The Genius Files - Library Resource Calendar

Kate Davis, YSS Board Member and Programming Consultant for the Prairie Lakes Library System has introduced a new new email blast for her library system called The Genius Files. Here's the newest edition:

The Genius Files are back! This week's genius idea came from a suggestion by Waterford's Jessica Keisler: a resource calendar with library-relevant observances, dates, weeks, etc.

She asked for it, so I ran with it! The calendar now includes the following topics:

• Library & Books

• Children & Families

• Nature / Outdoors

• Environment

• Food Fun

• Culture

• Wellness & Kindness

• Movie release dates

• Display Themes

View the calendar here!

This calendar is a work in progress, so if you have ideas to add, please email me at kdavis@prairielakes.info! It will also be up on the PLLS site shortly.

I hope this inspires you! Happy library-ing!

Centering Teen Programming and RA Around the Calendar

Karen Jensen, who writes at SLJ's Teen Librarian Toolbox blog, recently - and very generously - shared the calendar resources she has gathered that help her plan programs, displays and more.

From DEI calendars and upcoming movies/TV shows to book related posts, she has you covered.

Karen writes: "Throughout my 30+ years of working with youth and teens in libraries, I have compiled dates of interest for doing programming and reader’s advisory. I started creating a running list years ago, and now I have a pretty solid spreadsheet of dates that I can use to put together programs and promotions on a theme. And because it’s a spreadsheet – I do love a good spreadsheet – I can easily add dates, sort dates, etc. I can keep track of what I’ve done, how it’s worked, and more."

To read the entire post with links and annotations as well as her personal 12 month calendar of notable dates to help with programming/RA, please stop here. [Take 5: Reader's Advisory Calendar Sources to Help Plan Your RA Throughout the Year. Jensen, Karen. SLJ's Teen Librarian Toolbox. December 26, 2024.]

Karen and the writers at the blog also encourage you to share your RA tips, tricks and tools as part of the 2025 Project The Year of RA. Find out more here. 

Literary Holidays to Wrap Your Programs Around

The 5 Minute Librarian blog is one of my go-to places for ideas.

Recently, they gathered a list of literary "holidays" that happen throughout the year. It's a great way to pop programs, displays and initiatives in that support reading, literacy and your collections!

May-June-July Literacy Calendars

We're all in the thick of school visits promoting the library and last minute preparations (or vacations!).

Now is a great time to download your May- July early lit calendars to have them available for family fun this summer! YSS members Elizabeth Timmins, Abby Bussen and Ashley Thiem Menning have a host of easy day-to-day activities to support summer preschool activity!

You can download the entire calendar in either small 8.5" x 11" or 11" x 17" poster size free at the YSS section of the WLA website. Feel free to make it available to your patrons or post around your library!

Ideas and Inspiration

The BookNLibrary Blogs list on the right contains lots of resources for ideas and inspiration. Another quick resource available online is the web resources page at LibrarySparks. From a chock-full calendar of ideas to bibliographies and a webliography, it is a fast way to gather ideas for displays, storytimes, or programs.

Pixabay image