Youth Services

Building Community Based Summers empowers libraries to build summer services by centering and designing with community. This helps to ensure those experiencing marginalization engage with library services in new ways. The BCBS framework empowers library staff to weave community voices into summer services and programming by exploring:

• The Why of Summer Services 
• Letting Go of Tradition
• Connecting with Community Voices
• Summer Services Impact

Spring 2026 Cohort:  Hustisford Public Library, La Crosse Public Library, Lena Public Library, Mead Public Library (Sheboygan), Reeseville Public Library, and Rosemary Garfoot Public Library (Cross Plains)

This annual workshop is specifically structured to be most beneficial to public library staff new (three years or less) to serving youth in Wisconsin libraries and provides an introduction to essential skills, resources, and strategies for working in public libraries. New school library media specialists and public library staff new to serving youth spend time working separately, focusing specifically on their role in each institution. Opportunities to foster connections are available throughout the workshop to join together to begin networking and building relationships for future collaborations. Past guest presenters have included speakers from the CCBC, PBS Education, and Wisconsin Science Festival.

The three-day in-person workshop is held annually in late July or early August. Dates and registration for the 2026 workshop will be announced in the spring of 2026.

The 2026 Wisconsin Teen Internship program will provide LSTA funding up to $2500 for up to eight Wisconsin public libraries to allow them to offer a paid, mentored internship to high school-aged students representing the voices of their communities. One of the core components of the internship is for the interns to create and implement their own Connected Learning Project. These Connected Learning Projects are largely determined by the interns’ own perspectives, interests, and experiences. Connected Learning is learning that is grounded in personal relevance, meaningful relationships, civic engagement, and a sense of purpose. These projects give the intern the opportunity to find their place in the community by allowing them to exercise their agency and their voice to connect, create, and share.

Selected libraries will be responsible for assigning a staff person to serve as the Lead Mentor, recruiting and hiring an intern, establishing an hourly wage, acknowleding IMLS as the funding source, expending the funds by August 31, 2026, and submitting an invoice for reimbursement.

Mentors will help support their intern in developing a Connected Learning Project, provide timely and consistent one-on-one coaching, introduce the intern to the field of Wisconsin librarianship, and attend monthly mentor check-in meetings.

Interns are responsible for leading the design and delivery of their Connected Learning Project, and working at least 60 hours and no more than 120 hours between June 1 and August 31, 2026. 

The Teen Internship is supported by the Institute of Museums and Library Services with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding and is conditioned upon the availability of government funds which may be limited for any reason including, but not limited to, congressional, legislative, gubernatorial, or administrative action.

Wisconsin Public School Libraries
The Cooperative Children's Books Center (CCBC)
What IF... Forum (CCBC) - a question and answer forum for teachers, school and public librarians, and others in the education field The Youth Services Section of the Wisconsin Library Association
Youth Services Shout-Out: YSS Blog
Wisconsin Library Association
Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners
PBS Wisconsin Education Early Learning
American Library Association (ALA)
Public Library Association (PLA)
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
ALSC Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Libraries
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
YALSA Core Professional Values for the Teen Services Profession

Subscribe to the state Library Youth Services email list

Wisconsin Reads - committed to strengthening literacy learning in Wisconsin's schools and supporting and implementing 2023 Wisconsin Act 20.

Wisconsin Public Library Annual Report Programming and Activity Count Tracker workbook in Google Sheets

BadgerLink for Library Staff

Wisconsin Libraries for Everyone, a communication channel for the Wisconsin Division of School and Library Operations on news pertaining to Wisconsin Libraries.

Home-Based Private Education Program (Homeschooling)

Professional Learning for Library Staff - view upcoming and past professional learning events and more.

Ages Birth to 4 - Resources for supporting literacy development

The Bureau of Libraries coordinates a statewide summer library program for all ages.

2026 Unearth a Story/Desentierra una Historia featuring artwork by Tom Bonson
Wisconsin public libraries are able to purchase high-quality program materials at a low cost through state-sponsored membership to the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP). CSLP invites you to embark on a journey of art and creativity, celebrating the myriad ways in which art enriches our lives. The program is designed to inspire and engage readers of all ages through a diverse array of artistic expressions. Wisconsin Public Library staff can access the Manual with a code that is available from their Library System Youth Consultant.  

Wisconsin public libraries also have free access to the Summer Math Program created by the Wisconsin Mathematics Council, Inc..

1000 Books Before Kindergarten - a non-profit organization with the goal of providing simple, innovative, and fun approaches to establishing strong early literacy skills.

Supercharged Storytimes for All - available by creating a free account on WebJunction

Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) These "program-in-a-box" kits feature books, interactive activities, and solar viewing equipment. Visit South Central Library System Kits and Equipment for reservations.

Public Library Association Early Literacy Resources

Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library

Reading Rockets Reading Tips for Parents

DPI Early Childhood Learning Standards and Practices

One of the many ways that public libraries support the needs of their communities is by providing well-rounded collections of print, audio, and visual materials. Along with book journals, such as School Library Journal, reading lists, and awards and honors lists are another useful tool for developing robust youth collections.

American Indian Youth Literature Award
American Library Association Youth Media Awards
The America's Award
Amelia Bloomer Book List
Arab American Book Award
Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Reading List
Carter G. Woodson Book Awards
The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Charlotte Zolotow Award
Jane Addams Book Award
Rainbow Book List
Skipping Stones Book Awards
Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) Golder Archer Awards
Wisconsin Library Association Literary Awards