• Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – QWERTY Keyboard

    Program Name: QWERTY (digital literacy) What: This could be any number of programs about digital literacy – I was super excited I figured out a “Q” word library program! If you have a small budget and no access to a computer lab, there are ways to create children’s programs on coding…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Passive Programming

    Program Name: DIY Programs What: Passive programs are a librarians best friend when you’re short on staff, space and money. These programs can be super simple and easy to create and allow patrons the chance to participate any time they stop in the library, rather than attending a program on a specific…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Origami

    Program Name: Origami Folding What: We’ve offered this program a few times for our kids and it’s always met with a lot of interest – but, I’d love to try a program with adults as well. Origami is so much fun because of the hands-on nature of creating something beautiful with…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Noon Year's Eve Party

    Program Name: Noon Year’s Eve Countdown What: This is an adorable idea I borrowed from another library as a way for families to celebrate the New Year at a countdown at noon instead of midnight so that the little ones could be awake to celebrate. We’ve done this a couple of times…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Math Madness

    Program Name: Math Madness What: This is a hands-on learning program about math for kids in elementary school. We have found that the kids continue to try and show off they math knowledge, but have very few skills that we would consider math basics. They can name a tetrahedron, but don’t know…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Lunch At the Library

    Program Name: Lunch at the Library What: We haven’t offered this program before, but I can see how it would be a really great way for libraries in urban and suburban communities to draw in a crowd during the week. Offer a program as often as you want – once a week,…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Knit Night

    Program Name: Knit Night What: Knit Night is an easy program to offer the community that allows knitters, crocheters and other textile artists a place to gather, talk, share tips and tricks and spend time working on their craft. We gear this program toward adults, but also allow older children and…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Junior Friends

    Program Name: Junior Friends of the Library What: We’ve had a lot of success with this program and I can’t take the credit as it’s been in existence longer than I’ve been working at the library. Our Junior Friends of the Library is a community service organization for middle school students (grades…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Intergenerational Programs

    Program Name: Tech Night What: This program is offered once a month at my library and involves one-on-one tech support with high school volunteers. These volunteers help adults and seniors make better use of the technology they have – cell phones, tablets and laptops. They’ll teach them how to access Overdrive (to…

  • Activities

    AtoZ Blogging Challenge – Health Fair

    Program Name: Community Health Fair What: This is a program we have tried yet, but one that I think would be hugely popular with the community. I’d love to have professionals in the field that can talk about chronic illness, healthy eating, mental illness and maybe some basic screenings for blood pressure,…