Do you find yourself sitting on oodles of prepared crafts without a purpose? Perhaps they're leftover from a story time or program and--while there aren't enough to utilize again in a different setting--you still would like to find a use for them? (After all, you did all the hard work of creating and prepping things!) What's a Youth Services Librarian to do?
Consider making them into circulating craft kits!
At a system-wide Youth Services meeting last spring, the lovely Tricia from Waterford mentioned that they had started circulating pre-made craft kits and had seen an amazing response from their patrons! Right then, I knew I wanted to implement something like this at my library. (Our patrons are avid crafters.) What's really great about this particular offering is that, other than staff time and the initial set up, you can do it at practically no cost! SAY WHAT?!
Here's the basic idea:
Patrons check out a bag (or envelope or what-have-you) that contains all the pieces necessary to create a particular craft. They take the craft home, make it, and return the bag to the library. Then, the bag is refilled with a new craft and the cycle starts all over again. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!
You can tweak the bag--and its contents--to suit the needs of your individual library, both in terms of patron ease, budget, and craft reproduction. Some libraries may opt to give step by step instructions; whereas our library chose to include a picture of the completed craft, along with both a title and the suggestion to check out other books or materials to complement the project.
You may also opt to include glue sticks or other materials with your kit, or to instead choose to provide them with the necessary pieces specific to the project and have them use glue/scissors/etc. from home.
There are so many ways you can customize this special collection, should you opt to incorporate it in your library! Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun!
