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Spring Institute for Youth Services 2026 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

*Schedule is subject to change

Thursday, March 19, 2026

11:00 – 11:45 AM  |  1:45 – 2:30 PM  |  3:00 - 3:45 PM

Friday, March 20, 2026

10:45 – 11:30 AM  |  11:45 AM – 12:30 PM  |  2:15 – 3:00 PM

Thursday | 11:00 – 11:45 AM

Workshop: Adopt a Pet & Playful STEAM Stations

This workshop session has a limited capacity. Please plan to arrive early to ensure you get a seat!

Room: TBA

In this adaptable workshop, attendees will act like veterinarians and/or paleontologists to examine their new pet and rediscover bones. Participants will experience STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) in exciting new ways that can be tailored to various ages. Engage in fun tactical sensory activities that focus on each component of STEAM. Using multiple learning methods that can be combined in one playful goal that introduces a relationship with animals in different ways.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Learn strategies for integrating multiple STEAM concepts into a single library program.
• Feel equipped to facilitate their own engaging experience that promotes critical thinking and compression skills that involve families and their communities.
• Have confidence to create programs that meet numerous learning styles and accessibility needs within their budget.

Speaker

Staying On Your Toes: Improv Acting Skills in Library Programming

Room: TBA

Whether you are a solo youth services librarian or part of a team, library programming is rife with moments that knock us off balance. In this session, participants will learn 3 basic "Rules of Improv Acting": accepting reality and adding to it, knowing your resources, and staying in the moment. After learning the basics behind each "Rule," participants will discuss or practice ways the rule can be applied to a day in the life of a programming librarian.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand 3 basic rules of improvisational acting and be able to practice them to build their own improv skills.
• Know how to apply those 3 basic rules of improv in everyday situations.
• Have an understanding of the ways that improv skills can positively influence both patron and coworker interactions involved in library programming."

Speakers

Big Playdate, Big Fun: Creative Dramatic Play for Birth-Five

Room: TBA

Big Playdates are programs for young children that incorporate a variety of dramatic play stations around a fun theme. They can be hosted as large events to draw a crowd or adapted for smaller scale programs and storytimes. The individual activities are also great for play areas. Staff from DTDL will share their tips from running Big Playdates over the last 10 years. Attendees will learn how to host a Big Playdate, see examples of themes and activities, and leave with tons of playful ideas!

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Identify how play facilitates young children's development and learning.
• Learn at least three tips for hosting a Big Playdate that is inclusive to all children.
• Gain a list of play-based theme and activity ideas that they can implement in their library."

Speakers

Can AI and Play CoExist in Youth Departments? A Community Conversation

Room: TBA

Over years, children use play to explore who they are, how the world works, and how to thrive in that world. AI can build instant worlds based on our commands. Does AI threaten play? Can it help kids develop playfulness? We need to talk about it. This session begins with a brief presentation about trends in youth and AI, but the bulk of the time will be spent in small-group conversations about our hopes, fears, and aspirations for play and AI in our youths' lives.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand some current trends in AI tools and practices.
• Consider what aspects of play are important in their home libraries.
• Learn multiple perspectives on how play and AI might develop programmatically in their youth programs.

Speaker

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Thursday | 1:45 – 2:30 PM

Workshop: Building a "Cuddle Crew" Community through Creative Programming

This workshop session has a limited capacity. Please plan to arrive early to ensure you get a seat!

Room: TBA

We've all seen children bring their stuffies to the library. Maybe you've taken the time to ask about the stuffie. What if you were able to help a child build a backstory for their favorite toy? My Cuddle Crew program is specifically designed to help kids and their parents use their imaginations to tell stories together. I created a Mad Libs style handout that they fill out together. At the end of the program the entire group goes on an adventure! Some stuffies are provided for kids to adopt.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand how to use their imaginations to spark imagination within the community.
• Leave with fill-in-the blank handouts to use in their own library.
• Be confident in creating simple storytelling programs that build literacy for the whole family."

Speaker

Design a Teen Program with Joy

Room: TBA

This session invites Teen Services Librarians to reimagine programming through the lens of play, teamwork, and connection. We’ll dive into practical strategies for launching and sustaining a Teen Advisory Board, building strong school partnerships, reviving or scrapping underperforming programs, and crafting long-term plans that keep teens engaged with the library well beyond graduation. Join us to spark fresh ideas, share successes, and celebrate the possibilities of teen-led library spaces.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Discover how joy and creativity can transform teen engagement.
• Gain practical tools for launching advisory boards and school partnerships.
• Learn to evaluate and sustain programs that keep teens connected to the library well beyond graduation.

Speaker

Playing with Dinosaurs: Building Science Literacy with Paleontological Programs

Room: TBA

Dinosaurs captivate the curiosity providing an exceptional opportunity to invite families to connect with their local library. Michigan State University paleontologists have teamed up with East Lansing Public Library's STEAM Educator, to offer a crash course in dinosaurs and how they fit into Michigan's geological story.  Come with your questions and misconceptions, leave with the information and resources that will help you face the most precocious eight-year-old dinosaur expert.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Gain a basic understanding of dinosaurs that is grounded in contemporary scientific views including why there are no dinosaur fossils in Michigan.
• Feel confident running dinosaur-based programs at their library by implementing the resources, tools, and expertise shared in this session.
• Cultivate appreciation of the fossil record and its imperfection in a way that develops science literacy and critical thinking skills.

Speakers

Parkour is for Story Time

Room: TBA

How can the library facilitate building health literacy while at the same time early literacy? Introducing a parkour story time can be one way. The Charlotte Community Library in 2023-2024 developed a parkour story time, known as “Parkour for Littles,” in partnership with AL!VE, a local health organization, to do just that. Learn how the story time is structured at AL!VE and also how to modify it for outdoor spaces and for audiences led solely by library staff.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Be able to identify the principles of "rough and tumble play" and parkour and explain their benefits for whole-body development.
• Be able to describe how they can facilitate safe, health-focused programs using "rough and tumble play" and/or parkour.
• Be able to apply a "Parkour for Littles" template and adapt it for different environments and staffing levels.

Speakers

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Thursday | 3:00 – 3:45 PM

Workshop: Fast Felt: New Techniques for High Quality Flannel Stories

This workshop session has a limited capacity. Please plan to arrive early to ensure you get a seat!

Room: TBA

Get hands-on instruction in creating layered felt pieces for storytime. Have fun while discovering new techniques that make flannel board pieces more precise and faster to create. No tracing required! Practice a simple method to create a layered felt piece that can be used to easily replicate popular characters. All materials are provided. Each participant will complete one take home project. With just a printout, tape, glue, and you will be able to create colorful felt pieces in no time."

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Make their own felt shapes without a pre-made template using the no-trace method.
• Have an understanding of the materials and tools needed to be successful.
• Apply the techniques independently to future projects.

Speaker

Baby Raves: Glow Up Your Baby Programs!

Room: TBA

Get ready to glow and go! This hands-on workshop introduces Baby Raves : high-energy, play-filled programs for ages 0–4 that combine music, movement, and early literacy modeling for caregivers. Participants will dance through a mini rave, explore setup and supplies, and leave with a fully scalable plan to bring this joyful, crowd-pleasing program to their own libraries.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Be able to design a complete Baby Rave program plan including music selections, room layout, and prop choices tailored to their own library space and budget.
• Be able to model at least three early literacy practices through music and movement activities that engage both young children and their caregivers.
• Be able to evaluate their community's needs and adapt Baby Rave elements to create an inclusive, developmentally appropriate experience for babies, toddlers, and mixed-age families.

Speaker

Gaming in Libraries: Bridging Educational Gaps for Teens

Room: TBA

Gaming in libraries isn't just fun, it's a powerful bridge for teens, connecting play to learning, literacy, and social-emotional growth. Explore how libraries can use games to spark curiosity, build skills, and create community while closing gaps in education and opportunity.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Be able to identify at least three ways gaming can support literacy and social-emotional growth for teens.
• Be able to design a simple, inclusive game library that engages teens across diverse backgrounds and learning styles.
• Be able to explain how library gaming environments can help bridge educational gaps and foster community connection.

Speaker

From Dewey to Dirt: Growing a Library Discovery Garden

Room: TBA

Imagine a library where stories grow alongside strawberries- A Discovery Garden can turn an outdoor space into a vibrant learning hub. This workshop will show you how to create gardens of any size that host hands-on gardening programs for all ages, fun cooking activities for kids, and provides fresh produce for patrons. It's about making the most of your space to cultivate curiosity, nutrition, and community- all from the ground up.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand how to create and maintain a Discovery Garden to engage library users through hands-on learning and exploration.
• Gain practical ideas for implementing gardening and cooking programs tailored to children, teens, and adults.
• Explore effective ways to foster community engagement and promote lifelong learning through interactive, garden-based programs and experiences.

Speakers

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Friday | 10:45 – 11:30 AM

Workshop: Playing with Paper! Making Connections through Junk Journaling

This workshop session has a limited capacity. Please plan to arrive early to ensure you get a seat!

Room: TBA

Unleash your creativity in this hands-on workshop focused on the process of creating  junk journals from a variety of reclaimed paper, packaging and unconventional art materials. You will learn practical strategies to design fun, affordable junk journaling programming for patrons of all ages that incorporates the principles of developmental play and creative reuse. Focused group discussions will explore the connection between art-based play and the development of essential literacies.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Be able to talk confidently about what junk journaling is and how to create programs about junk journaling that will be highly successful and beneficial for their patrons.
• Use techniques learned during the session to find materials and "junk" to use at their own libraries and the best way to present these materials to their patrons. This will also include new ideas to make these programs very cost effective.
• Identify ways that junk journaling can be used to: help patrons create a culture of reading at home; improve the tactile skills of both children and adults/caregivers who don't often use these skills (or think they do not possess these skills); further the conversation of libraries and sustainability; and present junk journaling to patrons as a great tool for self care.

Speaker

Puppets Teaching the Power of Difference

Room: TBA

This interactive session uses a puppet show to demonstrate inclusive sensory aware strategies for teaching about autism and neurodiversity. Attendees will experience how puppets, play and predictable routines support communication, regulation, and understanding for all learners-especially neurodivergent children and will leave with ready to use scripts and tools.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Apply at least three neurodiversity-affirming strategies using puppets, visuals, and predictable routines.
• Design a short inclusive play-based activity that supports communication, engagement, or sensory needs.
• Demonstrate how games can be adapted to teach neurodiversity concepts in a child friendly way."

Speakers

Fear and Play: Building a Not-So-Scary Haunted House

Room: TBA

Learn how to transform any space into a playful, spooktacular Haunted House that promises delight rather than fright! What makes something spooky as opposed to scary? What goes into designing a haunted house? What is the most effective way to actually run it? How can simple lighting tweaks make or break the mood? This session will give a blueprint for designing a spooktacular event that’s fun for all ages and explore sensory-friendly alternatives!

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Leave with an assortment of ideas for styles and manners in which they can execute a playful haunted attraction.
• Gain new insight into creating and enhancing a spooky atmosphere by taking control of interior lighting and employing a range of light-altering options, from budget bulb-swaps all the way up to theatrical lights.
• Understand how to capitalize on leftover supplies and typical library waste to decorate and delight.

Speakers

Community-Led Programming

Room: TBA

Community-Led Programming empowers residents to shape and showcase at library's events. Through collaborative planning, shared skills, and creative contributions, community members become co-creators.  The library becomes a hub where everyone's voice and experience help guide meaningful, inclusive engagement.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Leave with several programming ideas that can be implemented immediately.
• Allow your library to become more of a platform for your community.
• Create a feeling of a true community center where everyone is welcome and all voices are heard.

Speakers

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Friday | 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM

Workshop: Baby Storytime

This workshop session has a limited capacity. Please plan to arrive early to ensure you get a seat!

Room: TBA

Baby storytime is unique, important‚ and sometimes intimidating! Wondering where to start or hoping to grow your current lapsit program? In this workshop you'll bounce and play along through a full baby storytime, learn what sets infant programming apart, discuss lessons learned, and leave with a plug-and-play template for simple planning and proven storytime success.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand what makes baby storytime unique and why offering a program tailored specifically to infants and caregivers matters.
• Be able to structure and lead a complete, dynamic lapsit storytime through active participation in a full demo session.
• Leave with a plug-and-play baby storytime template along with tried-and-true rhymes, bounces, and activities to keep their programs fresh.

Speaker

How to Run a Successful Nerf Night

Room: TBA

This session offers hands-on experience with the tools, tips, and tricks behind a successful library Nerf Night. Drawing on three years of program insights, participants explore best practices and try a few high-energy games to see what works.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Have a practical understanding of the 3 demonstrated game modes for Nerf Night.
• Have a working knowledge on how to get a Nerf Night program started at their libraries.
• Know through demonstration what makes a Nerf blaster safe vs. unsafe for a library environment along with other safety protocol.
• Understand what equipment is needed for Nerf night and what should be provided by the library vs what the participants should bring.
• Be able to create a carbon copy of the Nerf Night program with an understanding that elements of the program may need to change in order to make it a success at their library.

Speaker

Roots, Rocks, and Wonder: Science Play in Early Childhood

Room: TBA

Discover how outdoor science storytimes can spark STEAM learning in preschoolers. This session will help you learn how to pair nature-themed books with simple, hands-on investigations that build curiosity, observation, and play-based learning. Leave with ready-to-use activities for any outdoor space.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Be able to pair nature-themed books with simple, hands-on STEAM activities that foster curiosity, observation, and playful inquiry in preschoolers.
• Learn strategies for facilitating outdoor storytimes in ways that support child-led exploration, diverse learning styles, and developmentally appropriate practice.
• Leave with adaptable, ready-to-use activities and programming ideas that can be implemented in outdoor spaces of any size, at any library.

Speaker

A Successful Model for Circulating Yoto Cards and Yoto Players

Room: TBA

Has your library considered circulating Yoto cards and players, but you don't know where to start? This session will walk you through the technical details about how Yoto cards and Yoto players work, how to successfully circulate them, and why Yoto cards are an important media format for audio content, serving the diverse needs of multiple patron demographics.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Have a clear roadmap to begin circulating Yoto cards and Yoto players.
• Gain confidence and clarity regarding how Yoto cards work with Yoto players, as well as through the Yoto app.
• Understand the many benefits of circulating Yoto cards and Yoto players, for a variety of patron populations.

Speaker

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Friday | 2:15 – 3:00 PM

Workshop: Yoga Storytime: Bend and Play!

This workshop session has a limited capacity. Please plan to arrive early to ensure you get a seat!

Room: TBA

Get ready to stretch, breathe, and story! This interactive workshop introduces Yoga Storytime - a dynamic program that combines children's literature with simple yoga poses and mindfulness techniques. Participants will experience a full storytime session, learn age-appropriate poses, and discover tips for incorporating movement and calm into their programming.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Be able to design and implement a complete Yoga Storytime program using the provided materials, including selecting appropriate books, adapting yoga poses for young children, and breathing exercises and movement activities.
• Be able to modify yoga poses and activities to accommodate children with varying physical abilities, developmental stages, and comfort levels, ensuring inclusive participation for all attendees.
• Be able to effectively integrate a yoga storytime, which can be adapted to best serve any community.

Speaker

Exploratory Family STEM Play at the Library

Room: TBA

Kids need to experience joy and direct their own learning. Adults want educational experiences for kids at the library. Exploratory play-based STEM activities fill both needs. Two types of open-ended STEM play will be presented: free play that can happen anytime in the youth department; and guided play, where staff curate supplies, create a supportive community, and reinforce learning while families engage in creative problem solving. Learn specific examples of both, then play with STEM toys.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Have a program outline they can use to build community and set up STEM activities so kids and families feel safe to take risks and persevere through challenges.
• Have a digital "catalog" of specific ideas and examples of successful independent, exploratory STEM play areas, and open-ended, play-based STEM programs they can do inside or outside with a variety of materials at all costs, for ages 4-12 and their families to teach the scientific method and foster creative, collaborative learning.
• Have more knowledge about STEM toys and supplies available in a wide range of prices they might purchase for their libraries, with 20 minutes of hands-on play time to explore Lego Spike sets, robots, simple Rube Goldberg machines, tabletop foam dinosaur bones, and magnetic SuperSpace tiles.

Speaker

Engaging Your Teens with Multiple Volunteer Programs

Room: TBA

In a very academically motivated community we frequently get requests for teen volunteer opportunities. While many teens are interested and engaged through TAB this isn't the right fit for everyone and can be challenging to extend into other departments especially when the Teen Department is part of Adult Services. The solution? Two teen volunteer programs in the same library. This maximalist approach allows us to effectively meet the needs of staff and patrons.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Have practical ways to reduce librarian workload via teen volunteers.
• Understand how to use backward planning to structure a successful teen volunteer program.
• Understand how to incorporate teen led programming & leadership skills into existing TAB activities.

Speakers

Building Community-Based Summers: Rethinking Your "Why"

Room: TBA

What is your library trying to achieve with summer programs and services - and who decides that? The Building Community-Based Summers project explores your true "why" of summer and how to move from traditions to align your summer activities with community needs. Through conversation and reflection, we'll reimagine summer services to guarantee they are designed with marginalized voices, shifting from a focus on legacy programs to impactful, community-driven services.

Outcomes

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Be able to articulate what they are trying to achieve through summer programs & services.
• Have access to materials to help them better center community voices in the design and implementation of summer programs and services. 
• Be able to reflect on current summer programs and services using the four Building Community-Based Summers Equity Principles key to building community based summers.

Speaker

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