You’ve got the passion, you’ve got the drive, and now you’ve got the job! So… what now? You’re probably the only librarian in your school - maybe the only librarian in your district.
Becoming a new school librarian can be overwhelming. You may have read about Amanda Jones fighting censorship or watched Mychal Threets spread library joy on TikTok, but you're still just getting your feet under you — while you’re also being asked to cover lunch duty, teach typing, and oh, your space will be used for a staff meeting so all your furniture will be rearranged and not put back — is that okay?
Kristin Rosenberg has been the new librarian in five different school and public libraries and wants to share some actionable tips and tricks you can take back to your library. In this practical presentation, we’ll discuss things like boundaries, goal setting, and how to manage your never-ending to-do list.
Kristin Rosenberg is a lot like a pleasant cat you might see around the neighborhood - a little skittish and easily overwhelmed, but likes people once she has time to warm up to them. Also, she'll go just about anywhere if there's going to be food.Originally from Ohio, she has over... Read More →
In this session, learn how to use the power of passive programming to engage students in your library's makerspace, even when you’re not actively leading a lesson. We’ll explore a variety of low-maintenance, self-directed activities that encourage students to explore, create, and innovate on their own. From hands-on activities to collaborative projects, these strategies allow students to engage at their own pace while fostering a dynamic, creative environment. Whether you’re working with limited resources or looking for ways to make your makerspace more accessible, this session will provide you with practical ideas and easy-to-implement activities to engage students in your library every day.
Let's share our favorite tips & tricks for secondary (middle and high school) libraries! This session will be interactive. Emily and Danielle will share some of our favorite mini lesson topics, collection development strategies (buying & weeding), study hall management, programming, and display ideas. Come to this session ready to be inspired, and prepared to share some of your favorite tips & tricks with the group.
This is my 15th year as a school librarian and my first year with my current district, Greendale Public Schools near Milwaukee. I work in the middle school and high school libraries, and I love it! Being a school librarian is my dream job.
Emily Dittmar is the Librarian at Muskego High School. She is an active participant in many state library networks including serving on the WEMTA Board and CESA 1 Library Network
Today’s students are used to constant entertainment, making it challenging for teachers to capture their attention. But a disengaged classroom is even scarier. Join Amanda Zieba, the Word Nerd from YouTube, as she shares practical, engaging strategies for middle school ELA classrooms and libraries. Learn how to create fun, captivating lessons without the pressure of a song-and-dance act. From reading routines, writing practices and reading recommendations to using technology and kinesthetic learning, discover techniques that make students WANT to be in your classroom and ENJOY learning. Increased engagement leads to increased achievement—and happier teachers!
Amanda Zieba, the founder of the Word Nerd Collaborative, a middle school ELA teacher membership, is an author, educator, content creator, transforming the educational experience for teachers and students. She has worked with educators around the world to increase student engagement... Read More →
Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
BCC Boardroom
Join us for a lively and engaging session as we showcase our favorite things in the library world! In this fun and interactive presentation, we'll highlight the best of what our library has to offer—from innovative resources and useful technology to efficient processes and exciting programming that engage our students and staff. We’ll explore the tools and equipment that make our work easier and more effective, share tips on creating memorable library experiences, and reveal the behind-the-scenes strategies that keep everything running smoothly. Whether it's a new gadget, a favorite database, a beloved event, or a breakthrough in library services, you'll leave with fresh ideas and inspiration you can bring back to your own library.
Digital Learning Specialist, Pulaski Community School District~ Wisconsin
After 18 years in the classroom, Sara now shares her experiences and her passion for technology integration as a Digital Learning Specialist for the Pulaski Community School District. She is passionate about leveraging technology to support all students while increasing student agency... Read More →
Director of Instructional Technology, Pulaski Community School District
In my role as Director of Instructional Technology for Pulaski Community School District, I enjoy the opportunities and challenges my current position brings as well as the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for integrating technology and literacy with students and staff. My past... Read More →
Many of us believe our libraries are “safe” or perhaps “brave” spaces. But how do we make these spaces safe? Who feels safest? Are ground rules at odds with free speech? What happens when someone causes harm with their words or actions? Do safe spaces even exist?
Sarah Beth shares her research on brave spaces along with lessons learned from open mic shows and storytelling workshops. We will plan strategies for creating and holding brave library spaces such as: including participants in creating rules of engagement, setting participant expectations around being brave, articulating consequences of transgression, and following through on consequences. There isn’t one “right” way to create a brave space so workshop participants will use this time to consider which brave space practices will work best with their libraries.
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Sarah Beth Nelson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. Before becoming a professor, Sarah Beth worked in public and school libraries. In addition to researching oral information, she studies the American reality (true, personal... Read More →
Come learn some templates and activity ideas that are ready to go with minimal set up that can be used in the library and shared with all staff. See what I love to use and leave with inspiration galore!
Amber Houslet has been the Library Technology Specialist for the Pardeeville Area School District since 2010. She spent the first 6 years of her teaching life in the classroom before transitioning to her current role.She is a Google Certified teacher and has participated in many Technology... Read More →
Merge Edu is a platform that has been around for quite a while and many educators have a Merge Cube (or many) sitting on a shelf, unused. If you don't have one, don't fret, as all attendees of this session (up to 30) will receive a free cube.
Merge has grown to be a well-known augmented reality tool with science-aligned lessons. We love watching educators get excited about Merge--if the educators can get this excited, imagine what your students will think!
We will explore the Merge EDU platform and you'll get a free trial. Some features will be free forever, some are subscription based. No matter your subscription type, you'll leave this session energized and full of ideas.
Please bring an ipad, chromebook, or phone (some sort of technology that will allow you to downlad apps)
Mackin is a long-term education distributor for print, ebooks, and makerspace products and other library and classroom materials for grades PK-12.Known throughout the world over for exemplary service and a stringent attention to detail, we have access to over 18,000 publishers and... Read More →
As I continue to have conversations with my fellow librarians in a climate where book selection and the intellectual freedoms in school libraries are being heavily scrutinized I wonder often how to select books for my shelves. Let's talk about it! Join me and your colleagues in a conversation around book selection, library procedures for checkouts, and how to create trust in the process with administrators, and the community.
Library Media Instructional Technology Specialist, West De Pere High School
I am a high school Library Media/Instructional Specialist, and I also serve as the building's Talent Development Coordinator. Prior to this position, I was a high school and middle school English/Language Arts Teacher.
Looking to revitalize your library programs and engage your middle or high school students? Join us for a collaborative session where together we'll dive into practical strategies and share ideas for planning and implementing exciting library initiatives. In this session, we will discuss programming ideas for events like National Library Week and monthly reading challenges. We will share ideas around how to create eye-catching and themed displays to spark student interest, and we will explore low-effort, high-impact activities for your library and makerspace through passive programming. This interactive session will provide you with fresh inspiration, practical tips, and the opportunity to connect with fellow librarians. Let's work together to transform your library into a vibrant hub of learning and creativity!
I am the Library Media Specialist of Central Heights Middle School in Sun Prairie, WI. I started my career as an English Language Arts teacher for 10 years and now have been living it up in the library for 8. I started my library career at a middle school in Madison Metropolitan School... Read More →
Library Media Technology Specialist, Madison Metropolitan School District
I am the Library Media and Technology Specialist at La Follette High School in Madison. Prior to my current role, I was a middle school and 4th grade classroom teacher in Illinois and the Verona Area School District as well as a K-5 librarian in Verona. This diverse range of experience... Read More →
lighting the Path to Engagement: Transforming Learning Experiences empowers teachers and librarians to captivate students through interactive, multimedia-rich learning. Lightbox Learning provides a dynamic platform that merges traditional content with digital features, creating immersive experiences that appeal to diverse learning styles. With its blend of videos, audio, maps, quizzes, and more, Lightbox transforms passive reading into active exploration, sparking curiosity and deeper understanding.
For teachers, Lightbox serves as a tool to differentiate instruction, offering multiple entry points for learners of all abilities. Its interactive elements foster critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, making learning more relevant and engaging. Librarians can use Lightbox to expand access to high-quality, diverse resources, ensuring students are not just consuming information but interacting with it meaningfully.
Whether used in classrooms, libraries, or at home, Lightbox makes learning an active, engaging process. It helps educators create vibrant, student-centered environments where curiosity thrives and students are inspired to explore topics more deeply
Are you an elementary librarian on a fixed schedule? Are you wondering how to understand the layers of your position? We have got you covered! Join us for the ABCs of being an elementary librarian. We will discuss all the things from A to Z, like budget, lesson plans, STEM, engaging readers, ordering, inventory, displays, collaboration ideas, book processing, utilizing volunteers, and so much more. You will be given an A to Z organizer to customize during the presentation for useful ideas you can take back to your own library!
The School District of Beloit Turner's library and technology departments will share their process for growing their EC- 5th Grade STEM program where teachers are empowered to lead lessons. Aligning our lessons with standards provides students with STEM learning experiences that encourage creativity and exploration. We’ll share how our library media specialist and IT director develop instructional activities that include VR, Legos, Ozobots, Bloxels, WeVideo, Digital Storytelling, Bee-Bot, Sphero, 3D printing, and more. You’ll see how we were able to create and coordinate STEM lessons that teachers of all comfort levels are able to deliver successfully.
Director of Technology, Beloit Tuner School District
I am the Director of Technology in Beloit Turner School District . This is my 5th year supporting teachers with integrating technology into their classrooms. Before supporting teachers with integrating technology into their instruction I was a 7-12 business teacher.
This session will demonstrate how you can use Titlewave to analyze, weed, and build a library collection.
Titlewave is an online collection development and curriculum support tool for librarians and administrators, and it features professionally curated content and support tools that help you find the best educationally relevant materials.
This session will provide a deep dive into Titlewave and will provide time for questions.
Discover practical and impactful strategies to engage students in the school library. We will focus on creative ways to foster a love of reading, enhance learning experiences, and find time-effective and realistic ways to engage students at all levels. Hands-on learning, digital strategies, and more will be explored!
Digital Learning Specialist, Pulaski Community School District
Jackie is in her 18 year of teaching, and 8th year in her role as a Digital Learning Specialist in the Pulaski Community School District, She loves sharing her learning with others. Working in an elementary school setting, she is passionate about engaging students in critical thinking... Read More →
I genrefied my non-fiction section, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made for my libraries. Session attendants will learn about my process throughout, how I display it, and maintain it. We will also talk about reactions pre and post genrefication.
Library Media Technology Integrator, Menomonie School District
Embrace weirdness! I love animals! Well, not bugs and insects, or reptiles, but pretty much any mammal. So I guess I should have said, "I love mammals!"My time is divided between reading for myself and reading for students. I'm one of those weird people who read multiple books... Read More →
Have a library in need of an overhaul? On a limited budget? Not sure where to start? In this session we will learn how to create a library space Chip and Joanna would be proud of! Over the last few years I’ve been able to update the spaces in each of my 9 libraries to make them more fun and functional. I will share floor plans, before/after pictures, tips and tricks for maximizing your space, furniture feedback, and organizational ideas to breathe new life into your library! This would be a great session if you are relatively new to the library or have a limited amount of staff to help with your transformation.
Library Media Specialist, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools
Hi there! I'm Jamie Jestadt from Wisconsin Rapids. This is my 8th year as Library Media Specialist for the nine elementary schools in our district. I have over 2,500 amazing students who teach me something new every day. I love everything about the library and am so excited to be... Read More →
Tuesday March 11, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
BCC Boardroom
Have you seen a decline in reading among secondary school students? Are you wondering how to increase opportunities for choice reading and library utilization at your high school? Brookfield Central High School Principal, Brett Grueztmacher, and High School Librarian, Colleen Fenno Ladwig, will discuss our experience over the past three years of hosting quarterly “check out weeks,” which bring students into the library to checkout choice books for regularly scheduled, cross-discipline, independent reading. We will also consider other efforts we’ve made to ignite and inspire reading, including building a school-wide reading culture, offering passive programming, and factoring in larger trends in reading that make emphasizing choice reading at the secondary level more important now than ever. Finally, we will welcome suggestions from other secondary school librarians who have successful strategies for the high school library: how are you igniting and inspiring reading in your schools?
Getting teenagers excited can be a challenge. Now getting them excited about reading and using the library- even a bigger challenge. So how do we spark their interest in the library? This session will explore innovative ideas for both passive and active programming, strategies to engage students and inspire a love for reading, and effective ways to promote the library.
Library Media Teacher, Mary D. Bradford High School
Hello, I am Deidre Olson and I am a dedicated library media teacher with over 23 years of experience in education and libraries. I am passionate about literacy and technology, As a mother of two teenagers, I understand the challenges and joys of teenagers and wouldn't want to spend... Read More →
This session will focus on the organization of the elementary library. The idea behind genrefying a school library will be discussed as well as how I have genrefied our fiction and nonfiction books and have started out the picture book reorganization. I will discuss the physical changes that were made to the books, the space, the supplies I purchased to reorganize (labels, covers, and face out bins), the changes made in Follett Destiny as well as the impact these changes had to our circulation numbers. I believe strongly in this type of organization and am excited to share the benefits of this with other librarians.
My road to the library began in a classroom in 2000. I taught fourth grade for thirteen years before I made the transition to the library. This is my seventh year in that position. I earned my bachelors degree in human development and family studies from the University of Illinois... Read More →
Getting students to buy in to a secondary library when it has to be their choice to come can be a challenge and trust me, we don't have everything figured out either. But creating a comfortable and welcoming environment, a refuge for the kids who need it, and a reputation for solving problems can make the library a hub of activity in your building. Join us in discussing how we've worked to create this environment within our libraries and brainstorm more ideas on what we can do together. We'll be sharing about spaces, passive programming ideas, events and activities within the library as well as what we've done to create a reputation of solving problems with students and staff.
Library Media Instructional Technology Specialist, West De Pere High School
I am a high school Library Media/Instructional Specialist, and I also serve as the building's Talent Development Coordinator. Prior to this position, I was a high school and middle school English/Language Arts Teacher.
