Wyoming Library Association

What a great addition to Goshen County! Congrats to the Goshen County Library and special thanks to the Wyoming Community Foundation for funding this amazing addition for their community!

Goshen County Library expands learning opportunities - Torrington Telegram TORRINGTON – The Goshen County Library is excited to announce the launch of a new Makerspace area, made possible through a generous grant from the Carol McMurry Library Endowment through the …

What the Tech is making a return to our Annual Conference! If you're attending our conference and use awesome technology, email Jessica ASAP!

Volunteer to share your knowledge in the “What the Tech” session at the Wyoming Library Association Conference in Casper on Friday, October 11th at 11:30 a.m.! Find out more here: https://buff.ly/3M1On95

Michelle Ottoes from the Laramie County School District #1 recently joined the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps Hall of Fame! While unrelated to libraries, it shows just how dedicated Michelle is to her various communities.

Michelle will be presenting "Science of Reading in the Library" at our Annual Conference on October 9-11 in Casper. Check the comments for the registration link!

Hall of Fame Class of 2024 The Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps are pleased to announce the Hall of Fame class of 2024.Michelle OttoesMichelle is the very definition of Honor, Loyalty and Dedication. She was a member of the Troopers color guard in 1990 and 1991 and continued her involvement with the corps as a much-needed voluntee...

The Natrona County Library's website was featured on Super Library Marketing! Megan Bratton, Marketing and PR Manager at NCL, has presented at our Annual Conference multiple times and has been on the Conference Committee for three years. It's great to see our Wyoming libraries and our WLA members share their experiences with libraries across the country!

"...if your library is considering a website refresh, make sure you make that digital space as welcoming and friendly as your physical locations." - Megan Bratton

How One Library Marketer Transformed a Library Website: See the Stunning Before and After! Photo courtesy Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library Some of Megan Bratton’s favorite memories were made at the Forsyth County Public Library in Winston Salem, North Carolina. “I went to a …

What a great group of Mentors and Protégés, and thank you to the mentors for being willing to impart their wisdom and experience with other members of the Wyoming library community!

The WLA LEAD Interest Group recently launched their 2024 Mentor Program, which will run July through December, with 16 participants. Read more here: https://buff.ly/3Y9vM2s

Join us at our 2024 Annual Conference on October 9-11 in Casper. Take advantage of the early bird discount and register early! You can register and find the full schedule of events on our website www.wyla.org

Happy birthday to the Wyoming Community Foundation! WCF does so much for libraries and library workers, and supports our annual conference. 35 looks good on you 🥳

The Wyoming Community Foundation turns 35 this year! Happy Birthday to us!🎉

For 35 years, the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) has been building a better Wyoming with YOUR support. We're grateful for our many donors, volunteers, staff, and nonprofit partners who were instrumental in making a difference over the years. 🧡 THANK YOU ALL!

To celebrate, we are excited to announce the start of our 5 to Thrive initiative! When you leave just 5% of your assets to your community, you are investing in the future of that place for your kids, your friends, and your neighbors.

Join us in helping Wyoming communities thrive now and in the future. Contact our staff to learn more about our 5 to Thrive campaign. And keep your eyes out for upcoming initiatives and reports to celebrate 35 years of building a better Wyoming together!

📚🔥Registration closes tomorrow🔥📚

WLA's School Library Interest Group (SLIG) is hosting the Summer Summit to help school librarians from across Wyoming find community and build their skills this summer. Sessions will focus on the professional development needs of school librarians and paraprofessionals in our schools. Wyoming author and former Buckaroo Award nominee, Joanna Cooke, will present an author session at the end of the conference.

Wyoming Library Association - 2024 SLIG School Library Summit

Happy WyoGives Day! Looking to support libraries from around the state? Library foundations for the Campbell County Public Library, Goshen County Library, Laramie County Library System, Cody, Park County Libraries, Sweetwater County Library System, Albany County Public Library, and Sheridan County Library System are raising funds to support their libraries!

Check out wyogives.org throughout the day and join in on this day of giving!

Were you unable to make the 2023 School Library Summit? Don't worry! The 2024 School Library Summit will be held July 29-31 in Lander. Our School Libraries Interest Group is hard at work as you read this to plan another amazing Summit. Register to discuss all things school libraries with your colleagues from across the state! Please reach out with questions, and be sure to register by July 12th.

To register, visit https://www.wyla.org/event-5727446

Wyoming library workers, don't miss out on this opportunity!

Just a few weeks left to register for the ALSC National Institute in Denver, Colorado (September 19-21, 2024) at the Early Bird registration rate! Join fellow practitioners serving children and families in libraries for a weekend of professional growth, development and connection.

Visit https://www.ala.org/alsc/confevents/institute/institute-registration for more information

Wyoming library workers in any position have an extra week to apply for the our leadership institute! Reach out to your coworkers and encourage them to apply. Applications and reference letters must be submitted by June 21st.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, JUNE 21.

There is still plenty of time and room for applications! ⏳📋😊

Just the facts:
- All Wyoming library staff are invited to apply
- This year’s institute will take place September 16-18 in Pinedale, WY
- Submit your application and one professional recommendation by June 21 for consideration to attend
- This is not a workshop on becoming a library director or a workshop on library administration
- You don't need to be in a "leadership position" to be a leader—WLLI is about learning to lead from wherever you are (and wherever you might go)!
- Your application and professional reference are crucial, take time to review your materials closely and choose a reference who will put in the effort on your behalf
- WLLI covers the cost for attendees from "the time you arrive to the time you leave" (lodging, meals during institute, professional education—does not include travel expenses)
- If you have previously applied and were not accepted to join the program, please apply again this year!

Have you submitted a nomination for our Awards? How about an application for the Nora Van Burgh Development Grant? You still have time! Nominations and applications are due by July 31st and a reception will be held at our Annual Conference in Casper. Visit the link below for more information!

https://wyla.org/Awards/Grants-Committee

Applications are still open for the 2024 Wyoming Library Leadership Institute! 😊

This year’s institute will take place September 16-18 in Pinedale, WY. Submit your application and one professional recommendation by June 15 for consideration to attend.

All Wyoming library staff are invited to apply. Whether you are new to the library world or well-established, whether you have a degree or do not, and whether you work in a school, academic, special, or public library, the Institute is the place for you as long as you have the necessary spark to lead the Wyoming libraries of tomorrow! WLLI exists to provide opportunities for learning, mentoring, and developing leadership skills to promote the personal and professional growth of the Wyoming library community. It is not a workshop on becoming a library director or a workshop on library administration.

Important Info:

-If you have previously applied and were not accepted to join the program, please apply again this year
-Your application and professional reference are crucial, take time to review your materials closely and choose a reference who will put in the effort on your behalf
-You don't need to be in a "leadership position" to be a leader—WLLI is about learning to lead from wherever you are (and wherever you may go)!
-WLLI covers the cost for attendees from "the time you arrive to the time you leave" (lodging, meals during institute, professional education—does not include travel expenses)

Visit https://wyla.org/Wyoming-Library-Leadership-Institute to apply

We can't wait to see all of the additional projects that will come from this! Great news for Wyoming libraries!

The Wyoming State Library has received word from the U.S. Treasury that an additional $8.4M in ARPA funding will be added to our current WLMCF subgrant program! Read more here: https://buff.ly/3R3hEn4

Happy Wyoming Reads Day to all first graders across our great state! Teachers, school librarians, public librarians, celebrity readers, and many others dedicated to the importance of early childhood literacy come together to celebrate this wonderful day full of laughter, the joy of reading, maybe a little rain or snow, and fun.

A special THANK YOU to Representative Washut for sponsoring HB54 - Wyoming Reads Day, which now provides for an official proclamation designating the third Tuesday in May of each year as Wyoming Reads Day. A thank you also goes to Representatives Allred, Harshman, Neiman, Northrup, Obermueller, O'Hearn, and Walters and Senators Anderson, Barlow, Landen, Rothfuss, and Schuler for cosponsoring HB54.

📚📚📚

Registration is now open for this summer’s School Library Summit, scheduled for July 29-31 in Lander!

The School Libraries Interest Group is hosting the Summit to help school librarians from across Wyoming find community and build their skills this summer. Sessions will focus on the professional development needs of school librarians and paraprofessionals in our schools. Wyoming author and former Buckaroo Award nominee, Joanna Cooke, will present an author session at the end of our conference. There is a $50 registration fee, which will help cover accommodations and meals for attendees.

Please consider joining us if you work in any school setting, elementary through academic!

Wyoming Library Association - 2024 SLIG School Library Summit

Congratulations, Jessica!

"I think the reading part of our family turned into the writing part of our family, and I credit the Natrona County Library for that. Libraries are amazing things."

Sandra and Taylor Preisler, we agree! Libraries really are amazing things. Congratulations on your book!

Casper Mother and Daughter Write and Publish their First Book Together Happy Mother's Day, mommas! This is a heart-warming story about a mom and daughter who published their first book together.

Applications are now open for the 2024 Wyoming Library Leadership Institute!

This year’s institute will take place September 16-18 in Pinedale, WY. Submit your application and one professional recommendation by June 15 for consideration to attend.

All Wyoming library staff are invited to apply. Whether you are new to the library world or well-established, whether you have a degree or do not, and whether you work in a school, academic, special, or public library, the Institute is the place for you as long as you have the necessary spark to lead the Wyoming libraries of tomorrow! WLLI exists to provide opportunities for learning, mentoring, and developing leadership skills to promote the personal and professional growth of the Wyoming library community. It is not a workshop on becoming a library director or a workshop on library administration.

Click here for more information: https://wyla.org/Wyoming-Library-Leadership-Institute

Update: we've extended our original program proposal deadline to May 10th! Looking for ideas to start with? Here are a few to get your minds thinking: AI in libraries, starting a seed library, mental health, cybersecurity, mentoring, PR/marketing, and any other topic you want to share with the Wyoming library community!

Visit wyla.org for the proposal form

There's still time to submit a program proposal for our 2024 Annual Conference!

This is an opportunity to share your knowledge and help your fellow Wyoming librarians improve the services that they deliver. If you’ve discovered a solution to a common library problem, reinvented a process, redesigned a space, started a new program, or have another way that you continue to Stand & Deliver library services, we would love to receive a program proposal from you.

Visit wyla.org to find the form and submit your proposal by April 30th!

Vendor registration for the 2024 WLA Annual Conference in Casper, WY is now open! The 2024 conference vendor hall will be Oct 10 & 11.

Please click on the links below for more information:
Vendor Registration: https://wyla.org/event-5711012
Sponsor Registration: https://wyla.org/event-5711021

And now for the 2024-2025 Wyoming Book Award nominees, sponsored jointly with the Wyoming State Literacy Association!

Announcing the winners of the 2023-2024 Wyoming Book Awards!

Grades K-3 Buckaroo Award Winner:
“Knight Owl” by Christopher Denise

Grades 4-6 Indian Paintbrush Award Winner :
“Odder” by Katherine Applegate

Grades 7-12 Soaring Eagle Award Winner:
“The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Congratulations to our winners! Books are nominated and voted upon by students across our state and are jointly sponsored with the Wyoming State Literacy Association.

There's still time to submit a program proposal for our 2024 Annual Conference!

This is an opportunity to share your knowledge and help your fellow Wyoming librarians improve the services that they deliver. If you’ve discovered a solution to a common library problem, reinvented a process, redesigned a space, started a new program, or have another way that you continue to Stand & Deliver library services, we would love to receive a program proposal from you.

Visit wyla.org to find the form and submit your proposal by April 30th!

The Right to Read is a fundamental part of a student's educational journey.

On this Day, be sure to check your state school library association’s website to find calls to action to protect the right to read. Find a list of state organizations affiliated with AASL at: www.ala.org/aasl/about/chapters/directory

Brenda Mahoney-Ayres, Director of the Weston County Library, will be retiring at the end of the month. Thank you, Brenda, for everything you've done for Wyoming libraries and your community. We hope you enjoy spending more time with your grandkids and know that your creativity will revive your hobbies in no time!

"At the end of the day, the job a librarian does is about people … fellow human beings. All people."

Library director retiring | News Letter Journal Weston County Library System director plans to retire April 30

What a dill-lightful program for National Poetry Month! We always relish in seeing how different libraries meet the intellectual, educational, and recreational needs of their communities! 🥒🥒🥒

It's Poem for a Pickle time! Youth are invited to visit the Sweetwater County Library this month and read a poem to a librarian for a pickle. (While supplies last.) 🥒