Refreshing Your Storytime

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Like yesterday's blog post, today's post also explores ways to refresh your approach to themed storytimes. ALSC blogger Jaime Eastman shares her strategies on how to mix things up and re-energize your storytimes. 

Jaime writes: "Have you ever felt stuck in storytime planning? Sometimes, no matter how great a theme or the books, I find myself stuck in a proverbial storytime rut. While it’s great to share favorite stories, I also want to evaluate everything we share to find titles that resonate with our community. This month, I’m borrowing an idea from a colleague and sharing a few tried and tested, some true-to-life, and a few new titles around one of our upcoming storytime themes: Home."

To read how she broke out of her rut with a proposed storytime structure, please stop here. [ Tried, True, New, and You: Home. Eastman, Jaime. ALSC blog. February 2, 2025]

Curing the Idea Slump

Image by sumit kumar from Pixabay

Recently, Wisconsin Librarian Kirsten Caldwell wrote in the ALSC blog about ways to fight off "idea fatigue.

Kirsten writes: "Have you ever found yourself in a rut after being creative nonstop in our job? As librarians, we’re constantly brainstorming new programs, crafts, and storytime themes. But sometimes, the well runs dry. It’s tough to keep coming up with fresh ideas, and that’s okay! Here’s what I do when I find myself with idea fatigue."

To read her tips on reinvigorating your idea generating activity, please stop here. [Idea Fatigue. Caldwell, Kirsten. ALSC blog. February 8, 2025.]

Genius Re-Use: Dry Erase Reserve Slips

Rebecca McCorkindale from the Gretna (NE) Public Library blogs and has a website at Hafuboti,  She shared a super clever idea in her newsletter this week.  

If you want to subscribe to her newsletter, published occasionally, simply subscribe and be among the first to get the news! You can also find her archived newsletters at her website/blog plus more ideas, her "Libraries Are for Everyone" downloadable graphics in multiple languages, her Etsy shop and so much more.

Rebecca writes: "This was one of those ideas that had me facepalming because of its simple elegance: dry erase reserve slips!" She continues: 

"Team members Adina and Jamie came up with the core idea. Then after using them for a few months, we made minor tweaks - such as having the slips be horizontal at the Main Library. Stuff like that. We also used old audiobook cases that we added strong magnets to as patron name alpha-spacers. We don't have a metal shelf for reserves at the Children's Library, so the slips remain vertical. To save on rubber bands, we write the number of holds the patron has in the slip's upper left-hand corner. Their items will be to the right of the initial slipped item. It's an easy adjustment if more items are added. ⇠This is what the slips look like. Basic and to-the-point. We use 5 mil laminating sheets and they've held up fine.

One more thing: take a look at the top picture. We created that LEGO reserve supplies holder for the Children's Library and it has been perfect. You can't tell from the image, but there are two dry erase marker holders on it. And the black rectangle is a dry erase marker eraser. We added the side "shelf" to it after two boys brought in a jar of paper flowers on the day that our building reopened to the public. The wrapper says "We  the Library." ::wipes away teardrop:: And so it has pride of place on our back desk. I mean, it totally matches the LEGOs, and is a reminder that people do love all that is the library." Stop here to read her full newsletter and see more detailed pictures of the above idea!

ALL.THE.THINGS. with Jonathan Dolce - July 2021

Just as we are hitting the mid SLP doldrums, ALSC's Jonathan Dolce comes to the rescue with a boatload of free resources; tips on upcoming comics; art projects; youth librarian news-you-can-use; teen sneak peeks; bad jokes; streaming media; online games; stuff for parents; STEAM stuff  and oh, so, so, so much more.

Check out his mega-post at the ALSC blog and get your idea-generator refreshed!

Get Crafty at Home with Picture Books

Maureen Schlosser over at Knowledge Quest has shared a great list of picture book-inspired crafts and ideas for families to keep busy during stay at home.  From Susan L. Roth's Birds of a Feather: Bower Birds and Me to A Life Made By Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa, Schlosser's suggestions could easily be translated into take and make kits or craft video follow-alongs for the families in your community!  Check out the full article HERE.

Idea Diving

Being of a curious, creative, and information-seeking bent, I naturally look for new ideas, projects, and inspiration in a variety of places. Here I have gathered links to a few of the places I've been idea diving lately. What is idea diving you may say? It's a term I just coined for the process of diving into ideas and exploring them - just like scuba diving there are recreational dives and professional dives. The depth and range of a dive will vary based on the interests and purpose of the diver or mission. So join me in idea-diving and please share some of your favorite diving locations in the comments.

Pop Goes the Page blog and Pinterest page by "Dana Sheridan (a.k.a. Dr. Dana), creator of Pop Goes the Page. I’m also the Education & Outreach Coordinator of the Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University. My library offers a number of story times, programs, and workshops, many of which you will find described on this blog. They’ve all been “field tested,” so feel free to replicate them in your own library, classroom, or home!" (About page)

Flannel Friday blog and Pinterest page which "celebrates and supports the art and skill of storytime by: sharing ideas; fostering community; and supporting professional development." (Mission page)

Laughing Kids Learn blog and Pinterest page where it's all about "sharing activities and ideas that make learning fun for kids!" (Pinterest tagline)

As I See It blog where Vivian the Librarian blogs about "observations on library services to children and young adults from experiences in smaller and larger public libraries in Idaho," including storytime and baby storytime plans. (Blog tagline)

Ideas and Free Literacy Kits

I'm always on the lookout for great ideas to implement at my library. Recently, I was reminded of a free resource called Curious City DPW. The folks at Curious City produce free KidLit programming guides, hold giveaways, produce a podcast, have a Facebook page, and have a mission to connect kids of all ages and literature.

Some highlights include a Quick, Little Monkey storytime kit, book club kits, community service project ideas, and more. It's worth exploring to see what you can glean and put to use whether you are serving the very young, school-agers, or teens and tweens.

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

When's the next [insert series] coming out?

I love pinterest. If you don't know what I'm talking about then you need to check it out. www.pinterest.com
I use it for recipes, DIY projects, tattoos, and especially library ideas. I am nothing if not a nerd and I embrace it. 
I saw this pin today. And feel the need to share the love

And who wouldn't love a blog titled, "Smells Like Library"

I love the whiteboard idea. Especially with book covers. Sometimes a series book comes out YEARS after the last one and by then fickle kids may have forgotten how much they enjoyed the series. This is a perfect way to provide readers advisory and keep new books fresh in their mind. And it's easy to update. My only change is that I would include the author. 

Now my library has two separate areas for Juvenile and YA? Do I get one white board or two?