Virtual and Offline Programming for Summer and Beyond

Librarian Bookends Facebook page image

This is a "best of" post combining some of our earliest resources shared at the beginning of the pandemic (remember back in the old days of mid-March?!?!). As libraries closed and staff scrambled to settle in working from home and staying close to family, the YSS blog pushed out information to help connect everyone to resources. 

Now, as libraries prepare to re-open, many of us are looking for ways to continue to connect virtually and offline especially during the summer. We thought it would be a good time to share some of the best of the resources in the original six posts we published in mid-March.

While much of the following highlight virtual ideas, there are also links to printables for activity kits to hand out to families inside of these posts. Also check out our recent posts on offline programs and grab & go kits too for more offline ideas!

Jbrary has a great list of content for Storytime Online

Scholastic Learn-at-Home - ideas to use for off-line activities or grab-and-go activity kits

Librarian Bookends FB page - daily "fridge magnet" of author/illustrator/celebratory read-alouds

Virtual Field Trips - museums, parks and monuments, zoos, space and more

SLJ - Resources for Learning at Home While We're Keeping Each Other Safe

Some really great resources in this rich blog post from Imagination Soup.

Teen Librarian Toolbox shares online resources

Great activities at NASA's Earth Observatory site

Brooklyn Public Library has a great page for families with support, tips and learning links 

Original posts for further exploration:

Library Closed? Online Programming Content 3/16/20; updated 3/26/20

Schools Closed? Share These Online Resources  3/14/20

Staying Home? More Online Content  3/16/20

Staying Safe?  Online Programming Resources 3/18/20

Hanging in There? Library Programming Resources  3/18/20

Feeling Creative? Online Library Program Resources  3/19/20

Virtual & Offline Programming YSS blog COVID-19 series:

• Innovative Solutions for Connecting with Kids During COVID 10/25/21
• Virtual Teen Escape Room Book Club  10/22/21
• Making Digital Escape Rooms   11/23/20
• How to be a Better Video Presenter  11/2/20
• Storytime on the Road!   10/15/20
• How to Do Halloween During COVID-19  9/28/20
• Recharging Your “To-Go” Services  9/9/20
• Youth Services Program Palooza webinar 6/8/20
• Digital Escape Rooms – the Holy Grail  5/26/20
• Virtual and Offline Programs for Summer and Beyond  5/6/20 (combines & updates 6 previous resource post)
• “Grab-&-Go” Activity Kit Ideas  5/5/20
• Offline and Feeling Fine: Ideas for Programming Unvirtually  4/29/20
• Beyond E-Storytimes: Virtual Services and Programs for Youth 4/22/20
• Using Premier for Virtual Programming on Facebook 3/24/20