Following the high-energy “Jurassic Spark” theme, 27 youth services librarians from across Wyoming gathered to ignite new ideas and stomp out old routines.
The May 2026 YSIG Mini-Conference at Natrona County Library was anything but “extinct!” From data-driven insights to popcorn recipes, the event left everyone energized for a summer of innovation.
Triceratops ring-toss, anyone?
The main event took place at Natrona County Library, beginning at 9:00 am with the Prehistoric Plenary and Mesozoic Mixer. This business meeting and icebreaker set a collaborative tone for the day. Joanne Pruitt presented critical SRP findings from 14 Wyoming counties. Along with her data, she shared a wealth of resources now available to all libraries across the state to help spark success in local communities.
Chelsie Troutman gave the grand tour of Natrona County Library’s Creation Station.
Guest speaker Russell Hawley from the Tate Geological Museum at Casper College shared his expertise on essential books and literature related to paleontology and archaeology, giving librarians fresh ideas for their non-fiction collections.
Chelsie Troutman led a behind-the-scenes tour of the Natrona County Library, featuring the Creation Station. Attendees were treated to a live demonstration of the Glowforge and Cricut machines, showcasing how modern maker-tech can bring prehistoric themes to life.
Breakout sessions gave participants a chance to connect with those working with similar age groups.
Brittney Helm, youth services specialist at the Albany County Public Library, shared valuable strategies in her session, “Prehistoric Programming on Pennies.” Librarians looking for cost-effective ways to bring dynamic youth programming to their branch can find her full slideshow here.
Three different popcorn recipes? Yes, please!
To wrap up the day with a “spark” of flavor, Angel Capone Evans demonstrated the “Kitchen-a-la-Cart” teen program, sharing three different creative recipes for popcorn that are perfect for budget-friendly teen events.
The event left everyone energized for their upcoming summer reading programs and a year of renewed excitement for youth literacy.