Weekly Digest: grant opportunity, call for proposals, what’s happening at libraries

WiLS Ideas to Action Fund $$$

Do you have a project that needs a boost? Are you dreaming up a service you’d like to develop but don’t have funding? Through the Ideas to Action Fund, WiLS provides grants of up to $5,000 so libraries and cultural organizations can bring their project ideas to life.

The program aims to encourage partnerships and collaborations among WiLS members and with community partners, support innovative and exploratory new work, and seed the development of processes, methods, or resources that can be used by other WiLS members.

We seek innovative or collaborative proposals from libraries and cultural organizations of all types in order to support the good work of the diversity of WiLS members.

The 2023 Ideas to Action Fund application period is open through June 3rd. The proposal form and reporting are built to be simple and quick so awardees can focus on the success of the work and the benefits to their communities. Submit your proposal.

Tip Jar

ILL Policy reminder: IFLS ILL will not refer requests for newer materials (published/released within the last 6 months.) Due to these items’ popularity, the majority of ILL lenders have similar policies. Amazon, Goodreads, and publisher’s websites are great resources to use to find publication information before submitting a request!

Call for Submissions: WLA Conference 2024

Are you passionate about sharing your expertise and innovative ideas with your peers in the library community? We invite you to be part of the 2024 Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Annual Conference by submitting a proposal to present! The 2024 WLA Annual Conference will take place November 5-8 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Need some help with that? Join an online proposal workshop on April 11th from 12-1 PM to learn more about the proposal process and get tips for crafting a successful submission. This workshop will help you navigate the proposal form and ensure your ideas shine. Mark your calendars and join the workshop using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82502270871?pwd=efOWPnSj4PXrdphwbrU2gSSVBlMtkn.1

Submission Deadline: Please submit your proposal using the online form by 5pm CST on May 17. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact wla@wisconsinlibraries.org.

Get website help

Erica and Brendan, your LibrariesWin website gurus, have set up a dedicated email for website support: websitehelp@librarieswin.org. All the LibrariesWin training materials are on their website.

This does not change the IFLS HelpDesk ticket! You can still use that for ANY question or problem you have at your library. We see those right away and will make sure they get to the best person for the request.

From IFLS libraries

Weekly Digest collects these news items when they meander past. If you’d like to share your program, news or tidbit, send an email to Reb at kilde@ifls.lib.wi.us.

Deer Park Public library is partnering with libraries in Woodville, Hammond, Glenwood City and Baldwin to present an excellent UW-Badger Talk by Susan Carpenter about Gardening with Native Plants at 4:30 at the Woodville Lion’s Club. Representatives for area and national conservation and gardening organizations will have displays with information. Some of the organizations and businesses attending are: The Xerces Society, Wild Ones, Dragonfly Gardens, Tropical Wings organization, SOS – Save Our Songbirds. A chili supper follows Susan Carpenter’s presentation. Door prizes to be given away.
LEPMPL extended their Escape Room program an extra week due to popular demand. They created a staff contest of recreating paintings to use in the escape room so they didn’t have to make extra décor. Andria gets credit for making the necklace!

IFLS website highlights

There is a lot on the website. Weekly Digest will try to introduce you to the new and the useful in tiny, bite-sized portions.

I’ve shared this in the past. It’s a good idea to have all of this information updated, especially if there are upcoming staff changes. I’ve worked with a few libraries to try to regain ownership of Facebook accounts—it’s time-consuming, frustrating and often unsuccessful. Please keep this information accessible and in a safe place. important info transfer.docx
There’re a bunch of updates on the Adult Services page and the Marketing page. You can access them by clicking the “For IFLS Libraries” menu item and then clicking on the buttons, which are in alphabetical order.