Some programs, like LEGO Club, are automatically going to be a hit. Unfortunately, book-centered programs are sometimes not so popular. To change this, I decided to do a program based on the beloved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. I had originally planned to set this up in stations, but based on the number of kids who attended and the fact that I did not have volunteer help, we did each activity as a group. The first activity was Pin the Booger on Greg Heffley. In the format of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, kids stuck “boogers” made of tacky poster adhesive to a poster of the character. Next was the Rowley Jefferson bean bag toss. I drew the character’s face on a large piece of foam board and cut out the mouth. Kids took turns trying to toss bean bags through the mouth. We then moved to tables for writing and drawing activities such as a trivia contest, a Pictionary-style guessing game, and shared comic drawing. Afterward, we did a team mummy wrap with toilet paper. At the end of the program, I drew names to win free Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. It was a fun program that attracted both boys and girls in the upper elementary crowd.
Examples of Work
Story Time Crafts
Summer Reading Program 2013
The theme of the summer reading program this year was Dig Into Reading. Program highlights included worms in the library (partnership with Community CROPS), bulldozers in the parking lot (partnered with Public Works), and pigeons in story time (Mo Willems Book Day).
One of the programs I planned was Mo Willems Book Day. I created giant cutouts of Pigeon, Elephant, and Piggie for photos, set up three book-related craft stations, and had Teen Advisory Board volunteers read books aloud for one hour of the day. Over two hundred people participated in the activities throughout the day.
Heavy Equipment Petting Zoo
Heavy Equipment Day for the Summer Reading Program 2013. The library worked with the city public works department to bring equipment to the library. After a construction-themed storytime, families went outside to see and touch the vehicles. I think the public works employees had as much fun as the kids!
Staffing the Library Booth
Library Outreach at the Farmers Market
School Visits 2013
As the end of the school year approaches, youth services staff is busy visiting schools to talk about the Summer Reading Program. This week I am visiting three different elementary schools and talking to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. I explain how to sign up for the program, how it works, the programs, and, of course, the prizes. We also talk about how to sign up for a library card and what to do if you lose your card. After questions, I tell a short story. To the younger grades this year, I told “The Rolling Pancake,” a spinoff of “The Gingerbread Man,” in which a renegade pancake escapes seven hungry children and six hungry birds, but finally falls victim a devious fox. To the older grades, I told a scary story called “Who Will Keep Me Company?” in which a lonely old woman who longs for a visitor finally gets one. (I love making the kids jump!)
References
De Las Casas, D. & Lisette, S. (2009). Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
De Las Casas, D. & Lisette, S. (2011). Tell Along Tales: Playing with Participation Stories. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
Databases scavenger hunt
In an attempt to familiarize my coworkers with our databases, I developed a scavenger hunt for our annual staff in-service. I chose six databases I use most often and created reference questions that could be answered with information from those databases.
Click the link below to view the class handout.
Adult Craft Program
For the adult summer reading program in 2012, I planned a make-and-take craft program for adults. There were four stations with a different craft at each including, a book page broach, a duct tape lanyard, a clothespin magnet, and a fabric rose. Our budget was $50 to purchase enough supplies to have the program at two different library branches. I made an instruction sheet for each craft station.
Click the link below to view.
Find It on the Web presentation
On October 6, 2011, I presented at the Nebraska Library Association annual conference. I shared free online resources to use at the library. Approximately 50 people attended the 50-minute presentation.
Find the list of resources I discussed here.
Find the PowerPoint presentation here.
Family Story Time: School Trouble
This is an example of a family story time I did in March 2013. Children of all ages are welcome at this story time, but most of those who come regularly are in early elementary.
Click the link below to view the plan.
Bethany Grabow- Enthusiastic Librarian 