ARSL 2026 Overcoming Obstacles: Enhancing Access to Professional Development for Solo Librarians Grant Program
This research project is designed to better understand the unique challenges faced by solo and solo-ish librarians/library workers and to explore meaningful ways to improve access to professional development opportunities. Selected focus group participants will meet virtually in small groups to share their lived experiences, discuss common barriers, and help to identify practical pathways for strengthening professional growth, connection, and sustainability for solo librarians/library workers nationwide.
All focus group members are required to attend the 2026 ARSL Conference, September 16-19, in Montgomery, AL. A stipend for travel and staff coverage will be provided for participating volunteers in order to help ensure conference attendance.
We encourage interested members and nonmembers to apply and be part of this important conversation.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [RE-259035-OLS-25]
Submit your applications by February 10. For more info and to apply: https://www.arsl.org/imls-solo
Annual Group Supply Order
The Annual Group Supply Order for library supplies is coming soon! Watch your inboxes for the order form to arrive from Sarah Szymanski early next week. This order is for general library supplies such as book tape, label protectors, stickers, AV cases, book coverings, etc. Vendors include: Demco, Kapco, Quill, CCI Solutions, and Showcases. We will order in February, and materials will be delivered to you in March.
The second group order for barcodes, Spine labels, Zebra printer ribbons, and receipt paper will be in April.
A reminder of the IFLS Group Purchase schedule: https://iflsweb.org/knowledge-base/group-purchase-calendar
Maadagindan—Start Reading Book Club
Maadagindan Book Club is an online book club for parents, librarians and educators run by the Wisconsin Water Library and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. The group meets once a month to discuss books written by Native authors about Ojibwe culture and the Great Lakes. The titles, dates, and registration for the spring 2026 season are posted. The first session is February 18 at 4:30 pm. February choice: Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer, which was recently chosen as the ALA’s 2026 American Indian Youth Literature Young Adult Honor Book.
The American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards were announced this week!
If you haven’t looked yet, here’s the list of books and other media that have been awarded the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King, Pura Belpre, and many more. These books will hopefully have a jump in popularity, and have been selected by librarians across the country through an arduous process of examination and discussion as the most distinguished of the year.
Financial Literacy for kids (and some free stuff)
Here are some opportunities to partner with the WI Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and the WI College Savings Program this April.
You can help give books to kids during Money Smart Wisconsin Week, April 6-12, 2026
- Money Smart Wisconsin – a financial literacy awareness and education campaign. The Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), is spearheading the Money Smart Wisconsin campaign along with many volunteers and organizations throughout the state. The Money Smart Wisconsin campaign promotes financial literacy and awareness through financial education classes, activities, and opportunities for Wisconsinites by bringing together different organizations to help them share their expertise, leverage limited resources, and expand community participation in financial education efforts.
- “The Big Read” – books for kids initiative This year’s Money Smart Wisconsin campaign includes “The Big Read,” a statewide effort where adults at dozens of locations will read books with personal finance lessons to children in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. This year’s book is What Can I Buy? by Julie Moriarty and will be delivered to you at no cost in Wisconsin.
To participate in either of these programs:
- Complete this form by January 30 to request the number of books you are willing to distribute. A limited number of books are being made available from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
- Plan a program for kids and/or families.
- Hold a program to discuss good money habits with kids and families during Money Smart Wisconsin week.
Questions go to David Mancl at [email protected].
Free trees to kids on Earth Day
Edvest 529, Wisconsin’s College Savings Program is partnering with Neighborhood Forest, to give free trees to kids this Earth Day! As part of their Root to College campaign, they are encouraging families to plant trees while planting the seed of saving for their child’s future.
If you would like the children in your community receive free trees (to take home) this year, just let Chelsea Wunnicke know approximately how many children you think would enroll through your library. Learn more about how the program works here and enroll your library online here by February 12. When you sign up online, select “other” for How You Heard about the program, and type Edvest. Once you are signed up, you will receive information on next-steps from Neighborhood Forest. Families will need to opt-in (give their child permission to get a tree) by March 15. The minimum order is 10 trees to your location.
If you have more questions, you can reach out to Chelsea Wunnicke ([email protected]) from Edvest.
Updated on the website
- Updated Annual Report Resources page for this year:
- Make all your great info about performers easier to access and find later by adding it to the form: Performer / Presenter Feedback – Fill out form. Information that’s collected will be available on the Crowd-Sourced Presenter List.xlsx The permanent home on the website for these links is: https://iflsweb.org/knowledge-base/performers