee. Topics which could be considered for Wessler funding might include (but are not limited to) the following: reference skills, reference materials, referral patterns, interloan procedures/protocols, collection development, book selection, personal improvement such as how to communicate more efficiently, supervisory skills, office efficiency, most internet and computer skills sessions, space studies in current or new facilities, etc.
Carol Ruth Wessler Memorial Scholarship Information and Application
Previous Scholarships and Grants Awarded
American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference - Previous Awards
2023
Leah Giordano (MCPL) and Annette Miller (Tomahawk)
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) National Institute - Previous Awards
2024
Krista Blomberg, Rib Lake Public Library
Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference - Previous Awards
2022
Laura Wood: MCPL- Rothschild; Carla Huston: Stetsonville; Maxx Handel: Medford; Allison Puestow: Tomahawk
2021
Kay Heiting, Granton Public Library; Janay Ziebell, Neillsville Public Library; Teresa Hall, Loyal Public Library; Jenny Jochimsen, Abbotsford Public Library; Julie Beloungy, Thorp School District, Tammie Blomberg, Rib Lake Public Library
2019
Erica Brewster, Demmer Memorial Library (Three Lakes)
Loralee Peterson, Owen Public Library
Dominic Frandrup, Antigo Public Library
Heather Bain, Marathon County Public Library – Hatley Branch
Back in Circulation Conference - Previous Awards
2021
Virginia Roberts, Rhinelander District Library; Cathy Oelrich, Rhinelander District Library; Loralee Petersen, Owen Public Library
Library Legislative Day Scholarships - Previous Awards
2024
Heidi O’Hare; Tomahawk Public Library
James Mildbrand, Loyal Public Library (trustee)
Janay Ziebell; Neillsville Public Library
Leah Giordano; Marathon County Public Library
Maxx Handel, Frances L. Simek Memorial Library (Medford)
Peggy O’Connell, Minocqua Public Library
Teresa Hall, Loyal Public Library
Virginia Roberts, Rhinelander District Library
Laurie Renal-Faledas, Crandon Public Library
2023
Ada Demlow (Antigo Public Library)
Teresa Hall (Loyal Public Library)
Carla Huston (Jean M. Thomsen Memorial Library, Stetsonville)
April Lammert (Demmer Memorial Library, Three Lakes)
Laurie Ollhoff (T.B. Scott Free Library, Merrill)
Katelyn Sabelko (Marathon County Public Library)
Virginia Woods Roberts (Rhinelander District Library)
2019
Stephanie Schmidt, Crandon Public Library
2018
Dominic Frandrup, Antigo
Laurie Ohlloff, Merrill
Heidi O’Hare, Tomahawk
2017
Sarah Steinbacher, Rhinelander District Library
2016
Julie Beloungy, Thorp Public Library
2015
Anne LaRoche, Frances L Simek Memorial Library- Medford
Power Up - Previous Awards
2025
Andrea Bennett – T.B. Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Erica Dischinger – Minocqua Public Library
Sarah Moscatello – Marathon County Public Library
Public Library Association (PLA) Conference - Previous Awards
Offered biennially, the PLA Conference—the premier event for public library professionals—is an opportunity for librarians, library support staff, trustees, friends, and library vendors from across the country and around the world to reconnect with one another, recreate the services they provide, and revitalize the passion for the work they do every day.
2024
Allison Puestow, Tomahawk Public Library
Chad Daley, Marathon County Public Library
Tara Hornbeak, Marathon County Public Library
2022
Jennifer Davis, Minocqua Public Library
Julie Kinney, Marathon County Public Library
Laurie Ollhoff, T.B. Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Ashley Polinski, Rhinelander District Library
Dan Richter, Marathon County Public Library
Elisha Sheffer, Rhinelander District Library
Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference - Previous Awards
2024
Amber Brill, Greenwood Public Library
Brandon Hardin, Withee Public Library
Katelyn Sobelko, Marathon County Public Library
2022
Andrea Bennett (T.B. Scott Free Library/Merrill)
Krista Blomberg (Rib Lake Public Library)
Cindy Hultman (Minocqua Public Library)
Katrina Kubeny (Elcho School District)
Esther O’Brien (Rhinelander District Library)
Jessica Zellers (T.B. Scott Free Library/Merrill)
Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Annual Conference - Previous Awards
2024
Alice Sturzl, Laona Board of Trustee
Andrea Bennett, TB Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Laurie Renel-Faledas, Crandon Public Library
Leah Giordano, MCPL
Murray Johnson, MCPL
Teresa Hall, Loyal Public Library
2023
Alexander Johnson, Marathon County Public Library
Andrea Bennett, T.B. Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Denise Chojnacki, Rhinelander District Library
Krista Blomberg, Rib Lake Public Library
Maria Pregler, T.B. Scott Free Library (Merrill)
Maxx Handel, Frances L. Simek Memorial Library (Medford)
Rita Ludvigsen, Western Taylor County Public Library (Gilman)
Sarah Moscatello, Marathon County Public Library
2022
2021
- WAPL/WLA Conference Scholarships: Heather Bain, MCPL-Hatley; Brandon Hardin, Withee Public Library; Loralee Peterson, Owen Public Library
- WAPL/WLA Conference Youth Services Scholarship: Laurie Renel-Faledas, Crandon Public Library
WLA Membership/Professional Development Scholarship - Previous Awards
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide WVLS new directors and support staff the opportunity to attend a Wisconsin Library Association-sponsored conference to enhance professional development. Applicants can choose to attend the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference in May, or the WLA Conference in October. It is also meant to serve as a tool to develop technology and presentation skills. Also, the post-conference assignment is intended to reinforce/develop the scholarship winner’s technology and presentation skills. People who are selected for the scholarship will also be awarded a one-year membership to WLA.
2019
Denise Chojnacki, Rhinelander Public Library – Conference Report
Stephanie Schmidt, Crandon Public Library – Conference Report
2018
Dominic Frandrup, Antigo Public Library – Webinar Recording
Teresa Miniatt, Withee Public Library – Webinar Recording
Heidi O’Hare, Tomahawk Public Library – Webinar Recording
WLA Membership/Youth Services Scholarship - Previous Awards
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide WVLS youth services staff an opportunity to attend a WLA-sponsored conference in 2019. The person selected for the scholarship will also be rewarded a one-year membership to the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA).
2019
Erica Dischinger, Minocqua Public Library – Conference Report
Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) Conference - Previous Awards
2024
Laurie Ollhoff, T.B. Scott Free Lirbary (Merrill)
2023
Julie Beloungy (School District of Thorp), Kay Heiting (Granton Community Library), and Kristie Heistad (Antigo Public Library)
WVLS Innovation and Collaboration Grant - Previous Awards
2019 Literacy Grant
To support literacy for all library users of Wisconsin Valley Library Service member libraries, a $20,000 grant will be provided to partnering WVLS libraries to create a space in their libraries where families can talk, read, sing, write, and play together.
Rib Lake Public Library
Tomahawk Public Library
Watch the presentation of the final project.
Resources
- Exhibit Menu: ready-made themes
- Ready-made Prompt Examples
- Resources list
- Pinterest Board
- Content inspiration and sources
- Furniture inspiration and sources
- Wall inspiration and sources
- Floor inspiration and sources
- Ceiling/Lighting inspiration and sources
Ready to Print Prompts
- Play Bath Water Station
- Play Doctor Dress Up
- Play Germs Wash Your Hands
- Talk Garden Vegetables
- Talk Sorting Shapes
- Talk Magnification of Insect Specimen
- Talk Magnification of Natural Materials
2018 Collaboration Grant
The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS) offered a competitive grant to a member library to develop and implement a service for their community that is both innovative and collaborative. The relevant aspects of the grant and, ultimately, of the new service are innovation, collaboration, value to the community and sustainability.
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- 2018 Owen Public Library Grant Proposal
- 2018 Tomahawk Public Library Grant Proposal
WVLS Marketing Support Grant - Previous Awards
2024
Pilot project and opportunity for WVLS libraries to evaluate their marketing goals and to work toward a library marketing plan or marketing campaign.
WVLS Summer Math Adventure Grant - Previous Awards
2024
A pilot project and opportunity for WVLS libraries to offer or enhance math-based activities throughout the summer. Libraries participating in the pilot offered the Wisconsin Mathematics Council’s Summer Math Adventure program.
- Minocqua Public Library
- Rib Lake Public Library
- Thorp Public Library