Technology

Recently, I have had a number of opportunities to expand my knowledge base in using library spaces for exploration, innovation, and creation. These are not new concepts to school librarians, but they have been recently showcased differently under the term makerspace. Rather than focus on this term, which may be ephemeral, I shall take a moment to illustrate how these ideas are a foundation of library programming and hopefully provide some inspiration to take some time with students and teachers, in this month when testing is concluding but the school year is not, to try out ideas and start planning for next year.

We can find justification for why exploration, innovation, and creation should be part of library programming in the AASL National School Library Standards and the Future Ready Librarian Framework. Although infused throughout AASL, the Shared Foundation called Explore exemplifies these themes in its Learner and School Library Standards. For example, “Learners construct new knowledge by persisting through self-directed pursuits by tinkering and making,” and, “The school library facilitates construction of new knowledge by establishing and maintaining a learning environment conducive to independent and collaborative exploration and problem solving,” are, respectively, a competency and alignment found in the Create domain. The Future Ready Librarian principle of Use of Space and Time is defined by, “Provides flexible spaces that promote inquiry, creativity, collaboration, and community.” Both of these national level resources message that our libraries are no longer places to merely find information, but places where synthesis happens with new knowledge as a product.

In order to figure out what this synthesis looks like in your library space, find out what your school community needs and desires. Maybe that is a selection of robots and drones and coding tools. Possibly it is materials to build circuits or architectural wonders. There may be a need for yarn, fabric, and a sewing machine. Even coloring patterns, folding paper, and markers may make your list. The important thing is to find out what fits your space best, and that happens through exploring options. Set up a station or two each week for students, teachers, and other visitors to try. Take a seat at the table yourself and truly experience the design process, including the frustrations and the successes.

While you are exploring, be creative with finding resources. If you don’t have any robots or drones, see if you can borrow one from your public library or a neighboring district. This is a fabulous way to make connections for future collaborations. Try reaching out to parents and community members to see if they would be interested in showcasing a craft or skill. Maybe you can even find vendors willing to let you take a test-drive with a new item.

As your library vibrates with new experiences and learning, make sure to document the activities. Look at each station and ask why it is valuable, how much it costs, and what time and space requirements it needs. Survey user experiences and gather feedback through photos and videos, too. All these things will be valuable data points as you plan for future library purchases and programming. Have fun exploring!

Guest post from WiLS

WiLS wants to help bring your ideas to life!

Introducing the new WiLS Ideas to Action Fund! WiLS’ mission is to help our members turn ideas into action. The new WiLS Ideas to Action Fund seeks to do just that – provide support for innovative or collaborative projects in order to help our members reach their goals and have a positive impact on the Wisconsin library ecosystem.

What type of support, you ask? In this first year of the Ideas to Action Fund, WiLS will award a maximum of $25,000 (up to $5,000 per applicant) and a total of 25 hours of WiLS staff time. We recognize that sometimes the barrier to completing a project is not lack of funds, but the lack of time to plan or think about the process. Instead of or in addition to funding, organizations can apply for WiLS staff time to help organize the project or provide expertise in facilitation, survey administration, or other project activities.

We are now accepting proposals! Proposals for the 2018 Ideas to Action Fund can be submitted through May 14 using this application form. Small libraries are especially encouraged to apply.

Awards will be announced and funds will be distributed in June 2018.

For more information on the goals of the Fund and eligibility and requirements, visit our website at https://www.wils.org/ideas-to-action/.

Guest post from WiLS
Posted by Ben Miller, Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning

The first session of the Inclusive Services Institute took place March 12-14, 2018. Sixteen participants from Wisconsin public libraries and regional systems came together for three intense days of learning and working. The group will meet again for three days in August. 

The Inclusive Services Institutes is a professional development and workgroup opportunity for Wisconsin public library and regional system staff who are committed to making Wisconsin libraries more inclusive to all community members and potential library users. The Institute offers reflective learning experiences on topics of equity and social justice. See "Announcing the Inclusive Services Institute" post for more details.

The Inclusive Services Statement from the Division of Libraries and Technology provides the foundation for the Institute content and workgroup efforts. During the March session, the statement was updated to include race and ethnicity as dimensions of identity that should neither negatively influence nor interfere with access to library services. 

Inclusive Services Institute participants created four teams during the March session. The teams are charged with identifying and developing concrete concepts for public libraries to consider in regard to different aspects of inclusive services. For example, teams might suggest specific ways in which a public library might evaluate the experience of applying for a library card  and how library policies play a role, for better or worse. The Inclusive Service Statement and the newly revised Wisconsin Public Library Standards are guiding documents for the teams. Between now and the August Institute session, teams will work collaboratively on the considerations. During the August session, the teams will merge their work into a tool, a yet-to-be-named inventory/rubric/assessment, that will be available for the Wisconsin public library community to test as a prototype. 

The four teams and topics are listed as follows:

Who Is Responsible? Service Providers and Policy (Governance, Administration, Staffing)
Jessica MacPhail, Racine Public Library, Lakeshores Library System
Glenny Whitcomb, Chilton Public Library, Manitowoc Calumet Library System
Martha Bauer, Brewer Public Library (Richland Center), Southwest Wisconsin Library System
Irma Keller, Tomah Public Library, Winding Rivers Library System

What the Library Has to Offer (Collections, Resources, Programs, Services)
Mark Jochem, New Berlin Public Library, Bridges Library System
Samantha Johnson, Augusta Memorial Public Library, Indianhead Federated Library System
Kristina Gomez, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
Susan Younger, Wautoma Public Library, Winnefox Library System

Where the Interactions Take Place (Facility, Access)
Bobbie Kuehn, Brown County Library (Green Bay), Nicolet Federated Library System
Emilie Braunel, Plum Lake Public Library, Northern Waters Library Service
Laurie Ollhoff, T. B. Scott Free Library (Merrill), Wisconsin Valley Library Service
Holly K. Smith, Monarch Library System

Community Engagement (Community Relations, Funding, Self-Care)
Rene Bue, Hedberg Public Library (Janesville), Arrowhead Library System
Lisa Rivers, Southwest Library (Kenosha), Kenosha County Library System
Elizabeth Timmins, Muehl Public Library (Seymour), Outagamie Waupaca Library System
Shauna Koszegi, Sun Prairie Public Library, South Central Library System 

The Inclusive Services Institute Leadership Team includes Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System; Leah Langby, Indianhead Federated Library System; Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, DPI; and Shannon Schultz, DPI. 

The Institute is supported through an LSTA grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Public Library Development Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Written by:
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Development Team
 

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The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is hosting "Connect and Create Workshops for Public and School Librarians" at Hotel Marshfield on Monday, May 7 and Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The theme for the Monday, May 7th workshop is, “Students as Creators: Connecting through STEM, Maker, Coding, and Hands-On Learning.” The theme for the Tuesday, May 8th workshop is, “Students as Community Members: Connecting through Books, Collections, and Perspective Sharing.”

Wisconsin public library and public school library staff are encouraged to apply for a spot in one of the workshops. Following the workshops, grant applications will be accepted for joint school and public library projects related to one of the workshop topics. The workshops and grant are funded in part with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which administers the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). A descriptive PDF with additional information about the workshops, registration, and grants can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i5aXIPp3w6ZoOc3Pb4mF4Wmn3DRzsSi6/view?usp=sharing

The remainder of this blog post answers some frequently asked questions about the workshops.

What will the workshop schedules look like?

9:00 Registration and refreshments
9:30 Welcome
10:00 Keynote
11:45 Lunch with practitioner panel
1:00 Small group challenge activities
2:00 Time for collaboration, questions, and grant proposal work
2:45 Closing
3:00 Departure

What will the “Students as Creators: Connecting through STEM, Maker, Coding, and Hands-On Learning” workshop cover?

The phrase “students as creators” reflects that idea that youth learn through building and making, with their hands and with each other. This workshop will be tailored to the needs of the attendees, and conversations and activities will emphasize concrete aspects of STEM/Maker/Coding, including instruction pertaining to gadgets and materials. Speakers will include Kevin Jarrett (keynote) and Sue Abrahamson, Rebecca Millerjohn and Teresa Voss (school and public library practitioner panel). Grant opportunities for this workshop will emphasize program development and resource curation for youth in school and public library environments.

What will the “Students as Community Members: Connecting through Books, Collections, and Perspective Sharing”?

The phrase “students as community members” reflects that idea that youth need to see themselves and others in our global community in the books that they read. This workshop will be tailored to the needs of the attendees, and conversations and activities will emphasize concrete aspects of collection development, as well as bigger topics like social justice. Speakers will include Nick Glass (keynote) and Martha Kaempffer, Rita Platt, Susan Plewa (school and public library practitioner panel). Caitlin Schaffer and Jenny Barreau will lead challenge activities using BreakoutEDU. Grant opportunities for this workshop will emphasize program development and hosting for an author/illustrator visit to school and public library environments.

How Does Registration Work?

Link for May 7 https://goo.gl/forms/bx09ERnwdqjUPZjF3
Link for May 8 https://goo.gl/forms/QAgh5pKRwf4Qunw32

Completing the registration form does not guarantee the applicant a spot in either workshop. A maximum of 50 spots are available per workshop, ideally representing an even mix of public library staff and school librarians from around the state. Colleagues who are currently collaborating OR who are interested in collaborating with school/public library counterparts are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to apply. Both participants must register individually.

Registration is open from March 5 through March 30, 2018. Following the registration window, selected applicants will be offered a spot in a workshop and be required to accept/decline during the week of April 2, 2018. All applicants will be notified of their registration status via email during the week of April 9, 2018. A waiting list will be maintained in case of a cancellation.

What About the Grants?

Following the workshops, attendees who complete the workshop training will be eligible to apply for a joint school and public library project grant based on the workshop topic. Projects must have a dual public library and school library audience; therefore, grant applications must be submitted by committed pairs, at least one of whom must have completed workshop training. Some attendees will come to the workshop as pre-matched pairs, others will come solo and use the workshop to identify fellow collaborators (who may or may not be in attendance).

Details about the grants will be shared at the workshop, along with sample application materials. Grant proposals are due Friday, June 8, 2018; recipients will be notified mid-June. Project fund encumbrance must be completed by September 30, 2018; however, project activities might take place anytime between July and December 2018.

What Are the Expectations of Collaboration?

The focus of this LSTA project is two-fold: 1) Explore the two distinct, relevant topics for libraries serving youth and 2) Collaborate with school and public library staff. Collaboration will occur as part of workshop activities on site with the idea that attendees will establish or enhance connections back in their communities.

As noted, colleagues who are currently collaborating OR who are interested in collaborating with school/public library counterparts are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to simultaneously register for the workshop. In addition, attendees will be eligible for a grant related to the workshop. Projects must have a dual public library and school library audience; therefore, grant applications must be submitted by committed pairs, at least one of whom must have completed the workshop training. Some attendees will come to the workshop as pre-matched pairs, others will come solo and use the workshop to identify fellow collaborators who may or may not be in attendance.

Who are the workshop hosts?

Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
tessa.schmidt@dpi.wi.gov

Monica Treptow
School Library Education Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
monica.treptow@dpi.wi.gov