Services & Programs

Elizabeth Tomev has joined the Wisconsin Department of Public Instructions Library Services Team. Tomev worked as the Director of Communications for former State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor’s administration coordinating the agency’s comprehensive communications plan, and in tandem with other DPI cabinet members, orchestrated the agency’s statewide crisis communication responses. In addition, she led the Education Information Services team awarded the National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award for redesigning the agency’s educator licensing website. Tomev’s new role has her developing and executing the Library Services Team’s strategic communication plan, while working with stakeholders to highlight the amazing work being done at libraries across Wisconsin.

Tomev came to the DPI from Illinois where she worked as the Acting Director of Communications for the Governor of Illinois. Before being called to the Governor’s Office, she ran her own P.R./Public Affairs firm supporting communication needs for organizations of all sizes up to Fortune 100 companies, including Coca-Cola and Altria. Tomev began her career in television news as a producer and video editor for WCIA, WNIT, and WNDU and as Executive Producer in the #3 market in the nation, FOX News Chicago.

Tomev has a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University. She is married with two daughters who love to go to the library with their mom.

Posted by Ben Miller
Library Services Team

The Play Make Learn Conference promotes high-quality learning opportunities for educators, researchers, developers, designers, foundation leaders, policy makers, museum and library professionals, and school leaders who are dedicated to promoting making, gaming, and playful learning. It aims to engage attendees in cutting-edge learning science ideas and experience; communicate state-of-the-art design, education, and research; demonstrate new and upcoming games and technology; and network to spark new projects.

Topics this year include:

• Keynote from Dr. Benjamin Stokes
  • He co-founded Games for Change, the movement hub for social change with games. His new book is "Locally Played: Real-World Games for Stronger Places and Communities". He directs The Playful City Lab at American University, where he is an assistant professor. His designs have been featured in the Smithsonian and the Guggenheim.
• Breakout sessions on games, makerspaces, arts, and personalized learning
• Highlighting new top learning games in our GEE! awards

So please consider attending (register here) and share with any interested individuals/networks.

Posted by Ben Miller
Library Services Team

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is currently engaging in planning for use of our federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ESSER III funds. As part of that planning, we are scheduling feedback meetings to provide a space and opportunity for different Wisconsin voices to provide input and feedback. One of the most critical voices is that of the students we serve. We’d like your help in identifying students to participate in an opportunity to share their experiences, thoughts, and ideas about education in Wisconsin. The DPI will be holding two virtual meetings (60 minutes each) for youth to offer input and feedback on Wisconsin’s use of ARPA and ESSER III funds. Please share this opportunity and encourage the youth you work with or know to participate--it is open to ALL youth in Wisconsin.

Please feel free to share this invitation with others in your network who may be connected to youth willing to participate. The dates and times of the two sessions follow with the Zoom link at the end of this message:

July 14, 2021; 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

July 15, 20201; 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Interested youth should RSVP with their preferred date and time here so we can plan accordingly.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Latoya Holiday at latoya.holiday@dpi.wi.gov or 608-266-8009.

Thank you for all you do to support Wisconsin’s students.

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Meeting ID: 872 4527 9543

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Meeting ID: 872 4527 9543

Guest post by Jean Anderson, South Central Library System Continuing Education Consultant

Registration is now open for Wisconsin Trustee Training Week 2021, which will be held Aug. 23-27. There will be one webinar each day from noon to 1 p.m. on a topic that’s relevant to public library boards, friends, and trustees. Webinars are available free of charge, and are open to anyone.

The schedule of presentation is as follows:

Monday, Aug. 23—Wisconsin Library Ecosystem—What is a library ecosystem and why is it important? In general terms, an ecosystem is a complex network or interconnected system. In this webinar, we’ll learn about the different partners involved in this ecosystem, beginning with a statewide perspective on how Wisconsin’s public libraries work with Shannon Schultz, Public Library Administration Consultant, We will move our way through the public library system and the importance of system membership with John Thompson, Director of IFLS Library System, then finish with libraries at the local level with Jennifer Thiele, Director of the Marinette County Library System. Along the way, we’ll explore the statutory language that comes into play at each level, and we’ll provide links to resources that can be helpful.

Tuesday, Aug. 24—Departures & Arrivals: Transitions and Succession Planning—Trustees will learn how to successfully prepare for the departure of a director due to retirement or moving to a new library. We will cover what the current director and board must put in place prior to the placement of a new director and discuss the role of trustees in successfully onboarding a new director and the transition of them into their new role. We will provide a checklist of items to prepare for new library directors that will be supplied after the presentation. Presented by Kate Hall, Executive Director of the Northbrook Public Library, and Kathy Parker, Library Consultant.

Wednesday, Aug. 25—Self-awareness for Social Justice Ally-ship—In this session, participants will be invited to explore privilege, prejudice, and inclusion through story-telling and critical self-reflection. This session is interactive and will explore both individual and collective aspects of practicing social justice. Presented by Ruth de Jesus, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at Northland College.

Thursday, Aug. 26—Library Ethics 101: What Would You Do?—Public libraries face ethical issues all the time. This session aims to create an open discussion about library core values and ethics. Inspired by a session at the 2020 Public Library Association Conference, our program provides real library ethical scenarios, followed by a discussion with a panel of experienced trainers. We will discuss sticky situations when personal ethics and professional ethics differ. This is a highly interactive session; audience participation is encouraged. Attendees will leave with a list of helpful resources and books. Presented by Patty Collins, Gail Santy, and Maribeth Shafer, Library Consultants for the Central Kansas Library System.

Friday, Aug. 27—Trustee Leadership: Bringing it All Together—It’s the end of Trustee Training Week! It’s time to take what you’ve learned and apply it at your library. Join Melissa McLimans, consultant at Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS), and Stef Morrill, executive director of River Valley Commons and a current Friends of the Library Board Member at Spring Green Public Library, as they discuss how to support and develop the library’s vast, interconnected ecosystem by applying servant leadership.

You must register for each webinar individually at www.wistrusteetraining.com. More information is also available at that link, and you can also access recordings from the 2015-20 webinars.

Trustee Training Week is coordinated by the South Central Library System. This year, Trustee Training Week is supported by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Public LIbrary Development Team, with funding support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Jean Anderson, Continuing Education/Multitype Consultant, South Central Library System, jean@scls.info, 608-246-5613

Posted by Cindy Fesemyer