Governor Evers honors Jeanette Rydberg

On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Governor Tony Evers presented a special plaque of recognition to Jeanette Rydberg in honor of her 48 years of service as a teacher and librarian. We wish her all the best in her retirement.

Well, yes, we are still looking for Bubble Bags

IFLS is running low on its supply of bubble bags for CDs and other breakable cases. If you have an oversupply in your library, please send the extras back to IFLS as delivery space allows.

Once we get in the extras, we’ll be evaluating whether or not to order more. Thanks!

Reach Out and Read Wisconsin Reminder

Several librarians in our system have been connecting with Reach Out and Read clinics in their communities.  Attached is a list of potential ideas meant to be a springboard for creative thinkers to build an impactful community collaboration.  Click HERE to find a clinic near you.  Some collaborations that are already happening range from libraries administering Reach Out and Read programming within clinics (Manitowoc area) to clinicians being speakers at library events, or clinics sharing library information with families. If you are interested in partnering with a clinic(s) in your area, please contact Julie Dorshorst at Reach Out and Read (jldorshorst@reachoutandread.org).

National Advocacy efforts continue

Congress votes on next year’s budget this month. Let’s keep up the pressure from Wisconsin voters! There’s a new social media post on the toolkit. It would also work in your newsletter.

ILS Evaluation: call for volunteers

MORE has used Innovative Interfaces’ ILS (integrated library system) software since MORE’s inception in 1999-2000, first Millennium and now Sierra. The ILS industry and MORE’s needs continue to develop, so it is in the best interest of MORE to investigate how other ILS options compare to our current platform, Sierra. We at IFLS will lead this process with the input and expertise of member library staff and directors, as well as the experience of other library consortia, to develop an ILS recommendation well ahead of the end of our current Sierra maintenance contract in December 2027.

Are you a Sierra user who has opinions? You might be just the person to provide input and expertise in this process! If so, please complete this volunteer interest form by next week Monday, September 8: https://forms.office.com/r/dFucCrGW4T

Task force volunteers should plan to:

• Be involved in a lengthy, thorough evaluation process running from approximately October 2025 to October 2026 and involving virtual meetings 1-2 times per month
• Create a set of functionality and evaluation criteria by area and check it against each ILS product
• Encourage staff feedback and create a set of questions for vendor demo.
• Attend vendor demos
• Perform side research as needed
• Write a final recommendation for MORE Directors Council on the best ILS candidate

Volunteers providing information and feedback on certain ILS functions should plan to:

• Be involved in a lengthy, thorough evaluation process running from approximately October 2025 to October 2026
• Be available to provide specific information via email or surveys to the task force as requested
• Be available to attend a few virtual meetings as needed

Volunteers will be contacted after September 8 to determine assignments. Thank you for considering this opportunity!

Coming Up

The webinar Leah wishes we were sponsoring

 It looks amazing! Welcoming Neurodivergent Teens to Your Public Library, September 19, 10 a.m. (register)

Working with neurodivergent teens requires understanding, patience, and a willingness to adapt. Key strategies include fostering open communication, creating a supportive environment, and building on individual strengths. Clinicians report that neurodivergent teens see their public libraries as places where they feel safe to be themselves: library staff are welcoming, spaces are familiar and comfortable, and our materials and programs are varied and inclusive. In this webinar, presenters from the Waisman Center will discuss ways that library staff can continue to work with neurodivergent teens to ensure that their library visits are positive and supportive ones.

To tailor this webinar to librarians’ questions and needs, please complete this anonymous survey to provide your questions, concerns, and success stories about serving neurodivergent teens.

Presented by Waisman Center staff members: Madeline Barger, MS, LMFT, BCBA, CST; Erin Thomson, LCSW; Sara Warner, PsyD

Youth Services Check-in with IFLS and WVLS—SLP Debrief

September 22, 1:00-2:15. Please register for this meeting:   https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/x6j8mZ8YSS6tMDhcq46Iyg

Join youth services librarians from both IFLS and WVLS for a virtual discussion focused on wrapping up the summer reading season. We’ll share successes and challenges, reflect on what worked (and what didn’t), and explore how our goals for summer reading can shape planning for the future.

Tech Days 2025 is a two-day free webinar series sponsored by all 15 Wisconsin library systems. 

The return of Tech Days!

Tech Days 2025 is a two-day webinar series on Tuesday September 9 and Wednesday, September 10. There is no fee to attend Tech Days, thanks to sponsorship by all 15 library systems.

Go to techdayswisc.org to find descriptions of the webinar sessions, read about our presenters, and register for the sessions you wish to attend.  All webinars will be recorded, captioned, and available on the Resources page.  Directors, earn up to 7 hours of CE technology contact hours for attending.

On the IFLS calendar

From Milwaukee Public Library

This is delightful: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1455418915679796