Here are the headlines from the December 2, 2022 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:  

• WLA Youth Services Section Webinar: Social Emotional Learning Resources 

• Grant & Funding Opportunities
  • ​ALSC/Candlewick Press "Light the Way" Grant
  • ​ALA Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small & Rural Libraries grant​​
  • Grant & funding opportunities shared in WLA Bulletin
    • ​2023 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries
    • Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Outreach Grant
    • Wisconsin Humanities major grants deadline is December 15
    • NEA Big Read
    • Shakespeare in American Communities
    • NNLM Virtual Health Misinformation Symposium
    • IEEE Science Kits for Public Libraries grant program

 
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Here are the headlines from the October 14, 2022 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:  

• Erickson to be inducted into 2022 Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame 
• Three NFLS members elected to 2023 WLA leadership positions 
• Celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week October 16-22, 2022 
• Join the 2022-2023 IDEA Advisory Committee 
• 2023 Call for ARSL Volunteers 
• Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions 
• WLA Conference Early Bird Registration ends this Monday, October 17th 
• Save the dates for the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference 

 
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Here are the headlines from the March 11, 2022 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• What’s News
  • National Library Week tools and more from Libraries Transform
• Grant Opportunities
  • Small Dollar, Big Impact Grant
• Library Program Ideas & Resources
  • Sponsored Challenge Announcement from Beanstack
  • Magic Village Shows: Magician & Ventriloquist
• Continuing Education
  • WLA Annual Conference: Call for program proposals
  • ‘Keeping Governance on Track’ webinars March 29 & 31

The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) announces new board members and officers for 2022. These leaders represent a variety of roles and types of libraries from across the state:

• Nyama Reed, Director of the Whitefish Bay Public Library, will serve as Board President.
• Kristopher Turner, Associate Director, UW-Madison Law Library, will serve as President-Elect.
• Rachel Arndt, Library and Special Collections Consultant, Rachel Arndt Consulting, LLC, will serve as Treasurer.
• Maureen Olle-LaJoie, Director, Chalmer Davee Library, UW-River Falls, will serve as WLA Board Liaison representing the Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians (WAAL) division.
• Carrie Doyle, Academic Librarian; Head of Acquisitions & Serials, UW-Madison Law Library will serve as WLA Board Liaison representing the Association of Wisconsin Special Librarians (AWSL)

“I am thrilled to welcome such talented individuals into these leadership roles!” said WLA Executive Director Laura Sauser. “Their unique backgrounds and diverse experience will help elevate our already strong board of directors and our organization overall.”

Here are the headlines from the November 5, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• ALA Seeks Applicants for National Policy Corps
• The Children's Book Award Committee Wants YOU!
• Apply for Transformation for Libraries: The Futures School
• NEA Big Read Grants: Apply by January 26
• Wisconsin Author Rochelle Melander Releases New Book
• CSLP Newsletter, Program Manual & Product Catalog

Below are the headlines from the September 10, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Governor Evers Issues National Library Card Sign Up Month Proclamation
• Brown County Library Hiring Library Manager for DePere & Wrightstown Branches
• Back to School with BadgerLink Guides
• Tech Days: September 15 & 16
• ALA Connect Live with LIS Students

Below are the headlines from the June 25, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Nominations open June 23 for the I Love My Librarian Award
• Final Call: Take the BadgerLink Training Survey by July 2
• Virtual Digital Readiness Fair w/ Appleton Public Library June 29
• WiLSWorld Shorts: Unpacking New Diversity Titles
• Digital Readiness Fair (free & virtual)
• Mental Health First Aid Training

Below are the headlines from the June 18, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• The Future of the DPI Youth Services Consultant Position
• WLA Legislative Newsletter: Biennial Budget Update, JFC Public Hearings, and More
• Shawano County Library Seeks Children's Library Assistant
• IMLS American Rescue Plan Grant: Applications Due June 28th
• Still Time to Register: ALA Annual Conference (Virtual) is June 23-29
• PLA 2022 Program Proposals Due Monday
• WebJunction Satisfaction Survey

Below are the headlines from the May 14, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Take the Marketing Toolkit Survey: Libraries Activating Workforce Development Skills
• Submit a PLA 2022 Program Proposal
• Grant Opportunities & News
  • Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Registration Open May 12, EBB Registration Webinar on May 19
  • National Preservation Program: Preservation Needs Assessment and Preservation Plan
  • Brown County Library Recipient of Grant to Fund Materials about East Asia
• Continuing Education Highlights
  • Registration Open for May 27th SSCS Conference
  • Customers Without Masks (by Ryan Dowd) - Free 1-Hour Webinar May 20th
  • Talking about the COVID Vaccine In Your Community

Below are the headlines from the May 7, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• 2021 Rural Libraries Summit: May 25-26
• Submit PLA Webinar Proposals through May 31
• ADANN 30th Anniversary Spotlight on ADA Resource Portals
• Grant Opportunities
  • WiLS 2021 Ideas to Action Fund Application Period Is Open
  • ARSL Conference Scholarship Applications Now Accepted
• Programming Resources
  • ARSL Program-Palooza Round Table: May 20th
  • CSLP Newsletter: April 2021
  • Stealing Away: Stories (by Wisconsin author Kevin Revolinski)
• The “Marketing Funnel” Approach to Customer Engagement
• Don’t Forget: Encourage Your Library Patrons to Share their Stories

Kewaunee Public Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities.

The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library to meet with the Hispanic community, gain their input, highlight library services available, and then purchase materials to meet their needs.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Carol Petrina. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our Hispanic residents better and help us build a more complete collection to serve their needs and the needs of our community overall.”

As part of the grant, Kewaunee Public Library staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host a community conversation with residents about library services offered and the desired materials needed by the Hispanic community, and use the grant funds to acquire desired materials to meet the needs expressed.

“More literature in Spanish would attract more Spanish speakers to the library, bringing with them their children," said bilingual educator and Kewaunee resident, Aaron Sisneros. “Spending time in a library surrounded by books fosters a love for reading. EL (English Learner) students often struggle in reading, and anything we can do to encourage them to read more is imperative. If we give parents a reason to come to the library, a culture and an appreciation of literature naturally develops. Appreciation of multiculturalism makes for a more inclusive society. Adding more Spanish resources to the Kewaunee Public Library would benefit not only Spanish speakers, but the entire Kewaunee community.”

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact the library at (920) 388-5015 or visit www.kewauneepubliclibrary.org for more information.

Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

"In 2020, libraries of all types stepped up to meet the needs of their communities as they responded to the impacts of COVID-19, a national financial crisis, and social unrest. They were at the center of some of our nation’s most consequential work, including supporting accurate counts in the US Census, fighting political disinformation, and facilitating free and fair elections.
​
Libraries also extended necessary lifelines to community members facing job losses, healthcare crises, and remote work and learning during an unprecedented and uncertain time. As we assess the state of America’s libraries, we find 2020 was a year when library professionals answered the call to serve amid multiple emergencies and a year when library workers again proved to be essential “first restorers” or “second responders.”

Read more about libraries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2020 in the State of America's Libraries 2021 Special Report: COVID-19."

Below are the headlines from the April 16, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• ALSC Intellectual Freedom Programming Toolkit
• Trustee 101 & 201 Online Workshops in May & June
• Present at the WLA Support Staff and Circulation Services (SSCS) Conference
• Preservation Week - Save your stuff and pass it on!

The ALSC Intellectual Freedom committee writes: "Inside the toolkit, you will find practical, easy-to-implement tips for incorporating intellectual freedom and Information literacy into library cornerstone programs and services. Sample programs include storytimes, book clubs, outreach, and STEAM activities. They include both virtual and in-person activities, so you can serve your community flexibly, regardless of your current service model. An annotated list of additional resources rounds out the toolkit, making it easy for busy practitioners to find more tips and support.

We’re living in a climate of misinformation and heightened mistrust in news media and other information sources. Raising awareness of information literacy and intellectual freedom issues with our families has never been more important. Developing these crucial skills helps keep kids informed, safe, and prepared to support their communities."

• Read the ALSC Blog Introductory Post
• View the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Programming Toolkit​