Kudos to the 2019 Youth Services Development Institute Cohort

Last week, twenty-five Wisconsin library staff serving youth graduated from the 4th Youth Services Development Institute. These individuals are committed learners, compassionate colleagues, and future library leaders. Seek them out, and support them as they spend the next year working on goals set at the Institute.

• Sarah Hemm, Beloit Public Library, Arrowhead Library System
• Andrea Bisordi, Pewaukee Public Library, Bridges Library System
• Amy Christian, Dwight Foster Public Library (Fort Atkinson), Bridges Library System
• Daniel Kilkelly, Somerset Public Library, IFLS
• Emily Resendiz, Barron Public Library, IFLS
• Jake Wyrzykowski, Phillips Public Library, IFLS
• Jeanne Gomoll, Community Library (Salem), Kenosha County Library System
• Karen Rozzoni, Kenosha Public Library, Kenosha County Library System
• Kirsten Smith, Manitowoc Public Library, Manitowoc-Calumet Library System
• Alison Loewen, Mead Public Library (Sheboygan), Monarch Library System
• Lara Lakari, Stephenson Public Library (Marinette), Nicolet Federated Library System
• Braelyn Spencer, Algoma Public Library, Nicolet Federated Library System
• Sara Christopherson, Grantsburg Public Library, Northern Waters Library Service
• Ann Larson, Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library (Hayward), Northern Waters Library Service
• Sarah Read, Kaukauna Public Library, Outagamie Waupaca Library System
• Autumn Laird, Spring Green Community Library, South Central Library System
• Abby Seymour, E.D. Locke Public Library (McFarland), South Central Library System
• Jennifer Warnke, Angie W. Cox Public Library (Pardeeville), South Central Library System
• Kristin Holman-Steffel, Schreiner Memorial Library (Lancaster), Southwest Wisconsin Library System
• Erin Isabell, Platteville Public Library, Southwest Wisconsin Library System
• Tammy Gates, Wonewoc Public Library, Winding Rivers Library System
• Sheri Dunham, Neenah Public Library, Winnefox Library System
• Erica Dischinger, Minocqua Public Library, Wisconsin Valley Library Service
• Elizabeth Lutz, Marathon County Public Library--Marathon City Branch, Wisconsin Valley Library Service
• Mary Jo Netzer, Marathon County Public Library--Stratford Branch, Wisconsin Valley Library Service

The Institute provides professional development and networking for Wisconsin public library staff who serve babies, children, and teens in smaller public libraries. The Institute targets library staff who have no graduate degree in librarianship and/or work in rural/isolated library communities. For these individuals, there is a need to improve skill and knowledge base, foster a supportive network, and develop stronger peer-to-peer and professional community connections within the Wisconsin public libraries infrastructure.

The Institute would not be possible without the energy, genius, and passion of the Leadership Team. This year's team included Sue Abrahamson (Waupaca Area Public Library / Outagamie Waupaca Library System), Shawn Brommer (South Central Library System), Anne Hamland (Wisconsin Valley Library Service), and Angela Meyers (Bridges Library System). In addition, the Institute was enhanced by presentations and resource sharing from Merri Lindgren and Megan Schliesman from the Cooperative Children's Book Center, and Monica Treptow, DPI School Library Education Consultant.

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