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From books to big impacts: Building lifelong learners with PBS KIDS at the library
April 25, 2025 Leave a Comment
PBS Wisconsin Education hosts a cohort of public library staff each year to train, support and connect Wisconsin library staff learning about and using high-quality PBS KIDS educational media in library programming.
Recently, PBS Wisconsin Education staff collaborated with education partners focusing on early literacy in southwest Wisconsin, including one of our cohort libraries, the Brewer Public Library, to host a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten event. Library director Stacy Pilla sat down to share her experience with the current cohort, results from the event and the longevity of PBS KIDS programming in this space.
PBS Wisconsin: What made you decide to join the PBS KIDS Library Educator and Community Learning Cohort?
Stacy Pilla: I was previously somewhat familiar with PBS educational tools as a resource available to libraries, but it was when I became involved with an early literacy initiative taking shape in southwest Wisconsin called Reading Engagement for Early Learners (REEL) that I had the opportunity to become acquainted with Marci Glaus and Jami Hoekstra Collins of PBS Wisconsin Education, and to learn more about the truly incredible volume of PBS resources available. REEL’s focus is to engage young children and their families in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program and to empower a love of learning through early literacy. The partnership that has developed between REEL, PBS Wisconsin Education and the public library has been a natural fit. Deciding to join the PBS KIDS Library Educator and Community Learning Cohort to further the mission was a logical next step.
PBS Wisconsin Education early learning specialist Jami Hoekstra Collins talks with children making Daniel Tiger puppets.
PBS Wisconsin: We had a great time at the Brewer Public Library 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten event with so many area partners. How did that event serve your community, and how do you see sustaining that momentum?
Pilla: We had a great turnout from our community, and increased participation in our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program by over 600%! Now the key will be to keep the momentum going by encouraging and supporting families of young children to stay on track with reading goals, visit the library often and attend a variety of intentional programs for young children using PBS KIDS resources! This will take consistency on our part as well as continued support from all of our area partners.
PBS Wisconsin: You share space in this cohort with another member of your library! Tell us about how you have worked together to plan for and incorporate PBS KIDS programming in your library.
Pilla: Rachel Wilson is our programming coordinator and is partnering in the effort. My role prior to becoming library director was in youth services. Rachel now has that role (all age groups) as our programming coordinator. As we go forward from the cohort, we want to continue to bring PBS resources into our children’s programming, so of course, Rachel is the person to have on board with me (and she has excellent ideas!).
Coming from a youth services background, I continue to feel strongly as a library director about programming as one of the most important ways for libraries to connect with their communities and I continue to enjoy being involved in programming! When we establish quality connections with our youngest patrons through programming, we stand not only to strengthen early literacy but to help them form a relationship with the public library that can last a lifetime. As Rachel and I work to assemble our library’s first PBS KIDS program with Xavier Riddle as the central character, we’re confident that the quality of the PBS resources can no doubt help us continue to build those kinds of programs.
Children on the alphabet scavenger hunt at the Brewer Public Library during the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten event.
PBS Wisconsin: How has your cohort experience impacted you and your work?
Pilla: Learning about the multi-media resources available and how we can implement them into library programs, as well as sharing the word about them with library families, brings an exciting new element to children’s services. A natural question might be whether encouraging multi-media resources might also encourage screen time. What makes the PBS KIDS resources different from many others is how they are intended to be used by child and parent/caregiver together. The social interaction between child and adult, and the exchange of ideas that happens while using these tools, is what maximizes the learning possibilities. We’re excited to put these tools to work in the library and for the ability of families to use these free resources outside of the library as well.
PBS Wisconsin: Can you share any upcoming PBS KIDS programming you are excited about?
Pilla: Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum at the Brewer Public Library will be happening in May and incorporates the popular “Ordinary People Change the World” series for early readers, which inspired the Xavier Riddle show! Youngsters can learn who’s who in history, play fun games, and win prizes.
PBS Wisconsin: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Pilla: I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the PBS KIDS Library Educator and Community Learning Cohort, as well as the invaluable partnership with PBS gained through REEL.
