Index
- April workshop topics include Teen/Tween, Beyond Bias
- Serving homeless patrons will be the focus of Aug. 22 workshop; videos available
- Member/Staff News
- Cornerstone Award Nominations
- Magic trading card group swells to life at Portage Public Library
- Continuing Education Calendar
April workshop topics include Teen/Tween, Beyond Bias
Two April Workshops will be of interest to library staff members, and registration is now available through the South Central Library System Continuing Education Calendar. These workshops are:
- Teen/Tween Programming Workshop, with the title Breaking Boundaries: Serving Teens and Tweens, will be held Friday, April 13, at the Wintergreen Resort in Wisconsin Dells. It will feature Chris Baker, the teen services coordinator at Portage Public Library. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to serving teens and tweens -- every teen & tween is unique, and every community has specific assets, needs, and challenges. Despite these differences, all teens and tweens need to feel safe in neutral spaces where they feel welcomed by adults who support and believe in them. Join your colleagues and learn about ways to intentionally serve teens & tweens, create safe spaces for them, and provide experiences that allow them to be genuine and practice authentic growth. (more information and registration)
- Beyond Bias: Exploring Racism and Privilege, will be held Wednesday, April 25, at DeForest Area Public Library. Through shared self-inquiry, analysis, and large group discussion and activities, we explore bias, and race-based privilege, and its impact on and cost to every member of our society. YWCA Madison works to eliminate racism and empower women. Through programs in race and gender equity and more, they create real change for women, families, and communities. (more information and registration)
Serving homeless patrons will be the focus of Aug. 22 workshop; videos available
Last fall, Jean Anderson attended Ryan Dowd’s program at the Wisconsin Library Association Conference called Practical Tips for Difficult Homeless Patrons. She was so impressed with the workshop that she wanted to bring Ryan and his training to SCLS.
We’re doing that two ways in 2018. First, Ryan Dowd is coming to do a six-hour workshop on Aug. 22 at Olbrich Gardens in Madison and at the Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library on August 23. Save the dates! More information and registration to come later this year.
Second, Ryan has an online training program, Practical Tips for Difficult Homeless Patrons, that covers much of the same content in a video format. SCLS has purchased access to this training for 2018, so libraries are encouraged to work the viewing into their staff development plans before the year is over.
The training is hosted on Niche Academy, and when you access our Academy, select the How to Enroll in the Homelessness Training. Most library staff will be able to create an account and start the tutorials. A few libraries and their staff, Albany, Arpin, Monticello, Pittsville, Vesper, Verona, and Fitchburg, will receive individual email invitations with a temporary password. If you are interested and aren’t able to create an account, please let Jean Anderson know so she can send you an invitation.
For library directors, completing this training, including the Completion Quiz, will count as three (3) hours of CE credit.
If you have any trouble accessing the training, please let contact Jean at [email protected].
The March issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. As always, your comments are welcome. Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler. In this issue: Tax Law Updates, Featuring Tax Management Portfolios -- Curious about the 2017 tax legislation? We compile articles and updates from the Tax Management Portfolios set; National Consumer Law Center's Searchable Library -- The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) publishes 20 consumer law treatises which analyze the law and provide sample pleadings on a variety of consumer topics; New Books -- Forces of Change: Events That Led to the Development of the Green Bay Fire Department 1836-1895 and Indian Child Welfare Act Judicial Benchbook are our two featured titles this month. As always, don't miss our new book list; Tech Tip -- Onelook.com is a dictionary website that has stood the test of time. It has been around for over 20 years and just "one look" will show you why; Library News -- Save the date for our April 10 open house, and learn about spring CLE classes and a free webinar on providing legal reference services.
The SCLS Foundation is still accepting nominations for the 2018 Cornerstone Award, which will be presented next fall. The Cornerstone Award is given annually to an individual or individuals who have had a significant and long-term impact on enhancing public libraries in South Central Wisconsin and represent the values and mission of the South Central Library System Foundation.
If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please send the name and reason for your nomination to Martha Van Pelt at [email protected].
Magic trading card group swells to life at Portage Public Library
It formed in the fall, and it kept growing over winter. Today, the Teen Magic Club is one of Portage Public Library’s most popular programs.
“We’re doing all we can with the space we have,” said Chris Baker, the library’s teen services and technology coordinator. On Thursday, about 20 teens sat down to play Magic: The Gathering in the Bidwell Room, which provided more square footage than the smaller Teen Room, where they had previously played the trading card game.
“We might need to use the Bidwell Room more often,” Baker said.
Teens in grades six through 12 meet here to play Magic every other Thursday, officially. But they enjoy the game so much they’re often at the library playing it every Thursday. Baker credited a small group of teens for getting the Magic group started. Their efforts were spearheaded by Bartels Middle School student Haydn Augustine, who was referred to Thursday as the club’s “O.G.” or original gangster. Haydn’s the one who determined Thursdays would work best for everyone’s schedules.
Read more in the Portage Daily Register.