With this post, some simple office supplies, and a few stamps you can connect with kids at home!
I don’t need to tell you that this pandemic season has been a challenge, at Rochester Public Library (MN) we had to stop all youth programming this spring during our state’s stay at home order. Realizing that we weren’t the only ones who were lonely and missing the library experience, we reached out through the library’s marketing channels to invite kids to write to us.
Our Pen Pal program has been a simple joy. It is super fun to receive mail for the grown-ups at the library, so imagine how excited the kids are to get a letter!
The program is quite simple to set up. We created a webpage inviting kids to write to us with simple instructions:
- Write a letter and address it to “Library Pen Pal”
- Include your return address
Once we receive a letter it is assigned to a Youth Services staff person who then corresponds with their pen pal. Future letters are addressed specifically to the staffer “Library Pen Pan – Heather”.
Supplies:
- Paper
- Envelopes
- Pens
- Stamps
- Stickers to decorate letters and envelopes*
- Coloring pages*
- Custom library stickers*
- Colorful markers & pens*
*These are all optional, but they make it more fun!
Cost: .55 per letter
We’ve had so much fun reading about favorite books, summer at-home adventures, gardening, and more!