by Leah Langby | May 6, 2026 | Keeping Up With Kids
Children’s librarian Maria Dietrich in Oak Creek, WI (just south of Milwaukee) asked me to share this information with folks up here in the northwestern part of the state. It’s a long haul, but Jim Gill is pretty great! Some folks might remember a...
by Leah Langby | Apr 30, 2026 | Keeping Up With Kids
Why a teen space? All people, including teens, benefit from informal public gathering places where they can interact or just share space with others. This is sometimes called a “third space”. Spending time with friends in an environment that is less structured than...
by Leah Langby | Apr 30, 2026 | Learning Loop
Thanks to Jennifer Mabie at Hawkins for a description of a few of her favorite PLA Highlights. I liked that they had some of the sessions in the Exhibits Hall with all of the exhibits going on. This was a way to check out some of the vendors and still be able to be...
by Leah Langby | Apr 29, 2026 | Learning Loop
Thanks to Tracey Sorenson, Menomonie Public Library, for these three takeaways from the Public Library Association Conference. There are a lot of very competent people working hard to ensure both democracy and justice for all of us, and especially for the...
by Leah Langby | Apr 24, 2026 | Learning Loop
Many thanks to Laura Turpin, St. Croix Falls Public Library, for this incisive tour through her experiences at the PLA Conference! I didn’t go into the 2026 PLA conference looking for information on any specific topics beyond “I want to learn something...
by Leah Langby | Apr 24, 2026 | Learning Loop
Many thanks to Leann French (Geraldine A. Anderson Memorial Library of Dresser) for sharing some actionable ideas she gathered at the PLA Conference earlier this month! Vendors I met with that will help me meet a need or solve a problem at my library: I met with...
by Leah Langby | Apr 21, 2026 | Learning Loop
Thanks to Tanya Misselt, director of the River Falls Public Library for today’s edition of PLA Takeaways! I spent a fair amount of time at the NewsBank exhibit and intend to follow-up to get a quote for a subscription. I got the most out of two AI presentations:...
by Leah Langby | Apr 20, 2026 | Learning Loop
Thanks to Lisa Bragg-Hurlburt, director of the Colfax Public Library, for sharing these Take-aways from her experience at the 2026 Public Library Association Conference! I really appreciated IFLS’s financial help attending the 2026 PLA conference. I wouldn’t have...
by Leah Langby | Apr 17, 2026 | Learning Loop
Many thanks to Amanda Unger from the Hudson Area Public Library, who attended the PLA Annual Conference earlier this month, for sharing a few take-aways! I had the privilege to attend all three days of the Public Library Association Conference. There was an...
by Leah Langby | Mar 19, 2026 | Learning Loop
from the IFLS Library System, 2026 What to bring Wear comfortable shoes, bring a backpack to carry swag if you want to collect it, bring a water bottle, snacks, and anything else you need to stay comfortable in a possibly-noisy exhibit hall. If you have business...
by Leah Langby | Mar 13, 2026 | Keeping Up With Kids
Last week, someone on the IFLS Youth Services email list asked for suggestions for a 3rd grade student who has dyslexia. IFLS library folks pitched in to share some great ideas, and IFLS staff supplemented. If you are looking for collection development or readers...
by Leah Langby | Feb 13, 2026 | Keeping Up With Kids
We got a question on the youth services list this week about resources to help kids learn more about and process the current events around ICE and to learn more about immigration and immigration. Thanks to those who responded, and to the Northern Waters Library...
