Rage Against the Room

From the article on TLT

Embrace all the feelings and channel teen angst with a DIY Rage Room! Cindy Shutts welcomes Faith Healy onto the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog to lay out a program plan along with feedback on how each station was received.

According to Healy the idea came up "while having a conversation with a co-worker, Sol Perez,  about mental health, we were brainstorming ways to do a program that would help teens as well as get them to want to come. We struggled to find an idea that would balance education with fun enough that teens would actually come.  Randomly she threw out a rage room and we both looked at each other and said that is it."

Read the full article here.

Seems like a great way to utilize supplies many of us have lingering in our work areas and let teens relieve some stress! I could see this type of program going over really well during or after finals. What do you think? Would you offer a Rage Room at your Library or have you already? How'd it go?

[Cindy Crushes Programming: How to turn a conversation about Mental Health into a fun program aka How to do a Teen Rage Room. Shutts, Cindy. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. July 2, 2026. https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/02/cindy-crushes-programming-how-to-turn-a-conversation-about-mental-health-into-a-fun-program-aka-how-to-do-a-teen-rage-room/]

Trivia + Bingo = Trivingo

The Cindy Crushes Programming series is back at it on Teen Librarian Toolbox, sharing a program idea that is easily replicated and adaptable to any theme, this time with Trivingo. The post highlights a teen program hosted by Alison Plaff and Deya Olson featuring a twist on traditional bingo.

Trivingo is a mash-up of bingo and trivia, in the example it's a "Stranger Things" theme. Alison writes, "The idea is a bingo board with answers to trivia questions. A digital wheel is spun with questions. Teens were able to test their knowledge by checking their board to see if they had the answer to the question. The teens would then shout “Bingo!” if they had the correct answer and completed 4 questions vertical, horizontal, or diagonal and win."

The program was a success with the teens and can easily by themed to whatever your local teens are into. Stop here to read the full post and jumpstart planning your own version of Trivingo!

[Cindy Crushes Programming: Stranger Things Trivingo. Shutts, Cindy. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. April 1, 2026. https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/04/01/cindy-crushes-programming-stranger-things-trivingo/]

After School in the Library

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

In a post from Public Libraries Online, Raven Smith writes about teens and 'tweens using the library after school. Smith states, "some libraries have hesitated to fully embrace tween and teen services out of concern for disruption or limited space." Smith encourages libraries to take a different approach, and welcome the kids into their spaces, specifically intentionally creating space and programs for kids after school. 

In the Lansing Public Library, they've created a Teen Island, open every day after school from 3-5. They provide programming, snacks, games and more for kids. They have created a place where teens feel comfortable and welcome. Some of their tips include:

1. Dedicate space intentionally

2. Establish clear expectations

3. Build partnerships

4. Hire relational staff

5. Integrate youth into the broader vision

Read the full article, and more into their tips here.

[Making Space After School: How Lansing (IL) Public Library Serves Teens and Tweens. Smith, R. February 26, 2026. publiclibrariesonline.org.]

Midday Mingle - All About Teens

The next Midday Mingle is coming up quickly!

Image by cottonbro studio from Pexels

We are calling all youth services folk across the state serving the niche (sometimes elusive) but oh-so rewarding audience of teens. Many of us are flying solo in teen services, let's get together to program swap and connect!

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 PM (Zoom Link) to chat about teen services - specifically

 programming.  We will round table topics like:

• What's working for you
• Most successful program in the last year
• Upcoming program you are excited about
• What was a bust
• Back pocket program (programs you have ready to go if needed)
• Passive programs/activities
• Teen spaces
• set up/what's available
• rules
• do you work/program in them
• And anything else you'd like to discuss - the conversation will be driven be the attendees and go wherever is most useful to you!

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a member of YSS or WLA.

 

Time: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link 

 

Can't wait to chat with you all! 

Midday Mingles happen quarterly – expect to see several throughout 2026! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email yss

Midday Mingle Alert - Teens!!!

Image by cottonbro studio from Pexels

We've got another Midday Mingle on the horizon! We are calling all youth services folk across the state serving the niche (sometimes elusive) but oh-so rewarding audience of teens. Many of us are flying solo in teen services, let's get together to program swap and connect!

Join us on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 PM (Zoom Link) to chat about teen services - specifically programming.  We will round table topics like:

• What's working for you
• Most successful program in the last year
• Upcoming program you are excited about
• What was a bust
• Back pocket program (programs you always have ready to go if needed)
• Passive programs/activities
• Teen spaces
• set up/what's available
• rules
• do you work/program in them
• And anything else you'd like to discuss - the conversation will be driven be the attendees and go wherever is most useful to you!

Anyone is welcome at the Midday Mingle! You do not have to be a member of YSS or WLA.

 

Time: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link 

 

Can't wait to chat with you all! 

Midday Mingles happen quarterly – expect to see several throughout 2026! Do you have suggestions/requests for our next topic? Let us know in the comments or email kalford@menomonee-falls.org.

The Genius Files: Will It Waffle?

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:  

Today's genius teen programming idea comes from Rebecca Van Dan at Eager Free Public Library... 

Photo from Amazon.com

Will It Waffle?! 

Based on the eponymous book, Will It Waffle by Daniel Shumski, Rebecca asked her Teen Advisory Board for ideas on what they wanted to try to waffle. 

Here's what Rebecca had to say... "The teens suggested some weirder things that didn't turn out, but it was still fun to experiment. We had 2 waffle irons going: one for savory, one for sweet. The book had some good recommendations to make some of the gooey stuff work like adding panko bread crumbs to the mac and cheese before waffling.  

The teens did suggest some things that would have been super messy—for 2 things that would have been super gooey, I responded they were welcome to try it, but then they'd be in charge of cleaning the waffle maker afterwards. (That made them brainstorm ideas how they could alter the recipe to be not so messy.)  They absolutely LOVED this program!"

If you have any additional questions on this fun program, feel free to email Rebecca!

Dungeons and Dragons beyond the table

Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash

Dungeons and Dragons has had a resurgence in the last few years, and authors of young adult books have taken notice. D&D features heavily in a number of new books for teens and 'tweens. Kelly Jensen writes for Book Riot, "over the last year or so, there's been a swell of D&D appearing within the pages of young adult literature." And, those books aren't limited to one genre. There are romances, fantasies, realistic fiction and more! 

See the list of recommended titles here.

[Roll For It: Dungeons and Dragons in YA. Jensen, Kelly. 11/13/2025. BookRiot.Com]

https://bookriot.com/roll-for-it-dungeons-and-dragons-in-ya/

Video Games IRL

Image by María_Alberto from Pixabay

Cindy Shutts crushes another teen program on the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog! She covers a couple fandoms with ideas for Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, and Among Us programs for teens and tweens.

Read the whole post here. And let us know if you try out any of these ideas!

[Cindy Crushes Programming: Video Games in Real Life . Cindy Shutts. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. October 30, 2025.]

Youth Programming Workshop in Madison

The annual South Central Library System (SCLS) Youth, Teen, & Tween workshop will be held next Thursday, November 13 from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM, and you and your colleagues are invited to attend! The event will be held at Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison. 

Here's the schedule for the day:

9:00 - 9:15 AM Coffee & Conversation

 

9:15 AM - 12:00 PM  

 

The Library as Time Machine: Using Historical Fiction to Create Library Programs for Youth 

Presenter: Eileen Schnabel, author of the Kep Westguard historical fiction series

 

Eileen will introduce ways that libraries can use historical fiction to engage communities, foster intergenerational learning, and build partnerships. Attendees will gain practical strategies for implementing history-themed programs, hosting immersive events, and using storytelling to inspire lifelong learning. This workshop will provide actionable tools to help libraries connect readers with history in creative ways while strengthening their role as community hubs.

 

12:00 - 1:00 PM  Lunch & Networking   

 

Lunch will be the Taco Bar ($15) from Cranberry Creek and includes gluten-free and vegetarian options. You may also bring your own lunch (no refrigerator available). Libraries will be invoiced after the event.

 

1:00 - 3:30 PM  

 

Unearth the Stories Beneath Our Feet: Homegrown Programs for Teens and Tweens

Presenter: Shawn Brommer, SCLS, and Friends

 

Shawn Brommer and colleagues from across the system will share program suggestions, activity examples, book-centered programs, and other ideas that libraries can implement during the summer of 2026 and into the future. By focusing on concepts of the past, present, and future, earth science, alternative histories and futures, and other innovative themes, participants will leave the workshop with program ideas and step-by-step instructions for programs that teens and tweens will DIG.

Register here!

Free Library Programs and Trademarks Webinar

Image by Alexa from Pixabay

WLA Members are invited to a free webinar hosted by the Outreach Services Round Table. To register, visit https://wla.memberclicks.net/outreach.

Teardrops on my 

Trademarked Library Program
Monday, November 10, 2:00 pm

Bluey Celebrations! Taylor Swift Parties! What can you include? What will get you a cease-and-desist letter? Attend this webinar to discuss the copyright and trademark implications to help you craft your next popular library program! Note: We are not lawyers but well-read librarians!

This webinar will be recorded.

Kelly Nelson
Coordinator of Library Development | Bridges Library System

Creating Middle School Age Mystery Programs

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

In a recent ALSC blog post, Anne Bailie broke down how she began creating mystery programs for tweens and teens at her library. With links, advice and experience, she explores how you too can run a successful mystery program and engage your audience.

Click here to read the post [The Clues to Running a Great Mystery Program. Bailie, Anne. ALSC blog. August 21, 2025]

DIY Stickers

Looking for a low-cost, fun, maker-y activity for teens (and tweens)?  Try DIY stickers! All it takes is parchment paper, unlined paper, coloring tools, and scissors. In her most recent post on Teen Librarian Toolbox, Karen Jensen (with an assist from her own teen) details the process. 

She writes, "Like a lot of teens today, my teen is obsessed with stickers. She also loves to spend her free time coloring. Thus, she started making her own hand-colored stickers in a very low-tech way. She saw people making their own on social media and adapted the process in a way that works for her. Today she’s walking us through the steps."

This is a back pocket activity I have out for a lot of teen and tween events. I keep a container with the supplies, a few image suggestions, and the instructions ready to go in the teen space. It's worked pretty well and can be adapted to a lot of different programs. I've used it during Anime Club, Minecraft and Five Nights at Freddy's events, Teen Hangouts, and many more. It's also an easy craft to take to school visits. This summer is a perfect time to give it a try! Color Our World by coloring your own stickers!

The teens/tweens we have mainly draw their own images or trace from their phones as described in Jensen's post. However, it's a good idea to have a few suggestions if they aren't artistically inclined or don't have a device.  The suggestions I use are from Canva's free image library (it is a Pro account through our Friends group). 

I've included my instruction sheet and an example suggestion sheet below. Happy stickering!

Instructions

Suggestion sheet

Stop here to read Karen's full post. [Teen Makerspace: DIY Color Your Own Stickers, Low Tech. Karen Jensen. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. June 17, 2025.]

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor with Hunger Games Programming

With the release of the newest Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, the dystopian series is back in the spotlight (thought it never really left it) and it's a great time to host a Hunger Games program for teens! 

Cindy Shutts has you covered in her recent post on the Teen Librarian Toolbox. Compiling programs and activities across a couple libraries, she writes, "This series of programs was a success and I hope we can do more programming like this in the future. Teens seemed to be excited about the programs and overall was very well received! It made it easier to advertise and get kids excited to come."

The post details crafts like a mockingjay paint along and Hunger Games pendants as well as other activities like trivia and survival knot tying.

Stop here to read the whole post.  [Cindy Crushes Programming: Hunger Games Week, a celebration of the Dystopian series still thrilling teen readers. Cindy Shutts. Teen Librarian blog. May 21, 2025.]

And if you are still looking for Hunger Games ideas check out Karen Jensen's suggestions from 2011 here. [Feed Their Hunger for the Hunger Games. Karen Jensen. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. July 19, 2011.]

Recipe for a Teen Program

The Teen Librarian Toolbox dishes up another teen program this time with a focus on recipes!  In the recent post, Karen Jensen pitches a recipe preserving program where tweens and teens can save family recipes through personalized recipe cards. She writes, "This isn’t the typical type of program I put together for tweens and teens, it has a lot of nostalgia built into it. But I have often found that our tweens and teens are yearning for connections and traditions in ways that we often overlook, and this is an unique way to meet that need."

She suggests different ways to present the program besides focusing on family (emphasizing nutritional literacy or rolling it into an Adulting 101 series) and provides Canva templates for the recipe cards.

If the teens at your library are anything like mine (and I know they are), they are all about food during programs.  I'd serve this program up with an easy recipe they can make during the event. Have access to a microwave?  Make mug cake! Got a griddle or waffle iron?  Great time to bring it out! Only have an electric kettle?  It makes pretty good ramen!

Let us know if you try out this program!

Stop here to read the full post [MakerSpace: Preserving Family Recipes in the Library, Karen Jensen. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. April 21, 2025.]  

It's a Hit! Musical Bingo!

Musical Bingo is a fun twist on the classic game using song titles in place of letters and numbers. And I can’t recommend it enough as a low-cost and low-prep teen program.

I hosted my first Musical Bingo for teens last summer after seeing a post about it on the Teen Services Underground Facebook page by Megan Reddin. She details how she runs the event (coming up with themes, compiling a playlist, creating bingo cards, and gathering prize options).

Since running the program last year, my teens have requested Musical Bingo over and over again. We have a weekly Wednesday teen program and Musical Bingo has become a regular in our rotation of activities. While I usually get between 15–22 teens a week, I find that Musical Bingo will draw in teens that don’t normally attend or participate in the organized activities. 

Example Musical Bingo sheet

I’m always shocked by the songs they know, and it’s incredibly wholesome when the whole room starts singing along.  Their excitement for Musical Bingo continues to surprise me. After our last game, they asked if they could start compiling a list based on their favorite songs. Absolutely, they can 😊

For our next game, all the song lists will be put together by the teens, and I’ll make the boards and provide the prizes. Naturally, a sing-along will break out and fun will be had by all! 

Let us know if you try it out in your teen programming!

To read more about Musical Bingo, visit the Megan's original post on the Teen Services Underground Facebook group.

Mini-Book Shelf Making Program for Teens

Image - Cindy Shutts

Ever wonder what to do with all those Altoid mints tins you and other library staff have been collecting? Well, your wait is over. Cindy Schutts who writes the "Cindy Crushes Programming" column over at SLJ's Teen Librarian Toolbox has the answer. She created a DIY program for teens that helps them create tiny bookshelves inside each box.

Read on to find out what you need and how to prep for this fun and crafty program for teens. [Cindy Crushes Programming: Mini Bookshelves. Shutts, Cindy. Teen Librarian Toolbox blog. School Library Journal. January 1, 2025.]

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. 

Teen Playground Program

In a recent Teen Librarian Toolbox post, Cindy Shutts who writes the Cindy Crushes Programming series (and she does crush it!), shared how she created a very popular program for her teens by making play the focus.

Cindy writes: "I had the idea of creating a teen playground in the library after years of seeing teens who often just wanted to roll on the floor. Why not let them use the library as a playground? So for an hour and a half after library hours one day, we made it happen. I did this program after hours so as not to disturb library patrons and to give this the real playground feeling."

To read her clever ideas and tips for this program, please stop here. [Cindy Crushes Programming: Teen Playground. Shutts, Cindy. SLJ Teen Library Toolbox blog. August 21, 2024.]

Taylor Swift Party

Every so often as I go back through my efiles, I find a forgotten post that I meant to share earlier (oops). High time for this one to see the light of day. Marge

A Taylor Swift Party for kids? Yes, please. In this ALSC blog post swiftie and ALSC blogger Amy Steinbauer breaks down her wildly successful "Shake It Off" themed Taylor Swift karaoke party held at the library.

Amy writes: "In celebration of her new album, I threw a Swiftie karaoke program at the library! In the past, the Swift events have been more geared towards teenagers and that has left a lot of younger patrons out of the fun, so I wanted to correct that. I opened it up to all ages, and it was super popular with the under nine year old patrons and teens."

Please click here to read the details she provides. ["Shake It Off" Taylor Swift-themed Karaoke at the Library. Steinbauer, Amy. ALSC blog. May 2, 2024.]

Money to Spare? 10 Must-Have Items for Programming

Thanks to Angela Meyers of Bridges Library System for this link!

Have you ever found yourself with an unexpected windfall of cash for programming that needs to be spent? Well, Adrienne De Luna at Creative Chronicles blog has some marvelous tips on gear and items you can spend those extra bucks on to make your youth programming easier. 

Please stop here to read her shopping list with links to sources for each item! [Top Ten Must-Have Items for Teen and Youth Library Programming. De Luna, Adrienne. Creative Chronicles blog. May 9, 2024].