Good Practices in Library Programming March 14, 2012

Different Activities for Different Audiences Everyone Children 12 & under Youth 12 + Adults Families Women Men

A Sampling of the Possibilities…

1. Everyone Assisting patrons to find the right book: Lists of Recommended Books (by age group; or by subject) Advising patrons with book suggestions Featuring or displaying new books

1. Everyone Offering Incentives: Provide cookies, fruit or other snacks during scheduled activities or events Supply literacy kits to parents Give away backpacks or school supplies to children who use the library Free classes, such as computer classes or research classes

2. Children 12 & Under Story time: Reading stories to a group of children With or without parental accompaniment Engage the children: use different voices for different characters; ask them questions about the story; sound effects; show illustrations Use a puppet show to tell a story

2. Children 12 & Under Story writing/Book making: Have children imagine a story and provide them with paper and markers to illustrate and write their own book, with guidance from the librarian Children can present the books to other children afterwards Children can perform plays they write or stories they read in books

2. Children 12 & Under Music events: Singing nursery rhymes together Inviting a musician to perform for the children

2. Children 12 & Under Art Have children make illustrations and then put them on display in the library - Craft hour Sponsor an art competition Display art books in library

2. Children 12 & Under Outreach to Children Have a story reading hour in a local orphanage Have story readings in local schools

3. Youth 12 + Study Support: Homework help seminars Tutoring Workshops on research, referencing, writing skills and other academic skills

3. Youth 12 + Reading Promotion: Youth Book Club Reading Competition Book review competition Display photo essay on a book made by youth Poetry reading

4. Adults Book Clubs Everyone in the club reads the same book The club meets to discuss the book (i.e. monthly) Members take turns selecting the book

4. Adults Job Skills Support: Resume writing workshop Vacancies information bulletin board in library Have an area with brochures or fliers for training programs and study opportunities

4. Adults Offer Recreational Classes Learn a foreign language Kitchen gardening, horticulture Literacy classes Writing classes Nutrition

5. Families Activities for Families: Family story hour Mom & kid(s) story hour Family literacy program