Here We Grow! Mystery Seed Kits

Looking for a program that's easy, low-cost, and sure to please?  Why not try a Mystery Seed program?

While perusing the Storytime Underground Facebook group, I came across a post from a Melissa A. who wanted to share her idea for a "Mystery Seed Event" where her patrons would participate in a storywalk and would then be given "biodegradable pots ready with soil, growth charts, and a packet of seeds with nothing but basic instructions."  

image credit: Melissa Appley

I LOVED the idea!  Not only was it a fun way to get the kiddos interested in the joy of gardening, but it also tied in perfectly with my library's new Seed Library!  So, I decided to rework the program to best suit my needs.

Aram will be revisiting socially distanced, in-person programming for the summer, but we're not at that stage yet...so I decided to create a passive event instead--sort of a growing make-and-take, if you will--and tied it into the school district's spring break.

For marketing, we promoted the kits on our various social media channels, our website, and with posters in the library itself and the response has been quite positive!  

I did encourage the kids to let me know how things were growing (#sorrynotsorry #punsfordays) so here's hoping I have some excited folks showing me their wee sprouts soon!

DIY Fidget Spinner

Fidget Spinner (Pixabay)

The latest craze in my town is fidget spinners. A month ago I didn't see any. Now they are everywhere. The fidget spinner is promoted as stress-relieving toy and as helping people, especially with ADHD, autism, and anxiety, to focus.

During my SRP promotional visits to the schools, kids are asking if we can have them as prizes for summer reading. The answer is no because I have no budget. But, there might be a DIY version that would work great in program or as a passive craft station in the library. The folks at Red Ted Art have delivered to us budget-depleted librarians an easy DIY fidget spinner. It uses my favorite, very plentiful, free thing in the world - cardboard!

Have you made a fidget spinner in a program? Share your success, tips, and instructions in the comment section.

Passive Programming for Little Ones

Pixabay

ALSC blog is a wonderful resource for all aspects of children's services, especially programming. One post recently caught my attention because it focused on passive programming for toddlers and preschoolers. I had been searching for ideas to freshen up my offerings for that age group. I also had an eye out for ideas that weren't too staff intensive

Guest blogger Natalie Braham of the Denver Public Library detailed her branch's experience with their early literacy passive program in the post "Passive programming and early literacy: designing creative spaces for young learners".  The staff wanted to add play opportunities, especially in the colder months, but did not want to use staff to monitor the room. Caregivers were required to be in the room. They also struggled with finding toys that would work for ages 6 months to 5 years old. I have also experience this program in my search for toys for in-library use.

Their program is up and running and they are looking to expand it.  I'm excited to try something like this at my library. How have you incorporated play into your programming?

Home for Peculiar Books

Pixabay

The movies release date for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is Friday, September 30th. If you are not able to have a party, here are some ideas to wipe something together in your teen area.

Create a book display. Book Riot's Beyond the Bestsellers series features Miss Peregrine read-alikes.

Teen Librarian Toolbox has lots of ideas for a party but a couple would work as passive activities. Provide an old photo or photos and challenge the teens to write a story with them. Have the teens create a movie poster. If the teens allow, put their creations on display.

Comics at the Library

Wiki Commons

Comics and graphic novels are popular at my library. I found a few simple, passive program ideas in the presentation "Making Comics: Comics Conference for Educators and Librarians" by Jack Baur and Matthew Murray.

In the children and teen areas, you can have fill in the blank comics.  Kids can rewrite the dialog to an already existing popular comic. 

Kids and teens can also create their own comics but with a twist, like a choose your own adventure.  There are also instructions in the presentation on how to make a mini-zine. You can have either the materials and instructions in the Library or as part of a program.

Makerspace on a Budget

Perler Beads (Pixabay)

Looking for ideas and tips for a maker program?

Diana over at Renovated Learning provides a treasure trove of project ideas, tips on running the space, and ways to keep it fresh on tiny budget.

School Age Preconference Passive Program Call

Have you done a passive program for school-age patrons you loved? Your fellow YSS members want to try it, too. After all, our ideas are "Better Together." So, the preconference committee is looking for YSS members to share a successful passive program used at their library. Passive programs will be set up as booths for attendees to browse during the Tuesday, October 25 Preconference snack break. 

If you're interested, please contact Terry Ehle, YSS Chair-elect, at tehle@lesterlibrary.org for more details.

More Pokemon!!!11!!

No Tech Pokemon Go

Last week, Aimee gave the lowdown on Pokemon Go and offered tips for libraries.  At my Library we have already used some of the simple passive program ideas from the ALSC article to great success.  Another popular passive Pokemon program was our I SPY aquarium.  For my tween half lock-in on Friday, I'm going to adapt a Pokemon Scavenger Hunt from the blog Karissa in the Library.

I have never hosted a Pokemon special event, but I'm now planning one for this November.  Nintendo is releasing two new 3DS games, Pokémon Sun and Moon, on November 18th.  I'm not worried that November is too late or it's overkill because Pokemon has been popular for ages at my Library.

Pinterest has thousands of ideas but I want to hear from WI librarians.  What were your most popular Pokemon activities and crafts?

Kids Programming Online

Today, I'd like to highlight a resource for librarians in Wisconsin and elsewhere about children's programming especially suited to creatively making the most of limited time and budgets:

Kids Library Program Mojo  the blog based on the discussions and projects from online CE course Power Children's Programming on a Budget taught by Marge Loch-Wouters through the School of Library and Information Studies at the UW Madison.

From program outlines to schools as partners, from the rewards of youth programming to managing parents, there is inspiration at hand. I picked up a few tips in just a brief scan which include building a resource collection of go-to blogs for songs, fingerplays or craft ideas instead of conducting lengthy Google or Pinterest searches which may or may not produce usable results; benefits of passive programs complete with ideas I can incorporate in my small library; and how other librarians are handling the delicate balancing act between programming, planning, and outreach.

What are your go-to blogs or resources?

Lend-a-Friend

Like many of you, I'm looking for programs that don't take too much staff time and help circulation. My assistant found a cool passive program from Lisa at the blog Thrive After Three called Lend a Friend. Families check-out a binder with a laminated picture of a popular book character like Curious George. Children draw a picture, take a picture, or write a story about what they did with the character at home and put it in the binder. When the next family checks-out the binder, they can read the previous adventures and add their own one.

Lisa provides her templates for the binders on the blog! 

Dig In to Some Terrific Ideas for Literacy Centers

Sometimes I read a post that makes me wish I was in a real, live library and could try things out myself instead of just encouraging other people to do so.  That's what happened when I read the post in the ALSC Blog with some terrific ideas for SLP-theme-related centers in your library.  I found myself itching to do archeological digs in ice--what a great way to cool down on a hot summer's day (though the thought of being hot is also sort of appealing, isn't it?).