The Midwest Book Review acclaims Jeff Nania's Northern Lakes Mysteries, stating they are "Especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections…"

The audiobook for Figure Eight—read by the author—is now available to serve even more patrons and discounted through the month of May for library purchases.

Midwest author Jeff Nania's Northern Lakes Mystery series books are highly sought-after in Wisconsin libraries and demand is growing rapidly across the country. An award-winning author and conservationist, Jeff draws upon careers in law enforcement and natural resources to captivate readers and keep them wondering who is on the right side of the law. In Figure Eight (2019), readers meet John Cabrelli who, after a traumatic incident while on patrol in Madison, retreats to northern Wisconsin and unravels a mystery that could forever change the Northwoods. John's story continues in Spider Lake (2020) and Bough Cutter (2021) as he adjusts to a new life in Namekagon County with a colorful crew of characters in this crime fiction, with themes of community and natural resources throughout.

This best-selling Northern Lakes Mystery series is perfect for fans of William Kent Krueger, Victoria Houston, C. J. Box, and Patricia Skalka.

5/4/2022 update from Kelly Bolter, Adult Programming Coordinator @ Milwaukee Public Library:

​We're counting down the days until Melinda Myers will be celebrating Pollinator Month with your libraries and patrons! She’ll be hosting 3 live webinars and 3 youth videos with corresponding DIY projects that can be done as part of library programming with kids, tweens and teens. These projects can also be accessed online for any families or households who would like to do this at home with take home kits.

Attached (below), you will find a DIY Project Supplies List created by Melinda. This could helpful for any libraries who plan on including them in a Summer Reading Program, and any take-and-make kits. Please note that step-by-step instructions for each of these DIY projects and the corresponding videos are being produced and will be available online by 5/16 on the program’s webpage, www.atc-GrowSmart.com/library. This page is currently under development.
 
I’ve also attach(ed) a refresher of the Pollinator Month program and content that will be provided to our libraries free of charge (see the attached June 2022 Pollinator Month Factsheet) and information so you can promote the 3 pollinator gardening webinars presented by Melinda to your patrons (see Pollinator Month 2022 Webinar Registration Info).
 
If you have any questions, please contact Diana Paul at diana@melindamyers.com.
 
Thank you for getting the word out about the importance of pollinators and ways we can help them! Please note the dates of the Pollinator Month Webinars are June 1, June 15, and June 22.

Original post: 3/21/2022
​
June is National Pollinators Month. In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and how everyone can help them, American Transmission Co. is teaming up with gardening expert and author Melinda Myers. Together, they will produce and provide libraries throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with educational programming and content for National Pollinators Month.

The content and programming will be made available to the libraries at no cost and the libraries may offer the programs and content to their patrons throughout the month of June.​.. 

Guest post from Marci Glaus at PBS Wisconsin Education

Whether you are preparing for Oceans of Possibilities this summer or looking to bolster early learning and youth services programming, PBS Wisconsin Education provides both Wisconsin-specific and nationally-curated content you can use as a springboard or central component to educational programming.

PBS LearningMedia is a free digital learning website created to support the distribution of compelling Pre-K-12 educational media resources. PBS LearningMedia’s robust and contextualized digital resources are designed to supplement educational experiences with video segments from award-winning PBS documentaries and series, PBS KIDS properties, station-produced programs, and original video and interactive resources!

Collaborative Summer Library Program
Examples below highlight some ideas from PBS LearningMedia that pair well with preparation for Oceans of Possibilities summer programming:

• Kick off storytime with the “Search for the Flying Fish” video from PBS KIDS Wild Kratts, to get children excited about creatures living in the ocean! Go deeper into activities with free/downloadable printables in English and Spanish. (Grades K-2)
• Use Follow the Water, a brief video (available in English and Spanish) from PLUM LANDING™ PBS KIDS aimed at tracking water from melting snow all the way to the ocean, including pollution and trash the water picks up along the way. Tie the video to books, games, or activities on the ocean/s or pollution. (Grades K-5)
• Dive into “Sharks and Shorelines” from EARTH A New Wild, to learn about social networks and coastal ecosystems including shark populations (Available in English and Spanish). Then choose any one of the other educational videos or supplemental materials to extend the learning while tying to books and other materials available in the library. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

PBS Wisconsin Education
Beyond summer library programming, pbswisconsineducation.org offers seven different Wisconsin-focused collections for grades 3-12 with cross-curricular connections in American Indian Studies, English Language Arts, Environmental Education, Music, Social Studies, and Science. Collections include videos, student interactives, games, educator guides, and more. All of these resources are made with Wisconsin educators, and are completely free to use in any learning space!

If you have any questions or would like to talk further, please contact Marci Glaus: marci.glaus@pbswisconsin.org.

If you are booking summer shows in your libraries and still need a variety act,​ consider the Magic Village magic show.

​Magic, ventriloquism, escapes, comedy, and audience participation are all set around a theme about the job opportunities attempted by Charlie, the ventriloquist dummy. His attempt at being a doctor is demonstrated by the magician sawing an audience volunteer in two. His attempt to be a security guard is demonstrated by audience members locking up the magician in a set of old wooden stocks.

David HB Drake has been touring the Midwest for over 35 years presenting original and heritage music and folklore of the Great Lakes region at performing schools, festivals, concert stages and libraries.

"Wisconsin's vibrant past comes to life in Wiscon-Sing, a multi-media performance of  music and images featuring educator and folksinger David HB Drake.  David has performed Wiscon-Sing for 30 years and counting live in state schools and libraries.

David engages audiences of all ages in an authentic immersion into history, performing on handmade and historic instruments: mountain banjo, dulcimer, concertina, Native American flute, and guitar.

Stories of Native Americans, French explorers, European immigrants, Great Lakes sailors, lumberjacks and farmers are further enhanced with over 150 historic and scenic images and sing-along captioned lyrics. It was performed over 300 times statewide during the 1998 Wisconsin Sesquicentennial and over a thousand times over the years." Review David's Wiscon-Sing flyer here.

"Many popular folk songs have been illustrated as children's books. Taking the concept full circle, David sings folk songs such as This Land is your Land, This Little Light of Mine, The Marvelous Toy, and I've been working on the Railroad while the pages of the corresponding children's books are projected.

It’s like having a giant book that everyone can read the words and see the pictures while the illustrated songs are performed live so everyone can sing along!

​David plays authentic folk instruments including banjo, dulcimer, concertina, and guitar. This multimedia program was created with the help of the John Stewig Collection at the Center for Children's Literature, Hedberg Library of Carthage College in Kenosha WI."

Alex Thomas and Friends offers a variety of unique programs, in person and virtual. A team of professional animators & puppeteers with Television and Film experience, they have been providing unique library programs for nine years. They're also willing to travel!

Please contact Alex Thomas and Friends if you have any questions about their programs or if you would like to get something on the calendar. They would love the opportunity to work with you! For links to some of their programs, and reviews from librarians, please visit www.alexthomasandfriends.com.

Nickey Fynn is a family entertainer specializing in live comedy magic shows for performances at libraries throughout Wisconsin.

The following program information comes from Michigan author Ross Richardson.
​

I’m scheduling virtual library programs (via Zoom) for the winter/spring season (February-May) of 2022.  Each live program has an hour-long runtime and is followed by an open Q&A session. These programs feature state of the art underwater video, as well as historical imagery, research and documentation.
​​

My most popular programs are:

• Seeking the LORD, the Search for the JARVIS LORD Shipwreck. Explore the JARVIS LORD shipwreck, a ship built in Michigan and then sank in Michigan waters in 1885 (see links below).  This program also touches on invasive species and other shipwreck discoveries and mysterious disappearance throughout the Great Lakes Region.
• “Manitou Mysteries Shipwreck Adventure”. This program has it all: Missing persons, ghost stories, amazing imagery and the story behind the discovery of what people are saying is the most intact 1800s schooner shipwreck in the world, the W.C. KIMBALL, (see links below). Focusing on Lake Michigan, we will discuss invasive species, the effects of the current Great Lakes high water levels on shoreline shipwrecks and the fragile ecosystem of our Great Lakes. This program is an hour long and is sure to entertain and inform your patrons.

​Below are links to news stories concerning some of my discoveries.

Folksinger David HB Drake was there…

He played for Gaylord Nelson at the very first Earth Day in 1970, marched the streets of Madison in 1969 and has sung alongside Pete Seeger on the Clearwater. He remembers the era when folk music was shared across the country because he was there. “Blowing in the Wind” is a concert of those mighty times.

The classic music of David’s mentors - Peter, Paul and Mary; Pete Seeger; Tom Paxton; Phil Ochs; Bob Dylan; Woody Guthrie; Joni Mitchell; the Kingston Trio; John Denver and more echo down the years sung by someone who lived it and never stopped singing the songs.

David's program is presented with a PowerPoint panorama complete with sing-along slides and a history of the 60's folk era. 60 and 90 minute (full concert) and duo / trio versions are available!

For a wealth of information on David’s rainbow of performances for all ages, visit www.davidhbdrake.com and David HB Drake on YouTube.

Contact David at:
orgarts@gmail.com
414-702-6053

​The issue of mental health is prominent everywhere and it is an issue that commands a new perspective. Without advocacy and awareness, we will continue to wait until the crisis stage to address mental health for Law Enforcement Professionals and by then it may be to late.

The Law Enforcement Culture tends to expect Law Enforcement Professionals to resist normal physiological responses to tragedies or critical incidents.  This combination creates the perfect storm when Law Enforcement Professionals are not provided with the tools to deal with effects of the profession.​​

Please contact me if you would like me to speak about my experience.  You can learn more about Stop The Threat - Stop The Stigma at: http://www.stopthethreatstopthestigma.org 

​Let's work together to Stop The Threat - Stop The Stigma. Please share this (e-mail) with others. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Adam A. Meyers
13034 30th Avenue
Lake Hallie, Wisconsin 54729
Call/Text: (715) 869-3361
StopTheThreatStopTheStigma.org

Our 2022 Summer Reading Program has arrived! My name is Sadarri Saskill and I am part of a multilingual Storytelling troupe with over 25 years of teaching and performing experience throughout the world. We are so excited! 

​​Focusing on multicultural literacy, we provide fun interactive storytelling performances, workshops, and activities for all ages — a simple turnkey opportunity that will allow you the most animated programming options with the least increase in your workload!

For more information, please visit www.globaltales.com and see the promo flyer and program information below.

Feel free to contact us directly with requests and/or questions. Specific details to be discussed prior to booking. Additional references and raves available. We look forward to hearing from you soon! 
(Booking Email: globaltales.biz@gmail.com)

​Muchísimas gracias, merci beaucoup, thank you very much!
Sadarri

Meet Isaiah, of The Magic of Isaiah out of the La Crosse, Wisconsin area. Isaiah has an all new 2022 summer library show entitled Dive Into Reading: Oceans of Possibilities. He has been performing for libraries for the past 15 years, with an all new show every year based on the National theme. This is much more than the average magic show! 

Every show incorporates books that support the magic. This will get your patrons excited to check out books on the various topics he introduces and performs on. Along with the magic, Isaiah also incorporates light juggling, puppetry and clean family comedy. 

This year's show, Dive Into Reading: Oceans of Possibilities, will include books such as How I Became a Pirate, Land shark, The Pout Pout Fish and many more. During the show, there will be a fish race with one child against four adults. It's amazing seeing all the audience members involved in this, with nothing more than loud cheering and laughter happening. During the show, the audience members will learn about the importance of reading and how often they should be reading. Isaiah also has a special guest puppet that has an important message to tell all of your guests. There is so much more to talk about with Isaiah's shows and he cant wait for you to be as excited as he is about it. 

Shows are 45 minutes long and are tailored to all ages, and all shows are guaranteed with a simple agreement and invoice. Isaiah travels anywhere in Wisconsin and offers multiple-show discounts with your own library or libraries within your system. Show prices range from $250 to $450 depending on the location.

"I want to thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your interest in my summer reading show."

Mike Schneider is available to perform his Pint Size Polkas program year-round! Please view the introductory video below for the programs he's offering in 2022. Whether you’ll be back with in-person programming or are in need of virtual programming, Mike will bring a one-of-a-kind experience to your patrons that librarians across the country have praised for its quality, uniqueness, and memorability!

Mike tries to keep per program pricing around $350, including all expenses. The farther he travels, the more shows he needs to book to be able to make that happen, so please spread the good word to your colleagues! If you are interested in booking, please let Mike know so he can get to work making additional contacts. Mike looks forward to sharing his passion for polka music and family-friendly entertainment with your patrons in the near future! 

​Mike's contact information is: