There are a myriad of engaging programs coming up at the 2019 Wisconsin Library Association Conference--which will be held from October 8-11 at the Kalahari Conference Center in the Wisconsin Dells. So many interesting and important topics from a diversity of presenters (including several from right here in IFLS-land)! Here are just a few of the youth services highlights (there are MANY more):
- Author Miranda Paul will be the Youth Services Section luncheon speaker on Wednesday. Her most recent book, Nine Months, received 4 starred reviews and the 2019 Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Award for Nonfiction.
- Author Chad Sell won the Burr/Worzolla Wisconsin Children's Book Award for his graphic novel Cardboard Kingdom, and he'll be at the conference delivering a presentation and also accepting his award.
- Many of you may have heard the This American Life segment The Room of Requirement. If you haven't--go listen to it! Wisconsin librarian Lydia Sigwarth's story is featured in this story, and she'll be giving a presentation. And Lydia's got a debut picture book coming out in 2021.
- The Youth Services Section is having a social--open to everyone--on Wednesday evening. This is a great opportunity to hang out, make some recycled book art, and meet some new friends. Youth services librarians are the friendliest, most welcoming bunch around--you know that!
- Other sessions about working with families, playful STEAM programs, nutrition, effectively serving trans community members, programming for teens and tweens, and unpacking privilege, to name a few, will be fascinating for a wide range of youth services folks!
If you have always wanted to attend WLA but have never managed to do so, I highly recommend it. If finances are a barrier, check out the scholarship opportunity coming from IFLS by Monday at the latest!
