Illinois Youth Services Institute
February 27-28, 2025
Marriott Bloomington-Normal Hotel & Conference Center
Download the Save the Date!
Featured Speakers
Samira Ahmed
Samira Ahmed is the New York Times-bestselling and award winning author of young adult novels Love, Hate & Other Filters; Internment; Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know; and Hollow Fires, as well as the Amira & Hamza middle grade fantasy series and her newest 2024 novel, This Book Won’t Burn. She is the first South Asian Muslim writer of the popular Marvel Comics superhero Ms. Marvel. Her short stories and poetry have appeared in publications and anthologies including The New York Times, Who Will Speak for America, Take the Mic, Color Outside the Lines, Vampires Never Get Old, and A Universe of Wishes.
Born in Bombay India and raised in Batavia, Illinois (Go Bulldogs!), Samira spent countless hours at the library in her small hometown nestled in an oversized armchair next to an old Victorian fireplace with her nose in an Agatha Christie novel or re-reading Little Women, hoping that Jo would somehow end up with Laurie this time. Samira always loved to write— especially poetry–but never actually dreamed of becoming a writer until she was an adult and an idea for a story captured her imagination and wouldn’t let go.
She received her BA and MAT from the University of Chicago and went on to teach high school English in both the suburbs of Chicago and the New York City Public Schools. After she left the classroom, she worked in education non-profits, helping to create more than seventy small high schools in New York City and fought to secure billions of dollars in public school funding throughout New York State.
Samira’s work is often informed by her own encounters with racism, the alarming rise in hate crimes throughout the United States, and her steadfast belief in the power of hope and human connection. These days, Samira lives in the Midwest. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found on her lifelong quest for the perfect pastry.
Kate Reynolds
Kate Reynolds (she/they) is a dorky children’s librarian who somehow became a little bit internet famous. She’s best known to her over 45k followers as The Lavender Librarian and is the founder and director of Storytime Solidarity. Kate was diagnosed with autism in 2020 after years of struggle. Diagnosis was rebirth. In the years since, Kate – like many who share her neurotype – has moved from surviving to thriving. She is now a sought-after speaker, singer, and patient advocate.
In 2021 Kate founded Storytime Solidarity as a Facebook group working in solidarity to make storytime more inclusive. This quickly grew into an international organization run by a Global team of volunteers. Today, the group has over six thousand members on Facebook, an active presence on all social media platforms, and a website welcoming a thousand unique users each week. The Solidarity team also had the honor of presenting the 2023 AB kids series through the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science, as part of their children, libraries and literacy initiative. The chair and series honors the legacy of Augusta Braxton Baker, the first African American, coordinator of the children’s services with NYPL and a role model for librarians.
Kate’s first book, Storytime Deconstructed, co-authored with Illinois resident – and storytime Solidarity deputy director – Rosie Camargo (she/her/ella) will be released in 2025 with ALA Editions. You can also find Storytime Solidarity courses in Niche Academy in late 2024 or early 2025.
In addition to her work in libraries, Kate is also a professional singer and a patient advocate. She travels internationally to share her story of living with multiple rare illnesses. In 2024 she began training as an IFPA Ambassador in Stockholm, Sweden. Kate is a public service Librarian at the Windsor Public Library in Ontario, Canada. She has been working in public libraries since 2010.
Call for Proposals
The Illinois Youth Services Institute (IYSI) call for proposals will open on August 1, 2024. Proposals will be due October 25, 2024.
This Institute is developed in partnership with Illinois Library Association, LACONI Youth Services, Reaching Across Illinois Library System, and Illinois Heartland Library System.
IYSI 2025 Planning Committee
Co-Chairs
Tina Ruszala, Palos Heights Public Library
Alissa Janchenko, New Lenox Public Library
Members
Jess Alexander, Morton Grove Public Library
Ann Baillie, Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library
Sara Bell, Dunlap School District
Lyndsey Carney, Normal Public Library
Leah Gregory, Illinois Heartland Library System
Andie Kelch, Brimfield Library
Kate Kite, Illinois Heartland Library System
Margae Schmidt, Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System
Staff Liaison
Kristin Pekoll, ILA Conference and Continuing Education Manager
Becca Boland, ILA & iREAD Content and Development Manager
Join the Conversation! #IYSI2025
iREAD Summer Reading Programs
Latest Library JobLine Listings
