Colorado Youth Services Groups

Colorado is so fortunate to have a wealth of ongoing networking and learning opportunities for youth services library staff! Check out the list below to see the opportunities:

• CLEL (Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy)
  Contact: Complete the Contact Us form
  CLEL is a grassroots organization passionately committed to strengthening children’s literacy through library services and community advocacy. It is FREE to join! CLEL provides several networking and learning opportunities (become a member to receive email notifications of events, and watch the website): 
  • Bi-monthly meetups on topics of interest
  • Quarterly webinars on timely subjects
  • An annual conference each October
     
• CATS (Children and Teen Services)
  Contact: CATS Chair Rebecca Parson, Jefferson County Libraries
  CATS is an interest group of CAL (CO Association of Libraries) provides a forum for all library staff who serve children and teens to share ideas while working together to fill the need of consistently providing excellent services to patrons from birth to 18 and their caregivers throughout the state of Colorado. CATS provides monthly online meetings (CAL membership is not required to attend):
  • Every first Thursday, noon-1:00; go the CATS webpage for meeting info and links
     
• Summer Reading Interest Group
  Contact: Group Chair Becca Philipsen, Pikes Peak Library District
  This CAL interest group is for anyone involved in planning a summer reading or summer learning program. The group will be focused on sharing resources, collaborating, venting, and supporting each other. Ideally, each meeting is centered around a topic, with time specifically for the group to network, discuss challenges, and share ideas. This interest group provides monthly online meetings (CAL membership is not required to attend), except during summer months:
  • Every third Tuesday, noon-1:00; go to the Summer Reading Interest Group webpage for meeting info and links
     
• Makerspace Interest Group
  Contact: Group Chair Suzanne Linder, Broomfield Public Library
  This CAL interest group provides a venue to discuss topics and share information related to working in makerspaces and providing maker-related programs to all ages. Working together, we have also been able to participate in different events and conferences showing and telling others about libraries and their roles in the maker movement. There are regular meetings and an annual workshop (CAL membership is not required to attend:
  • Quarterly meetings (virtual or regional in person); go to the Makerspace Interest Group webpage for meeting info and links
  • Annual workshop in the spring
     
• Teen Services Meetups
  Contact: Meeting facilitator Nicole Burchfield, Durango Public Library
  This informal group meets monthly to provide an open discussion and idea exchange about all things teen services. 
  • Monthly meetings the end of each month; watch CYS-Lib and CYAAL listservs for info and links
     
• Tween Services Meetups
  Contact: Meeting facilitator Christa Funke, Pikes Peak Library District
  This informal group meets monthly to provide an open discussion and idea exchange about all things tween services. 
  • Alternating every third Wednesday and third Thursday every other month, with the same link (watch CYS-Lib and CYAAL listservs for upcoming dates)