 The following information comes from the Milwaukee Public Library. Get the latest updates for this program at www.melindamyers.com/articles/create-your-own-outdoor-paradise. Added April 24, 2025: We are excited to announce that "Create a Vertical Wall Planner," the activity for May from gardening expert Melinda Myers is ready! This new activity includes a downloadable activity guide, and video. You can find it on the “Create Your Own Outdoor Paradise Library Program” web page. Just scroll down to the Gardening How-To Videos & Activities section to find the activity. Direct links can be accessed here as well:
Your library is welcome to use the webinars and activities found on the program webpage with your patrons. It’s completely free for all Wisconsin Public Libraries. The June Gardening Activity will be added mid-May. Also, you can use promotional materials on the Electronic Press Kit. April, May and June social media posts with photos for your library to use on its social media platforms can be found via the links below. Feel free to share these posts on your library's social media platforms and include the hashtag #OutdoorParadise. Added March 24, 2025:
The April Gardening Activity (downloadable guide & video) from gardening expert Melinda Myers is ready. You can find it on https://www.melindamyers.com/articles/create-your-own-outdoor-paradise (below the 3 gardening webinars, in the Gardening How-To Videos & Activities section). Your library is welcome to use any of the content (webinars and activities) found on that webpage with your patrons. It’s completely free for all Wisconsin public libraries. The May and June activities will be added at least 2 weeks prior to the first of each month. You can access resources for promoting the gardening webinars and activities via the Electronic Press Kit. Melinda just uploaded social media posts with photos to use on your library’s social media platforms during April. Download the April social media post copy and images here. If you have any questions, contact the program coordinator, Diana Paul at [email protected]. Unlock free resources for your library with Girls Who Code! Happy Library Lovers Month! To celebrate, Girls Who Code is providing free and fun STEM activities for your library! When you start a Girls Who Code Club, you’ll access everything you need - including meeting guides, step-by-step instructions, and up to $300 to purchase supplies and snacks through an Amazon Wish List! Clubs are open to all 3rd-12th graders, regardless of gender or experience. You can get started at any time of year and many libraries incorporate our resources into spring or summer program plans - no prior computer science experience required! Plus, when you apply to start a Girls Who Code Club at your library by February 28th, you'll receive a Code It! Create It! workbook as a special gift! See official rules. Posted 2/13/2025: Apply to Girls Who Code’s Summer Programs by 2/26 for a chance to win a $350 gift card or iPad! High school girls and non-binary students can apply now to Girls Who Code’s free, virtual Summer Programs! Apply here by the early deadline, February 26, 2025, for priority consideration and the chance to win your choice of a $350 Amazon gift card or Apple iPad! The application closes on April 11, 2025. Questions? Explore Our Webinars | Review Helpful FAQs | See Official Rules  Posted 1/13/2025:Girls Who Code is now accepting applications to their virtual Summer Programs!
High school girls and non-binary students can apply here for two incredible program options: the Summer Immersion Program and Pathways. Both programs offer life-changing opportunities for students to gain skills, connections, and confidence–no coding experience required! Why recommend these programs?
Please use the language below to include in an email or newsletter to students. Please share to encourage students to apply!  Hello, Library Friends! Great news—our 2025 dates are still available! However, we’re already 50% booked for this summer, so don’t wait too long to secure your spot. If you’d like to check our availability, please reach out to us! Experience the Magic! Magic Morgan & Liliana bring an unforgettable, family-friendly magic show to libraries across the country! Our interactive performances feature mesmerizing illusions, audience participation, and a touch of humor—designed to captivate audiences of all ages. ✨ Bonus: Learn ASL! ✨ During our show, we introduce American Sign Language (ASL) in a fun and engaging way. Audiences love learning signs as part of the performance—it’s interactive, enjoyable, and adds an educational twist to the magic! What to Expect
Booking & Logistics
Cost & Payment
Book Magic Morgan & Liliana Today! Bring a magical and educational experience to your library! Contact us for availability, pricing, and booking details.
Looking forward to bringing magic and ASL fun to your library! Magic Morgan & Liliana Matthew Morgan
FAQsHighlights from Q&A:
Using a Date Range  The DNR recommends filling out the pass to make sure it’s clear which date the pass is being used. DNR staff are mostly checking to ensure that the pass is not being filled out with multiple dates not in a range (ex. 3 Fridays in a month: 1/10, 1/17, 1/24) or with several dates crossed out and rewritten. This part of the program essentially functions on an honor system, but we know things come up and weather can be iffy in Wisconsin, so we also want to allow some flexibility to make sure folks are able to get out and use their pass. If you have questions about this information, contact Jeni Schomber here or call (608) 266-2749.  Dear Librarians,
My name is Joshua Stuck. I am a local Outdoor Skills Instructor (from Crivitz, WI) who has been teaching outdoor skills to kids for over 20 years. I've designed seven different library programs for all age groups where I teach between 20-25 youth and adults some of the outdoor skills featured in the world's best outdoor themed books. They'll learn how to make a survival shelter like in Hatchet, how to set a survival trap like Matt from Sign of the Beaver, how to tie Buck's # 1 Call of the Wild Rescue Knot, and so much more. They even get items during the course to start building their own outdoor survival kit. Courses I now offer:
If you would like more information about my courses, read Testimonials or to Book a Program, please visit my website at WoodsyDude.com. I can typically handle up to 20-25 students (depending on the program) and I bring everything needed for each course. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have via email or my contact info below. I hope to hear from you soon, Joshua Stuck Email: [email protected] PH: 715-587-1331 Website: WoodsyDude.com  Anthony Williams, five-time National Morel Picking Champion, is now booking his 90-minute educational morel picking seminar for spring 2025. The seminars include the how, where, when, and why. Plus morel picking stories and folklore from his 70 years of picking. Williams only does seminars in the spring: March, April, and May. The seminars have been going over very well. Mostly libraries, you can read the directors' comments below. You’re more than welcome to reach out to any of the directors and get their assessments of the picking presentations. It’s for people who love the outdoors.  Download poster With travel, meals, and rooms, Williams' fee is $600. His calendar is filling up fast. Contact Anthony Williams at 231-758-0387 and [email protected]. Read what librarians are saying below:
Believe it or not, Mike Schneider's Pint Size Polkas 2025 summer schedule is already starting to fill up! At this point, he has just three open weeks remaining, including the week of June 30, when he’ll be making his way north back home from shows in New Mexico. Would you be interested in booking the Pint Size Polkas family program the week of June 30, 2025? Mike I will also likely have some additional availability in August.
Including expenses, Mike aims to keep his fee in the $350 to $425 range per program. The more libraries he's able to book along a contiguous route, the lower the price he's able to offer. Please feel free to pass the good word along to your fellow librarians! For descriptions of the programs he's offering for the CSLP and iREAD themes next summer, please visit PintSizePolkas.com/hire. Here's how you can contact Mike/Pint Size Polkas Mike Schneider (414) 431-4683 P.O. Box 126 Clinton, WI 53525 www.pintsizepolkas.com Six-Time Polka Hall of Fame Inductee  We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between ASLdeafined, a leading provider of online American SIgn Language (ASL) learning resources, and libraries across the United States. This collaboration aims to increase access to authentic ASL instruction for everyone in your community.
For 15 years, ASLdeafined has been a trusted resource for individuals seeking to learn and improve their ASL skills. Our comprehensive online platform offers 300+ themed video lessons, an 18,000+ ASL video dictionary, and a free mobile app, all designed to provide an engaging and effective learning experience. We believe that libraries play a vital role in promoting literacy and lifelong learning for all. By partnering with libraries, we can provide affordable and convenient access to our resources to a wider audience, including people who may not have access to traditional ASL classes, This partnership will allow libraries to offer their patrons:
We are excited to embark on this journey with libraries across the country and help break down barriers to ASL learning. By providing access to authentic ASL instruction, we can promote greater understanding and inclusivity for all members of the community. To learn more about this partnership and how your library can participate, please get in touch with me, Meg Cowan at ASLdeafined.com or follow these listed links for more information: Thank you for reaching out to ASL Deafined. I am here to answer any specific questions you may have. I can also send a free trial username and passcode to use if requested. -- MEGAN COWAN Library Sales - Program Manager 743.288.8896 [email protected] www.asldeafined.com "Tis' the Season! For NEXT SUMMER! Yes, Dinosaur Dimensions is already getting approached for library planning and booking for next summer - and as we all know, prime dates go VERY fast as summers always book up with this crowd drawing show! We are opening the doors for booking next summer's family/kid's reading programs officially this week. Dinosaur Dimensions is the high energy show that featured four realistic looking dinosaur animatronic puppets! Kids get involved with the show as they help grow shrunken specimens delivered from the past - and they get to meet these dinosaurs first hand right at the library!
Shows are very well attended, and run 40-45 minutes in length. For an added bonus, a dinosaur is voted upon by the audience and kids will get a chance to meet the dino face-to face for one-on-one interactions and photos! We have the ability to host up to three shows a day during prime summer months, and try to keep pricing as affordable as possible by crafting tours that cover area libraries nearby that will keep everyone's cost down. We also like to include all travel fees in our price (which is under $500 per library, by the way). We would love to get you some further information so you can see just how easy and affordable this interactive dinosaur presentation is! Drop me an email and I can get back to you with further information. I would love to be at your library this next summer!" Thanks, Curt Strutz STRUTZ ENTERTAINMENT Dinosaur Dimensions www.dinosaurdimensions.com based in Fond du Lac, WI Di-November is quickly becoming a HUGE hit with library programming, and our herd of realistic looking dinosaurs is ready for your library! Dinosaur Dimensions is a nationally touring animatronic puppet experience featuring REALISTIC looking dinosaur puppetry and a complete storyline to compliment these beasts. We are WISCONSIN based, so we can set up amazing opportunities for your library without drastic mileage charges or travel bills.
You may have heard about our show from other area libraries - we have found that our Dinosaur Dimensions show has been one of the more popular programs used for summer reading programs. Our experience is more than just a 40-45 minute show... we offer dinosaur meet & greet opportunities immediately after the program ends! This added benefit is a huge bonus for families, schools groups, and community youth as every group will get an individual experience with a dinosaur for photos, videos, etc. Our November is FILLING UP FAST! We have large tours set in both Missouri and Texas in Nov with the dinosaurs, and with Thanksgiving in there - dates are flying away faster than a pterodactyl! Good dates still remain for those libraries in the home state of WI. I would love to see what opportunities we potentially could have to get the dinosaurs to your library. I can assure you a high energy and fast paced show that is full of Jurassic excitement! Can I check some dates and pricing for your library? Thanks, Curt Strutz STRUTZ ENTERTAINMENT Dinosaur Dimensions www.dinosaurdimensions.com
A Talk in the Woods: Voices Along the Appalachian Trail - a new book by Wisconsin author Cary Segall7/23/2024
 Hundreds of guides and memoirs have been published about hiking the Appalachian Trail since it was completed in 1937. Finally, we finally have a book that is different from all of them. A Talk in the Woods by Wisconsinite Cary Segall captures the stories and motivations of hikers through the eyes of an award-winning reporter and editor. Cary was mesmerized by the ramblers, wanderers, and nomads who are part of the three million people who hike some segment of the trail each year. From 2014 to 2018, he traversed the 2200-mile trail and stopped hundreds of travelers along the way to capture their unvarnished stories. The result is an examination of the allure of the trail and its challenges, from people who share their own varied motivations to take it on. Every hiker has a story, as does every trail angel and hostel owner. Segall brings them all together in a chronicle from one end of the trail to the other. And along the way, Cary includes wisdom about gear, food, weather, and terrain, giving the reader the inside scoop, the valuable planning and packing tips from those who have been there. The book is a must-read for those considering the trail as well as those who have done it and want to re-live the experience. “What you have in your hands is a sterling representation of life on the Appalachian Trail... These stories of loners and lovers; givers and takers; winners and losers are captivating. They remind me of Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology. They are easy to read and shine with their authenticity.” Warren Doyle, founder of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association and AT Hall of Fame inductee who has hiked the route 18 times. "Segall captures the culture and communication style of the trail, particularly as he chases down rumors of one intriguing hiker or another." Kirkus Reviews Cary Segall worked on the sports desk of the Wisconsin State Journal and took his first backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail with the University of Wisconsin Hoofers Outing Club. He has a bachelor's degree in wildlife ecology and spent three years as a ranger-naturalist in the National Park Service. He returned to the UW for a law degree and became a public-interest environmental lawyer, and returned once more for a master's degree in journalism. He spent fourteen years as a reporter and seven years as a copy editor at the State Journal. He is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Cary is available to visit libraries to talk about his book. For more information, contact Kevin at [email protected].  A Talk in the Woods: Voices Along the Appalachian Trail by Cary Segall with a Foreword by Warren Doyle
Back Burner Books | On sale: July 6, 2024 | 483 pages Paperback: 978-1-736334119; $24.95 | Ebook: 978-1-736334157; $9.95
Greetings, A sincere thank you to all the Wisconsin Public Libraries that have supported our Wisconsin-based documentaries. We appreciate your purchase of our documentaries and know that they will be a great addition to any Wisconsin public library catalog. The public you serve will enjoy these Wisconsin stories. It's important to share the legacy of our fine state with all our local communities. Please note, for the community libraries that have not purchased our documentaries yet, that we do accept your tax exempt status. Feel free to contact me directly to exchange tax forms and place your order. Local Community Events Additionally, based on availability, keep in mind that I would be happy to present my films for local community group events at Wisconsin public Libraries in an effort to promote local Wisconsin libraries, local film development, and most importantly, to share the rich heritage of the great state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Originated Documentaries - Depicting Wisconsin Stories The Edge Ltd., a Wisconsin-based production company, offering two of our Wisconsin documentaries for the public libraries throughout Wisconsin. The "Hogslayer: The Unapproachable Legend" and "Walter: The Missing Link" documentaries are Wisconsin originated and depict impactful Wisconsin stories that have been and continue to be appreciated worldwide. Both films are very educational in nature, offering exciting and heartwarming aspects from the true lives and times of fellow Wisconsinites achieving their goals and influencing others with their remarkable stories. These documentaries are available in DVD, and Blu Ray, or can be streamed from www.edgeltdproducts.com. A synopsis of each film follows. HOGSLAYER: THE UNAPPROACHABLE LEGEND "Hogslayer" is the story of the world champion Norton dual-engine motorcycle dragster from the 1970s that was built and raced from Sunset Motors in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Through the unrivaled innovation of builder John Gregory and the unbridled courage of rider TC Christenson, the Hogslayer took on unyielding challengers to change the world of motorcycle drag racing. This is a true Cinderella story, telling the tale of a small motorcycle shop that took on the best race teams in the world and winning with consistent success. "Hogslayer" is a must-see for Wisconsin history buffs, motorcycle enthusiasts, and racing fans! Watch the "Hogslayer" documentary trailer above. WALTER: THE MISSING LINK - DISCOVERY OF A CENTENNIAL MOTORCYCLE"Walter" is the story of a 1913 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Forecar affectionately known as Walter, and the last-known of its kind in existence. This story chronicles Walter's 100-year journey from service on the streets of Old Milwaukee, then through years of desolation in a barn hay-loft and eventual restoration to become the most valuable service motorcycle in the world. It is a heartwarming story following the journey of a Washington County, Wisconsin's grandfather's desire to teach his grandson the mechanic trade through the meticulous restoration of this unique motorcycle, the most significant barn-find of our times. "Walter" is must-see for Wisconsin history buffs, Harley-Davidson fans, and vintage motorcycle enthusiasts! Watch the “Walter” documentary trailer above.
 girlswhocode.com Are you looking for free STEM programming for your students in your community? Sign up here to start a free Girls Who Code Club and use Girls Who Code's free 3rd-12th grade coding curriculum.  It’s free to get started and you don’t need to have any coding experience to start a Girls Who Code Club. When you sign up you get access to:
Sign up today to access the curriculum and start Club meetings anytime this year at your library! Interested in starting multiple clubs? Check out this free Community Partnership opportunity that comes with support from a dedicated staff member and other benefits! Click here to book a meeting with me to learn more! Dinosaur Dimensions is a summer program like no other - over 75 libraries utilized this program in summer, 2023, and in many cases they had record setting audiences (not just for the summer but for the history of the library). How would your library’s summer library reading program be with realistic animatronic dinosaurs? Just imagine the look on the children’s faces when roaring, blinking, and moving dinosaurs are brought out of “containment units” and presented to them in a fun, educational, and extremely fun show! Kids get involved in multiple ways during the show - from pounding their laps to generate "energy" to power the machine that produces the dinosaurs, to helping feed a dinosaur, to even getting to name each creature. They LOVE it! Here is a video clip from the Dinosaur Dimensions’ show. Please take a look and see just how much excitement it brings to the kids’ eyes! In addition to the 40-45 minute show, there's a post-show meet & greet session where kids/families can meet one of the dinosaurs in a one-on-one environment to get to pet it, take photos, etc. This is just as exciting for the kiddos - if not the highlight of the entire day!
The price for the show runs $450, and the fee includes ALL aspects of travel (motels, mileage and meals). It is a flat fee that gets paid, and it can be paid in full the day of the event (no deposit needed). Curt Strutz is based in Fond du Lac County, so any locations in WI that are outside of his general area might require a few other libraries in the area to complete a small mini tour to help offset the travel aspects. If this sounds like something of interest, please let Curt know so he can try and get you on the ticket for next year! Also, be sure to ask about their other two shows in the Strutz Family line-up. The Wacky World of Wesley Waffles and Dragon Training Academy are also two great shows that could be added to your summer lineup, as well, both performed by Curt's two adult sons! Please let Curt know if you think dinosaurs might be a fit for your next summer program, and get ready for an adventure like no other! Contact: Curt Strutz Strutz Entertainment Dinosaur Dimensions 262-271-7327 [email protected] New presentations by Chad Lewis, author of the strange and unusual: last chance for 2024 dates4/23/2024
 As part of today’s Earth Day commemorations, the Wisconsin Water Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin Library Association announced the books selected for a basin-wide shared-reading experience, Great Lakes, Great Read. The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson is the children’s selection and the adult selection is The Best Part of Us by Sally Cole-Misch.
The Great Lakes, Great Read website, https://www.greatlakesgreatread.org, offers further details on the authors, their books, book discussion questions, an email list signup option and other resources.
Please follow Great Lakes, Great Read on Facebook to get the latest updates, https://www.facebook.com/greatlakesgreatread/. This initiative is made possible by an Ideas to Action grant from WiLS. Wisconsin Sea Grant and the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute support the Wisconsin Water Library.  https://www.melindamyers.com/articles/beauty-outside-your-door-2024-library-program Gardening expert and author Melinda Myers is offering all Wisconsin Public Libraries FREE WEBINARS and Gardening Projects from April – June for patrons of your libraries. Below is the necessary webinar registration info and attached are the webinar graphics-- please feel free to use these to promote the webinars to your patrons. If you’d like to host the webinar at your library for your patrons to watch together, simply register your library (using the links below) and then promote your library's viewing party event. Your patrons’ gardening questions can be submitted for Melinda to answer live right after her presentations – simply submit the questions in the Zoom Q&A box during each webinar broadcast. Additionally, the 2024 WI Public Library Program Factsheet has information about the Free Gardening Activities, Videos, and Projects (and webinars) Melinda Myers will be providing for you to use and share with your patrons this spring and summer. The 2024 program info (webinar info & registration links, videos, activities, and downloadable projects will be available at: Beauty Outside Your Door - 2024 Library Program with Melinda Myers.  April 10, 2024, 6:30 p.m. CT WEBINAR: Container Gardening Throughout the Year with gardening expert & author Melinda Myers Use container gardens to boost the color and seasonal interest in any size landscape, garden, balcony, or deck. With your budget in mind, we will explore attractive combinations of trees, shrubs, flowers, edible plants, and those that attract pollinators. Plus, you’ll learn strategies for extending your enjoyment year-round by transforming all or a portion of the container planting with the changing seasons. Register for this free webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SwTJwDSaQgWnm7YU-iY0mg.
 May 1, 2024, 6:30 p.m. CT WEBINAR: Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables with gardening expert & author Melinda Myers Increase the nutritional value and beauty of your landscape by incorporating attractive fruits and vegetables into your landscape, garden beds, and containers. Growing varieties that are both ornamental and productive increases the opportunities for creating a beautiful space right outside your door. We will look at new and proven fruit and vegetable varieties suited to both gardens and containers. Register for this free webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SFUNmF3LSUmpTXGpRMVbiA.
 June 5, 2024, 6:30 p.m. CT
WEBINAR: Under-Appreciated Pollinators with gardening expert & author Melinda Myers The plight of honeybees and monarchs fills the news, but many more pollinators are often overlooked yet critical to the production of food, fiber, and other raw materials we depend upon. Native bees, moths, bats, beetles, flies, and birds are also important. We will look at a variety of pollinators, their role in the environment, and their impact on people. Plus, we will discuss ways to co-exist with these often overlooked and sometimes feared or dreaded animals. Register for this free webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__q1UbmcTTMyyumfGd-o6AA.
If you have any questions, please email Diana Paul, coordinator of this program at [email protected] or 414.758.7047.  www.girlswhocode.com The following is from Rachel Pierce, Regional Outreach Coordinator for Girls Who Code: "On behalf of the international nonprofit Girls Who Code, I’m thrilled to let you know that our free and virtual Summer Programs are now accepting applications! I would love to work with you to encourage eligible students from Nicolet Federated Library System to apply. Girls Who Code’s Free Virtual Summer Programs Overview
Please share this Summer Programs Flyer with 9-12th graders along with the blurb below:
If you have any questions or need any other resources to encourage students to apply, please contact:
Rachel Pierce Regional Outreach Coordinator [email protected] Pronouns: She/Her girlswhocode.com A new message from the author:
Posted December 20, 2023:
 I am the former Executive Director of the American Neurological Association and the Organization for Human Brain Mapping). Here is the cover and a bit more information about my personal memoir that will SOON be available to readers (PDF file).
I was a former library employee in my small rural NW Wisconsin Library and would sincerely appreciate it if you would share this email and both attachments with the libraries in your system. I self published the book and used Ingram and Amazon to make it easily available to both libraries and individual readers worldwide. It is my prayer that it helps many through the trials and tribulations that dominate today's headlines. Thank you in advance for your willingness to spread my story. I can be reached at [email protected] or on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. I sincerely appreciate any help you can offer to share this book with as many people as possible. I'd cherish your honest book review as well as I consider library directors to be the most expert in the field of information sharing and service to the public. With warm regards, Lori J. Peterson"  Calling all Wisconsin readers! The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) and the Wisconsin Water Library at UW-Madison are pleased to announce plans for Great Lakes, Great Read, a basin-wide community read program scheduled to launch in 2024. Great Lakes, Great Read is designed to inspire passion and connection to the Great Lakes Watershed through reading. The Wisconsin program will serve as a pilot with the goal of being a catalyst for the development of similar programs in other states and provinces in the Upper Midwest and Canada.
There is a need for greater education about the Great Lakes as an important natural resource. While approximately 34 million people in the US and Canada live in the Great Lakes Watershed, recent surveys, such as the 2021 International Joint Commission Great Lakes Regional Poll, show a lack of understanding of the threats facing the greatest freshwater resource in the world. Greater education – greater environmental literacy - is critical to cultivating stewardship of the Great Lakes and of water resources more broadly. Enter Great Lakes, Great Read. The program’s “one book, one community” model, already adopted by many libraries, is a natural fit for a basin-wide project, and Wisconsin is the perfect state to pilot the project. Wisconsinites have a deep connection to water through culture, economy, tourism and way of life. Wisconsinites also have access to a well-connected network of academic, public and special libraries that serve as the center of our communities. Funded by a grant from WiLS, the Great Lakes, Great Read program will officially kick off on February 1, 2024. The selected titles will be announced on Earth Day (April 22) 2024. Two books, one for adults and one for children, with themes related to the Great Lakes watershed will be announced. All Wisconsinites will be encouraged to read these titles, and libraries around the state will be encouraged to engage their residents through book discussions and related activities. While program designs are still being finalized, the plan is to host public presentations by the selected authors and a website that includes book discussion questions and other ideas for engagement. Watch the WLA website and join the Great Lakes, Great Read 2024 email list for program updates: Great Lakes, Great Read email list.  David HB Drake has been performing for Wisconsin Libraries for over 40 years, each summer presenting a new program for the year's theme.
This year the theme is “Read, Renew, Repeat,” and it is about saving our Mother Earth. Check out this flier presenting David's "What a Wonderful World" program. "What a Wonderful World" presents songs for building a better earth, of other cultures, peace between people, and "recycled" singalongs. The 2024 summer reading program, “Read, Renew, Repeat,” is about Conservation as a movement, focusing on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. David sings songs for better tomorrows gathered over 40 years as a performer and environmental musician. He performs on guitar, concertina and handmade banjo, dulcimer, and tells stories using Native American flute. David performed at the very first Earth Day in 1970 for Gaylord Nelson and every Earth Day since. He has been resident musician and educator for the Wisconsin Flagship “Denis Sullivan” and has served aboard the environmental ship CLEARWATER with Pete Seeger. He has performed for many nature centers and environmental organizations including Greenpeace and the World Sing-out for Peace. Contact: David participated in the WLA Virtual YSS Performers Showcase on Friday, December 8th and the video can be seen on their website. Registered members can sign into the Showcase app through the end of February 2024. (For assistance, email [email protected].)  WoodsyDude.com The information below comes from Joshua Stuck, Outdoor Skills Instructor (Crivitz, WI) Dear Librarians- Would you like a summer program that matches perfectly with this year's theme “Adventure Begins at the Library!?” Hi! My name is Joshua Stuck. I am a local Outdoor Skills Instructor (from Crivitz, WI) who has been teaching outdoor skills to kids for over 20 years. Would you be interested in a summer library youth program that gets kids excited about some of the most popular outdoor themed books like Call of the Wild, Sign of the Beaver, and Hatchet? Introducing… “Woodsy Dude’s Embrace the Outdoors Youth Programs” with Woodsy Dude! I've designed three separate library programs for three different age groups where I teach between 20-25 youth some of the outdoor skills featured in the world's best outdoor themed books. They'll learn how to make a Survival Shelter like in Hatchet, how to set a survival trap like Matt from Sign of the Beaver, how to tie Buck's # 1 Call of the Wild Rescue Knot, and so much more. They even get items during the course to start building their own outdoor survival kit.
 Brian Hudelson directs the University of Wisconsin Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic. In 2024 (as he did in 2023), Brian will be providing free monthly Zoom presentations on a range of plant disease topics, which may interest library patrons. This PDF file describes the talks (with brief descriptions), lists the days and times, and also provides information on how to register for the talks. The online descriptions of the talks is also available at https://pddc.wisc.edu/2024-pddc-plant-disease-talks/. Brian has additional advertising materials (an 8.5 X 11 advertising poster for each talk) if these might be of interest to you.  Brian also published a book of plant disease-themed limericks (with additional prose descriptions of the featured diseases, photos, and original artwork). Learn about Limerickettsia: A Plant Pathologist's Book of Verse at https://pddc.wisc.edu/limerickettsia-book/.
If you have questions, please contact Brian at: Brian Hudelson Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic University of Wisconsin-Madison 1630 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706-1598 Phone: (608) 262-2863 FAX: (608) 263-2626 E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://pddc.wisc.edu Follow on Facebook and Twitter @UWPDDC  https://www.wisconsincaps.com Consider booking Barnaby Jones for a speaker showcase at your library! Barnaby is a cryptozoologist, paranormal researcher, author, narrator, speaker, podcast host for "Monsters on the Edge" and "Whispers from the Dark," and founder/lead investigator of Wisconsin CAPS (Cryptids, Anomalies, and the Paranormal Society). Barnaby, in collaboration with Barb and Craig Sulk, will be releasing the book Bigfoot is Hyden: The Incredible True Story of Strange Activities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on January 1, 2024. This book will be available for purchase at the speaker showcase. You can find more information about Barnaby and CAPS at www.wisconsincaps.com. Speaker showcase presentationsAvailable presentations for his speaker showcase include:
 The USDA Forest Service, in collaboration with the Georgia Public Library Service, is excited to announce the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge in celebration of Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday in 2024!
They are collaborating with public library systems across the country for this year-long challenge. This challenge is meant to complement CSLP's "Adventure Begins at Your Library," and is designed to be a fun and easy way to engage children in reading about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers, while exploring their local environment. Public libraries are invited to run the challenge for those 4 to 10 years of age, from January 1st to November 28th, 2024. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is registered as the participating state library, which means Wisconsin public libraries do not need to register individually to participate in the challenge. Each public library will receive the following incentives that will be sent out through the statewide delivery system sometime in January: one roll of 500 Smokey stickers, 50 Smokey cards, and one Smokey Stamp. The Smokey Bear Reading Challenge Toolkit is available now – download posters, bookmarks, and more! |
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