Group Supplies Order Updates
(submitted by Sarah Szymanski) Good news! The last of the supplies have been boxed up and will be going out to you in the next few days from the IFLS office. All packages should arrive to you by the end of next week. Please check the contents and compare to the packing list showing what you ordered. With over 3700 items ordered from Demco alone, mistakes can happen. If you notice any discrepancies, contact Sarah [email protected]. Thank you for your patience in receiving your supplies – there are a lot of items to unpack & inventory when the vendor shipments arrive!
- Backorders: We are waiting for 4 more products to arrive from Demco, affecting only 5 libraries. I will reach out to those affected. In addition, all 1-disc DVD cases from CCI are on backorder. We’re expecting those in about a month.
- Receipt Paper cases should arrive at IFLS soon. I’ll send those out a little at a time as our courier can manage the load.
- Barcodes & Spine Labels will take about a month.
- Zebra printer ribbons – some are on backorder. I’ll update when we know more.
As always, if you have any questions about the orders, please contact Sarah [email protected].
Policy of the Month Club
Hang out with the cool kids. This month’s policy resource drop was about Unattended Children policies. In May, the Policy of the Month club will focus on meeting room policies. Members of the club can peruse the Public Library Policy WISELearn group to share your policies for discussion! Click here to subscribe to the Policy of the Month Club. Questions can go to Katelyn Dubiel.
Explore MORE Passport Program theme announced
This year’s theme is “Find Treasure at the Library”. Watch for all the details in an email from Reb on Monday. In the meantime, check out the new Explore MORE Passport Program toolkit.where you can find a Coming Soon poster to print and post.
WLA on the Road @ Eagle River
(from John & Leah) WLA’s On the Road event on Monday, May 18 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Olson Memorial Library in Eagle River. Registration for On the Road is required by May 1, 2026. Non-members will need to create an account with their email to access the form.
The event is free and open to all library staff, whether your are a WLA member or not. Event includes
- breakfast and lunch with your colleagues
- “Choose Your Own Adventure” Discussions for Shared Learning
- Asahi for Self-Care and Community
- Stay for the Ukulele 101 class (ukes provided).
WPLC Annual Membership Meeting recording and upcoming feedback session
(from Katelyn) Thanks to those who joined us on April 10, 2026 for the WPLC’s Annual Membership Meeting! If you missed the meeting, you can watch the recording here. Slides from the meeting can be viewed here.
Additionally, the WPLC Board and Committee members are hosting a Feedback session on April 22, 2026 at 1:00 pm and we want to hear from you! What questions or curiosities do you have about the WPLC and its services?
Please share your thoughts with us in this brief survey.
Call for participants: The National Games & Libraries Fellowship, apply by 5/8/26
(from WPI) Are you passionate about games-based programs and collections in public libraries? Are you a motivated Wisconsin library staff member with experience offering games-based library services? If so, you can help us shape the future of Games-based Library Services nationwide!
The National Games & Libraries Project is a collaboration between Wisconsin State Library agency and the Washington State Library, funded by an Institute for Museum & Library Services National Leadership Grant for Libraries. The program is seeking 5-6 enthusiastic Wisconsin public library staff members to participate in a yearlong Fellowship. Find all the details about the Games & Libraries Fellowship on the WPI website.
Highlight: Learning Opportunities from Beyond IFLS
These are the best opportunities that came across our desks here at IFLS this week.
You are invited to join the Youth Services Section (Wisconsin Library Association) Midday Mingle (free)
Chat about troubleshooting collection development issues such as taking flak from patrons about books you’ve weeded or finding new resources now that B&T has closed or even tips on dealing with difficult, yet popular collections. Whatever collection problems you’re dealing with, come and share and brainstorm solutions together!
- Topic: Collection Complications
- Date: Monday, April 20
- Time: 1-2pm
- NOTE: Free for everyone, whether a YSS/WLA member or not! Zoom link for Collection Complications
Everything Wrong with Library Advocacy: free event
While communities love their libraries, they don’t often “care” and support often fails to appear where it matters most: in legislative votes, public funding decisions, and policy outcomes. This is a major problem facing our industry, given that over 90% of library funding is political. How to translate public goodwill into real political power?
Join Patrick “PC” Sweeney on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 12:00 pm ET for a candid and thought-provoking presentation. Learn more about Everything Wrong with Library Advocacy and register, sponsored by Consultants for Libraries. This event will be recorded. Registrants will receive a link to the recording a day or so after the event ends.,
National forum for a knowledge-driven future
Reimagining Information Literacy: A National Forum, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reimagining Information Literacy is an opportunity for librarians, educators, and researchers to gather to reflect on the importance of information literacy. Variously understood as digital, visual, media, textual, and/or technological literacy, this forum approaches information literacy as an umbrella that is inclusive of all types. Register for free for Reimagining Information Liberacy.
PBS Wisconsin Education
Please join your colleagues from library systems in central WI at PBS Wisconsin’s A Love of Learning workshop on May 7, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:15 p.m., at the Portage County Public Library in Stevens Point. If you work in or with a public library or library system in Wisconsin in a role serving learners in grades 3-12 (ages 8-18+), this workshop + meet-up will connect you with colleagues and inform you about free multimedia resources you can use.