New Youth Services Consultant Hired

Welcome to Janeé Jackson-Doering!

We are pleased to announce that Janeé Jackson-Doering has been hired as the new Youth Services Consultant for the State Library. You may recognize Janeé from Pop YS Con in April where she co-presented a session on the power of play. 

About Janeé

Libraries have provided me with fond memories – from volunteering in my high school’s library (in my junior and senior years) to working as a library aide in college and grad school. As a youth librarian, I loved sharing storytimes and putting on my creative brain to implement fun, engaging programs for youth and teens – especially during Summer Reading!

I bring 11 years of experience working with youth in public libraries as a youth service librarian – and 15 years serving preschoolers, elementary students, and teens. I also served as an assistant preschool teacher for Head Start in Rock Island, Illinois for 4 ½ years. While teaching for Head Start by day and working as a library aide at night; I earned my MLIS in 2011.

As the Youth Services Consultant, I can’t wait to visit and meet other youth librarians across the state to share resources and support their work!

In my spare time, you’ll find me listening to podcasts, creating pages in my art journal, completing crosswords, cardmaking, reading, attending film festivals with my husband, David, and caring for our cat, Aslan.

We are thrilled to welcome Janeé to the State Library! You can reach out to her and find her contact information in the Staff Directory beginning Sept. 30.

Staff Directory

2022 Summer Library Program Survey Now Open

Enter to Win a Prize Pack of Books!

The 2022 Summer Library Program survey is now available! The survey asks about the in person, online, and passive programs offered as well as the total number of attendees to in person programs in June, July, and August. It also requests feedback on iREAD and the "Read Beyond the Beaten Path" theme as well as the resources, training, and support offered by the State Library. There's also an opportunity to upload images of your summer program successes!

The main goal of the survey is to gauge the impact of Iowa's summer library programs. Results from the survey will be shared with the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, which provides funding for the State Library to provide the summer library program to Iowa public libraries. The feedback will also help us know how to improve or enhance the program for next year and beyond.

By entering your contact information and completing the survey, your library will be entered to win a prize pack of books for children and teens!

Complete the survey at the link below by Friday, Sept. 30 in order to qualify for the drawing (one entry per library):

Take the Summer Library Program Survey

Thank you in advance for your participation and feedback!

Upcoming Youth Services CE Opportunities

Pop YS Live (Sept. 2022) | Get Schooled: Connecting Your Library's Programming and Services to the Local School

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Pop YS Live returns from its summer hiatus with special guest presenter Peg Gay of the Fisher-Whiting Memorial Library in Mapleton, IA. Peg will share success stories and lessons learned from her 5+ year collaboration with the local school district. From classroom visits, to hosting field trips, multigenerational book clubs, and more, librarians from communities of all sizes will be sure to find actionable ways they can connect with the educators and school librarians in their community.

Register for Pop YS Live

Pop YS Live (Oct. 2022) | iREAD Summer 2023 Preview

Thursday, Oct. 27, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join representatives from the iREAD team as they cover some basics about the program, an introduction to the 2023 theme (Find Your Voice!), and share how you can get involved with planning 2023 and beyond.

Register for Pop YS Live

Click Here for more information.