WiLS Events

Meetings, webinars, and conferences created and hosted by WiLS

WiLSWorld Shorts

WiLSWorld Shorts are free webinars that connect all different types WiLS community members around important issues, foster the exchange of ideas, and help members form professional networks to get done what they need to get done.

Annual Member Meetings

WiLS’ virtual Membership Meetings are an opportunity to hear from voices within the WiLS community as well as a recap of what WiLS is up to and is going to be up to in the coming months.

Taco Tuesdays

WiLS Taco (Talking about Coop Opportunities) Tuesdays are free and virtual webinars served in bite-sized pieces so our members can learn about the valuable products and services being offered by our vendor partners.

Our community is an ecosystem that thrives when we recognize our value to one another.

We invite your organization to join WiLS and become an official part of our community of more than 700 organizations. WiLS membership is free and comes with no obligations. You can opt out at any time. Read more about the perks of joining WiLS or fill out this form to join today! A WiLS staffer will follow up as soon as possible with more information about your membership benefits.

Upcoming Events

August 11, 2026
August 14, 2026

  • WiLSWorld Shorts: Connectivity You Can Count On – Mobile Beacon Through WiscNet

    August 14, 2026  1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CT

    Reliable internet is a vital resource that’s not only necessary to maintain library operations; it’s sought out by community members who visit the library. WiscNet, which provides research and education networking services to hundreds of libraries across the state, sees Mobile Beacon as a connectivity solution that can act as backup internet and/or support internet lending programs.

    This 4G/5G internet service provides mobile internet access via hotspots or SIM cards, and it’s also extremely affordable to WiscNet members. Attend the next edition of WiLSWorld Shorts on Friday, August 14th at 1:00 pm CT to discover how Mobile Beacon could work for your library, learn more about nonprofits WiscNet and Mobile Beacon, and ask questions about the service already in use by more than 100 WiscNet members.

    Register to attend.

August 25, 2026
September 8, 2026
September 18, 2026

  • WiLSWorld Shorts: Digitizing Community Collections at America’s Black Holocaust Museum

    September 18, 2026  1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CT

    Join us on Friday, September 18th at 1:00 pm CT for the next WiLSWorld Shorts as staff and interns from America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) in Milwaukee share about their work to digitize and share the museum’s collections.

    This summer, a team of ABHM interns has been digitizing materials that document Black community history in Milwaukee, from the Beckum Stapleton Little League to oral histories with museum stakeholders. Bringing these hidden gems online expands access to stories that might otherwise stay tucked away in boxes, especially as the museum prepares to move its collections to a new home. They have also been working on an exhibit with the Wisconsin Black Historical Society focused on the types of racist memorabilia that both museums are charged with collecting. This has posed difficult questions about how much of this material museums should collect, what people should do with the racist memorabilia they inherit, and how to preserve and share these artifacts without reinforcing stereotypes.

    Mia Phifer, Senior Education, Collections, and Outreach Coordinator, and members of the intern team will share what they’ve learned along the way: how they’ve built and sustained trust with donors and community members whose stories these collections hold, and what it means to steward and share difficult history. They’ll also touch on how support from the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative and the WiLS Ideas to Action Fund helped this work take root.

    Register to attend

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September 22, 2026
October 6, 2026
October 20, 2026
November 3, 2026
November 17, 2026
December 1, 2026

WiLS is dedicated to providing collaborative and community experiences that are free from all forms of harassment and inclusive of all people. Please, be kind.
See our Code of Conduct for details.

Past Events

Peer Council

Peer Council was an assembly of technical services librarians in Wisconsin. The WiLS Peer Council meetings are an opportunity to learn new things, share information with peers, and interact with a diverse group with shared common interests.
2019  |  2018  |  2017  |  2016  |  2015  |  2010

WiLSWorld Conferences

WiLSWorld was an annual library innovation, collaboration, and technology conference hosted by WiLS that brought together libraries and cultural organizations of all types to learn about shared challenges and solutions.
2019  |  2018  |  2017  |  2016  |  2015  |  2014  |  2013  | 2012  |  2011  |  2010

Regional Community Meetings

These gatherings of members from all library types were held in multiple locations around the state and allowed attendees to share ideas and collaborate with one another.
2017  |  2016  |  2015  |  2014  |  2013

WiLS Fall Classic

Held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference, this fun, free, and informal event connected librarians with one another and with library vendors over various games and social activities.

2017  |  2016  |  2015  |  2014

Webinar: Using ACRL Frames in Your Instructional Design

This free webinar on how to use the ACRL Frames in your instructional design was hosted by WiLS and presented by Sheila Stoeckel, ‎Director of the UW-Madison Libraries Teaching & Learning Programs.
2016

Upper Midwest Digital Collections Conference

An opportunity for digital content creators and curators to network, share best practices and learn from leaders in the digital cultural heritage field. WiLS co-sponsored this biennial conference in collaboration with partners in the region through 2016.
2016 | 2014

ILL Meeting

This was an annual gathering of interlibrary loan librarians to review issues, new developments, and systems for interlibrary ILL services.
2015  | 2014  |  2012  |  2011  |  2010

Updating Library Spaces – A Learning Day

A single-day workshop hosted by WiLS, in conjunction with the McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua, the Soldiers Grove Public Library, and Engberg Anderson, to learn about the process of building or renovating library spaces including two library tours.
2015

WiLS Spring Webinars

In conjunction with our partner OCLC, WiLS offered four webinars in 2014:  Library Spotlight; OCLC Updating – A Sharing Session; Using the WorldCat Knowledge Base to Save Time and Improve Service; and Best Practices for Managing “Born Digital” Content.
2014

WiLS Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be made at least two business days prior to the event in order to receive a refund. If a registrant cancels less than two working days prior to the date of the event, the registrant remains responsible for payment; no fees will be refunded. We are unable to refund Eventbrite fees. These fees include a service fee from Eventbrite (2% + $0.99 per ticket) as well as credit card processing fees (3%).

A substitute may take the place of the original registrant, but either the registrant or their institution is responsible for coordinating and communicating changes to WiLS. Cancellations and/or substitutions may be reported to WiLS at information@wils.org.

If an event is canceled by WiLS, due to low registration or inclement weather, registrants will be notified and all fees will be refunded.