Early Literacy Posters

As part of a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, our super-star graphic design champion Kathy O’Leary created some gorgeous posters promoting 3 of the early literacy practices (talk, read, and play).  These posters are so beautiful,...

Draw-Bots in Prescott!

Draw-bot in action!Thanks to Becky Arenivar for this post!If I can help kids make robots, so can you!  Despite a total lack of mechanical aptitude or experience, Miss Becky hosted a second robot-making event on September 25 at the Prescott Public Library. ...

Pop-Up Programs

pop-up card photo courtesy of extremecards.blogspot.com I know that some libraries in IFLS-land have done some great experimenting with pop-up programs, or programs that don’t take a ton of preparation and can be available at any time, whenever there...

Heartland Fall Forum

Patti (background) and her pals Annis and Pam (from Eau Claire Memorial High School) enjoy listening to Judith ViorstPatti Blount from Durand has been attending the Heartland Fall Forum (used to be Upper Midwest Booksellers Association) for 15 years!  It must be...

Polk County Collaboration for the Win!

License-plate etching and awesome collaborative library outreach!Thanks to Kelly McBride of Osceola for this blog post about some terrific collaborative efforts between the public libraries in Osceola, Dresser and St. Croix Falls.  Thanks to her library partners,...

Lessons from Gramma Alice

Gramma Alice (on the right) showing off her sense of playfulnessI was chatting with my daughter last night, for some reason we were talking about toenails (you know how it is).  She suddenly got that far-off look in her eyes, like you do when you are remembering...

Read Aloud 15 Minutes Campaign

A parent and child at Phillips’ “Books Are Magic” PartyIn 2012, Read Aloud began a decade-long campaign to make reading aloud for 15 minutes/day the new parenting standard–likening the campaign to those designed to make daily toothbrushing a...

Early Childhood Classes in Ellsworth

Kids enjoy super hero storytime in Eau ClaireI just had a conversation with Julie from Ellsworth.  She was recovering from a particularly exciting and wild storytime.  Each fall, students taking an Early Childhood class at the high school come to her library...

We Love Books Storytime

Many thanks to Valerie Spooner, the new youth services librarian at the Rusk County Community Library in Ladysmith.  Valerie comes to libraries from a rich early childhood background, and she took the time to send us a blog post about her first storytime!Today...