Childrens

Ashley Borman, Technical Services Librarian at the Clintonville (WI) Public Library, is back with another weeding tips column. 
Image by LoggaWiggler from Pixabay
Kits are sometimes the bane of my existence. Don’t get me wrong. I love that we have kits and the people love to use them. We have kits for kids that include books, movies, and games. We have memory kits for adults with books, puzzles, music and more. Patrons love the ease of grabbing a kit and having multiple things to entertain or teach with. 

However, sometimes pieces go missing. Sometimes, the pieces that go missing can’t be replaced. So, what do you do with the kit? Do you find something to replace the missing item and have someone fix the cataloging record? What if there are multiple items on a record? You can’t change the record description if other libraries also have those items. It can become messy and expensive to “fix” a kit. But sometimes you don’t want to weed a kit because there are still some useful items in it.

The solution is simple. If you can’t find pieces or items to replace what is missing, “discard” the kit from the system, and re-catalog individual items. 
If you don’t have a game or puzzle collection, you could always use those items in activities or programs, or just leave them sit out for patrons to use in the library. We recently had an oversize kit in our children’s area that we dismantled because the bag fell apart, and we couldn’t find anything decent to replace it with. One of the items in the kit was a fantasy castle playset, which is not something we would circulate on its own, but we were happy to pull it out and leave it sit out for kids to play with. 
So, before you get too frustrated with a kit that is constantly missing pieces, or has seen better days, think about what else you could do with it and turn it into something “new”.

In a recent Teen Librarian Toolbox post published in School Library Journal (SLJ), Karen Jensen did a research deep-dive to take a look at the demographics of youth in the US.

Karen writes: " I have spent some time now digging around in local statistics and generational data to help me better understand my service area. I then spent my evenings researching and putting together an infographic of youth in general in the United States, out of curiosity. Knowing your local specifics is vital to understand who you serve directly, but it’s also interesting to see how your neck of the woods compares to the larger picture. For example, I learned that my local service area is more diverse and has a higher rate of poverty that the United States average. These are important things to know."

To see the fascinating infographic that resulted, please click here. [A Snapshot of Youth in the United States in Infographic Form for 2024. Jensen, Karen. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. August 6, 2024.]

The American Library Association (ALA) is again sponsoring a nationwide Library Card Sign-ip program.

ALA writes: "Whether you’re upgrading your skills, scouting for knowledge and information, or connecting with other heroic readers, a library card is your key to an arsenal of resources. Spark your creativity as a builder or programmer by tinkering in your library’s makerspace; mine the library’s stacks and databases for new stories and adventures; kickstart your critical thinking skills to defeat the Decepticons of misinformation lurking online. Hitting the road? Use your library card to fuel your mind with books, e-books, audiobooks, and museum passes. 

ALA is teaming up with multiplatform entertainment company Skybound Entertainment and leading toy and game company Hasbro to encourage people to roll out to their libraries with the TRANSFORMERS franchise, featuring Optimus Prime, as part of Library Card Sign-Up Month in September. Read the full announcement.

Stop by their webpage to find social media-ready artwork, press releases, mini-posters, Canva templates and more!

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from PixabayRecently, YSS Board member Peter Blenski wrote a great post on the ALSC blog on how to encourage patrons to post an online review when they give you a thumbs up.

Pete writes: "Personally, whenever I get something like this [ed. note: positve comment] after a story time, I thank them.  But then I ask them to please find us on Google and leave a review; I’d be more than happy to help them if they need help finding it.  I do love hearing those comments, but I’m not the one that needs to hear them.  Everyone else does.  Indirectly, your story time grown ups are already evangelizing about you, talking to their friends or writing on Facebook groups.  All that you’re doing here is directly asking them to do it."

Click here to read the whole post with ideas and tips on how to ask for this kind of support! [Rate, Review and Subscribe. Blenski, Peter. ALSC blog. August 1, 2024]

Once or twice a month on weekends, YSS posts round-ups of ads that are sent to us or that we come across. If you have a position opening up and would like to see it on the YSS blog, please forward the job ad link/descriptions to the YSS blog at the email address listed in the header above the day's blog post.

It continues to rain youth services listings in August!

USS Liberty Memorial (Grafton) Library      Teen Services Librarian (Full-Time)

 

We are seeking a helpful, self-motivated, and creative candidate with a strong interest in providing library services to young adults and children. An ideal candidate enjoys engaging with teens, growing community partnerships, is comfortable with current technologies and learning new ones, and is well organized. A successful candidate works well collaboratively but is comfortable making independent decisions and takes initiative to increase the library’s value to the community.

 

Job duties include but are not limited to: providing customer assistance at the circulation desks, conducting youth programs and storytimes, managing and planning programs and services for young adults, maintaining the young adult book collection; marketing library services, and maintaining the library social media accounts.

 

The Village of Grafton offers a full benefits package including time off, paid holidays, life insurance, health insurance, an employee assistance program, and participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System.

 

This is a 40 hour a week position. Hours include days, two evenings, and some Saturdays. The full job description for this position is available here.

 

Highlights of the Position:

The Teen Services Librarian serves the residents of the Village & Town of Grafton and its surrounding areas. This individual helps to staff the youth services desk along with four other part-time staff members. In addition to leading teen programming and collection efforts, this individual has some decision-making responsibilities and on occasion directs the work of others. This position is supervised by the Head of Youth Services.

 

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• At least one year customer service experience, with public library experience strongly preferred
• Enthusiasm for library services
• Excellent analytical and communication skills

 

Preferred:

• Masters of Library Science degree from an ALA accredited institution
• Experience planning and executing programs
• Cataloging experience
• Experience working with teens and/or children

 

Starting wages are $17.35 – $20.41 per hour depending on qualifications and experience, with future growth opportunities up to $23.47 per hour.

 

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, three professional references, and a village application form (found here) to the Head of Youth Services, Nicolette Birkholz by email at NBirkholz@monarchlibraries.org. Open until filled.

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 L.E. Phillips Memorial (Eau Claire Public Library   Youth Services Coordinator (part-time)

Are you passionate about serving the needs of youth and caregivers? Are you also creative, fun, energetic, innovative, and adaptable? If so, join us at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Our youth services team serves children birth through age 18, and their caregivers. As a Coordinator in youth services, you’ll provide top notch customer service through reference and reader’s advisory, provide outreach services at schools and community events, plan and conduct children’s programs, create displays and publicity materials, and so much more.

We’re looking for a candidate that has a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in training and work experience. Applicants should have experience working with children and/or teens and their families, and be knowledgeable about children’s and young adult literature.

This is a part-time position, 25 hours per week. The starting rate is $24.69 per hour. The proposed schedule includes a variety of daytime hours and rotating evening and weekend shifts.

Benefits include paid vacation and sick leave and participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System. More information on benefits can be provided by emailing barbl@eauclaire.lib.wi.us

For consideration, interested applicants must submit a completed library employment application, resume and cover letter.

Application materials will be reviewed starting on August 26th and we will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. Visit our website to apply: https://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/employment/
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Algoma Public Library                 Young Adult Librarian (part/full-time)

• 32-40 hours a week including weekday, evening and Saturday hours
• Hourly starting rate of $18.50-$19.50 based on education and experience
• Deadline to apply: August 23

The Algoma Public Library is seeking an innovative, self-motivated, technology-savvy librarian to work with the Young Adults in our community and support the library. The ideal candidate enjoys working with teens; readily adapts to constant change; is comfortable both with current technologies and learning new ones; projects a helpful, welcoming personality, and is well organized. Candidates must be able to obtain a Grade II Librarian Certificate; coursework or experience in youth services is a plus. This position is 32-40 hours a week including weekday, evening and Saturday hours.
 
Get more details at www.algomapubliclibrary.org/young-adult-librarian.html.

WiSciFest BioBlitz at your library: DPI invites libraries throughout Wisconsin to host community bioblitzes during the weeklong Wisconsin Science Festival (October 14-20). A bioblitz is an event which gives your community members the opportunity to explore and record the surrounding flora and fauna and can run for one hour, one day or for the whole week. 

• Our friends at the Wisconsin Water Library and Wisconsin Sea Grant, who host the annual Great Lakes BioBlitz in the spring, have assembled an amazing bioblitz resource guide with all the important information you need to host your own bioblitz.
• They are also holding an informational webinar on Thursday, September 19 at 11:30 to introduce both new and experienced participants to the joys of bioblitzing. Be sure to register for the webinar.

 Jeni Schomber, DPI Public Library Consultant, shared the following in her DPI Youth Services Weekly Reminders and Resources July 25, 2024 newsletter.

More Than Welcome: Libraries Serving Families of Young Children With Disabilities – webinar recording

Are you interested in serving ALL children in your communities? Are you wondering how you might make your spaces, programs, and services more inclusive for children with disabilities and their families? This webinar recording is a culminating product of the IMLS-funded (LG-246297-OLS-20) Services for Children of All Abilities in Libraries: An Exploration (SCALE) project. The webinar was designed to convey how libraries can be more than just welcoming for families of children with disabilities. A customizable flyer (for your library programs and services) and an Inclusive Library Spaces and Programs for Young Children self-assessment are both available on the webinar recording site on YouTube.

Recently Tess Prendergast compiled a host of excellent resources on Whole Child Development (WCD) which "focuses on all aspects of a child's growth and well-being."

She shares information about WCD as well as some excellent online resources.

Click here to access the resources. [Whole Child Development Resources. Prendergast, Tess. ALSC blog. July 15, 2024.]

Once or twice a month on weekends, YSS posts round-ups of ads that are sent to us or that we come across. If you have a position opening up and would like to see it on the YSS blog, please forward the job ad link/descriptions to the YSS blog at the email address listed in the header above the day's blog post.

Here are our first August listings

Oak Creek Public Library      Youth Services Librarian (Part-Time)

Summary Description

Located along the western shore of Lake Michigan, Oak Creek is in the midst of a development boom and is one of the fastest growing cities in southeastern Wisconsin. In two decades, the City’s population grew over 25 percent, and substantial growth and development is projected into the future. Adding vibrancy and a sense of place to the community, the City’s Drexel Town Square features a modern mixed-use development anchored by a civic center plaza, City Hall, and Library facility. The City’s elected leadership strategically invests in Oak Creek’s future as demonstrated projects already underway.
 
The Youth Services Librarian provides excellent customer service to library patrons, assists patrons and staff in meeting their reference and informational needs, plans and conducts programs with a focus on children and their caregivers, promotes youth services to the community, manages assigned library collections, participates in the day-to-day operations of the library, and administers other library services as assigned. The current work schedule is Monday: 8:30am-5:00pm/11:45am-8:15 pm (pm shift about once a month for programming); Tuesday: 4:15pm-8:15pm; Wednesday: 8:30am-5:00pm; Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm/9:45am-6:15pm, Saturday: 8:15am-4:15pm (Friday and Saturday shifts are on a rotation). These hours may change to suit the needs of the library.

Duties, Functions and Supervision/Accountability

Serve as a member of the youth services team to administer the youth area of the library. Serve as Librarian-in-Charge when assigned.  Develop feasible, realistic solutions to problems or questions.  Recommend changes or improvements in library operations to supervisors when appropriate.
 
Provide high quality, approachable customer service to patrons via various communication methods, such as in-person, phone, email, online chat, and text, with a focus on reference, technology and readers’ advisory.  Maintain confidentiality in all interactions and communications with patrons.
 
Organize, prepare and present programs for youth to promote life-long independent readers and literacy in our community. Programming examples include preschool story-times, book clubs, outreach to local daycare facilities, schools and organizations, the Summer Reading Program and passive programming.
 
Select and catalog materials for purchase for assigned collection areas according to the Collection Development and Selection Policy. Maintain assigned areas through the systematic evaluation of currently owned materials and their collections. 
 
Prepare informational and promotional materials about library events and resources including press releases, flyers, displays, resource guides, calendars and newsletters in both print and non-print form.
 
Promote library services through community outreach and participation.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution (or within 9 credits of completion). Degree must be obtained within 6 months of hire.
 
One (1) year experience in library operations required (public library experience preferred).   Experience, knowledge, or training related to youth services preferred.
 
Good communication skills and strong customer service skills required.

Job Description
To view the complete job description for this position, please visit Job Descriptions | City of Oak Creek (oakcreekwi.gov).

Salary

$26.73 Hourly

Job Type

Regular Part Time

Job Number

2024-00029

Department

Library

Opening Date

07/29/2024

Closing Date
8/12/2024 4:00 PM Central

 

Please include a resume & cover letter with your application. To apply for this job, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oakcreekwi/jobs/4597749/youth-services-librarian-part-time.

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Dwight Foster (Fort Atkinson) Public Library      Youth Services Librarian (full-time)The Dwight Foster Public Library in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin seeks a proactive, enthusiastic, and committed librarian to perform professional level youth services work to advance the library’s mission.  Primary duties will involve managing the youth library collection, facility, and services including planning and implementing library programs as well as outreach to area schools and agencies. The Dwight Foster Public Library offers a strong commitment to youth library services in a facility renovated and expanded in 2011.  Located between Madison and Milwaukee, Fort Atkinson is an attractive city with a variety of cultural and educational opportunities.  The Dwight Foster Public Library enjoys strong community support. Job Qualifications: Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from an ALA-accredited school preferred.  Bachelor’s degree in library science, elementary education, reading, or a related field and three years child development, education, library, or related experience required.  Applicants with Spanish language or ASL proficiency are preferred. Salary and Benefits: The pay range for this salaried position is $54,059-$60,216.  The City of Fort Atkinson offers an excellent benefit package with paid vacation and holidays, sick leave, health, dental, and life insurance, and enrollment in the Wisconsin Retirement System.
View the full position description and details about how to apply here: https://www.fortatkinsonwi.gov/_T10_R60.php
Thank you for considering joining our team!
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Oconto Falls Community Library         Children's Programmer  (part-time) 

• PT Clerk – Children’s Programmer and Public Services
• ​Oconto Falls Community Library
• Part-Time
• Starting pay rate: $14.00 to $15.00 per hour, based on experience

Under the direction of the Library Director, the Children’s Programmer provides and promotes reliable and exciting programming for children, maintains the Children’s collection, and develops community partnerships to promote programs and services that meet the current and emerging needs of the community. The Children’s Programmer provides prompt, courteous and high-quality customer service to library patrons and supports the Director in daily operations, including circulation of materials, keeping of accurate patron records, assisting with programming, and supervising and instructing volunteers. 

Get more details at www.ocontofallslibrary.org/employment.html.

Hello, library colleagues!
I'm pleased to be sharing info about the DPI's "version #1" of AI Guidance for Schools and Libraries, which Monica Treptow (our School Library Media Education Consultant, also on the Library Services Team) and I helped develop. The document was developed with cross-agency expertise, and aims to offer a digestible overview of current AI considerations in the context of schools and libraries. 
Obviously, discussions / guidance / best practices related to AI training, usage, etc., will be an ongoing focus for our field, and things will continue to evolve; we will do our best on the Library Services Team to be engaged in those conversations however possible. See more info about the AI document via the DPI ConnectEd article below; it includes a link to the full AI Guidance Document, as well.

• DPI Releases AI Guidance for Schools and Libraries: https://dpi.wi.gov/news/dpi-connected/dpi-releases-ai-guidance-schools-and-libraries.

Feel free to share with anyone in your networks who might have questions about DPI's current considerations of AI, or who might be interested in AI technologies and schools/libraries.
Let me know if you have any questions and I'll be happy to answer if I can,
Best,

~Chris

Chris Baker

Public Library Consultant

Games & Learning Consultant

Library Services Team; WI Department of Public Instruction

(608) 264-6709

christopher.baker@dpi.wi.gov