TALES FROM THE FOX

Serving and celebrating public libraries in Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago counties.

This summer more than 160 libraries across Wisconsin will make nearly 6,300 State Park day passes available to library users. The passes are valid for free single day admission for one vehicle at any state park, forest or recreation area where admission is required.

Several libraries in our area have joined the program with the goal of introducing new users to Wisconsin's State Parks. Each individual library purchases passes and sets their own guidelines for distribution. Contact your library for local details about when and how to borrow a park day pass.

Participating Winnefox Library System libraries by county:

Fond du Lac County

Spillman Public Library, North Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac Public Library

Oakfield Public Library

Green Lake County

Berlin Public Library

Caestecker Public Library, Green Lake

Marquette County

Montello Public Library

Waushara County

Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose

Winnebago County

Elisha D. Smith Public Library, Menasha

Neenah Public Library

Carter Memorial Library, Omro

Oshkosh Public Library

Find a full list of participating libraries around the state here.

Check Out Wisconsin State Parks At Your Library is a collaborative effort between the DNR, Wisconsin Library Association’s Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the C.D. Besadny Conservation Fund from the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.

-adapted from DNR Press Release

It's Your Lucky Day!

Love to read or listen to ebooks from Wisconsin's Digital Library on the Libby app? Need a book to read while waiting for your hold?

Check out the Lucky Day Collection! No waiting required - popular titles are available now, and you can check out two titles at once.

Start reading!

Local Librarians Share Their Knowledge at Annual Wisconsin Public Library Association Conference

Celebrate the Mediocre, the Tackey, and the Campy at Bad Art Night

Katie Killian, Outreach Services Librarian at Fond du Lac Public Library, inspired librarians around the state to offer an art-based program in a way that broke down common barriers to participation and brought back social connection. The pressure to create a masterpiece is removed. The goal of Bad Art Night is to celebrate the joyful process of making art. It has become one of the most popular programs for adults at the library.

Find upcoming Bad Art Nights on the FDLPL Calendar.

Learning from Fred & Ms. Frizzle

Cassie Payne, Children's Librarian at Elisha D. Smith Public Library, was inspired by our favorite "retro" learning friends, Fred Rogers and Ms. Frizzle, to help other librarian make their youth events even more engaging. Cassie shared ways to create programs that balance quiet and calm moments with the noise and spontaneity that makes programming for children and their families so unique.

See Cassie and MPL staff in action at upcoming events.

What Families Want Now: Children’s Programming at Oshkosh Library

Since post-COVID isolation, library visitors are in search of in-person social opportunities and the continuation of take-home learning activities made available during the pandemic. Oshkosh Public Library staff continue to rise to the challenge of meeting these growing and changing demands. During the Wisconsin Library Association Conference they shared their experiences and ideas with others in the state to help them respond the their community's needs.

Marie Boleman, Head of Children's and Family Outreach Services, and Children's Librarians Linday Reuer and Kallie Schnell have addressed equity issues with burgeoning storytimes and book clubs. They created dozens of ideas for take home STEAM kits for school-aged kids, as well as Early Learning Packets that emphasize process art, finger rhymes, and other literacy tips for toddlers and preschoolers. Their most successful service created during COVID has been Storytime in a Bag, which is valued by educators as well as families.

Visit the Children's Department at OPL to learn more about all they have to offer.