This year, I’m viewing “traditional” New Year’s resolutions through a library lens. So far, we’ve explored ways to exercise more, live life to the fullest, eat healthier, and lose weight. This month, we’re looking at ways to save money. Saving more doesn’t always mean doing less. Instead of budget cuts, let’s talk about intentional spending that creates the most impact. While library budgets are unique and complicated, today’s tips apply to libraries of all sizes and situations. I’ll be looking at ways we can prioritize low-cost and no-cost programming to help stretch your budget and extend your reach.
Why Spending Less Matters in Library Programming
Let’s start by getting really clear on our goals. Saving money only matters if you’re making intentional changes with defined outcomes in mind. While frugality is important, spending less is about more than saving money. It’s about building resilience into our programming and processes. When programs utilize accessible, cost-effective supplies, they become easier to repeat, scale, and adapt across audiences and locations. Budget-conscious design also reduces waste and encourages more intentional, creative programming. Creativity and meaningful programs are the cornerstones of programming resilience.
Design programs around experiences, not materials.
The first step in shifting to a low-cost mindset is reframing your program design process. Start by asking, “What experiences are we creating?” Then, look at the steps to get there. When you focus on what you want patrons to experience, it’s easier to clarify your learning objectives. Do you want them to explore with multiple senses? Look for items on hand that encourage exploration. If community building is your goal, the materials matter less than a structure that encourages collaboration and creativity. Our Art Shop program focuses on teaching early budgeting skills. Patrons receive play money to purchase supplies to create their masterpiece. Because our focus is on the experiences of creating and budgeting, we can use leftovers or unique items on hand, without specific, costly purchases. Engagement doesn’t require expense. It requires intentionality. This shift not only reduces costs but also leads to more meaningful and flexible programs.
Start with what you already have.
Last month, we talked about clarifying what’s in your supply inventory. This month, get creative about how you use it. This can be anything from supplies to furniture to program ideas. Instead of focusing only on tracking inventory, creatively reimagine what you can do with supplies. If you have a lot of toilet paper tubes, consider crafting or building challenges that could put them to use. Low on supplies for a sensory bin? Use shredded paper or scarves instead of rice or beans. Revisit past programs and add a new spin to give them new life. We previously offered a program called Build Stuff with Junk. Staff collected random pieces of cardboard, boxes, toilet paper tubes, and other recyclables that found new life as building supplies. By adding simple supplies like tape and string, we had an easy program with minimal cost and prep.
Consider the cost per patron.
Budget-conscious planning also means defining what feels reasonable as a cost per patron. First, remember this isn’t a one-size-fits-all number. For some programs, a higher amount makes sense. Focusing on sustainability and flexibility encourages you to discover where less is more. Try grouping your program offerings by pricing data. Then, maximize those with less cost, freeing up your remaining funds for one or two high-impact programs that require larger investment. As you consider budgets, ask yourself whether the purchase enhances the experience or merely decorates it. A great example of a low-cost program is coding with LEGO mazes. Patrons build their own maze with LEGO bricks, then write or place the code needed to navigate through it. If you don’t have LEGOs, you can use other blocks or items on hand, or even draw a maze. Plus, if you do purchase blocks, you can use them again in other programs.
Invite community creativity.
Think creatively about sourcing materials for unlikely inspiration. For common supplies like toilet paper tubes, shoe boxes, or water bottles, staff donations work well. Allow sufficient time to collect items, and build in space for evaluation and cleaning. Also consider donations of reusable supplies. For example, host a community drive to collect unused LEGOs. Then, repurpose them for your programs. Look for ways to leverage skills and ideas, too. Volunteers, teen advisory boards, city departments, and local businesses may all offer partnerships. This saves not only on materials budget, but also on staff time and effort. Instead of thinking about what you don’t have, think about what you do when you collaborate. At my library, we keep bins on hand to collect supplies like toilet paper tubes. This ensures we almost always have them when needed, but don’t spend a ton of time thinking about where to source them.
Repurpose existing resources.
As you consider cost, shift your focus from physical supplies to additional resources. Can digital resources provide inspiration or additional programs? How do print and digital collections support interactive components of displays or programs? When you don’t have capacity for staff-led programming, passive programs like scavenger hunts and patron-directed activities let you rethink programming using existing resources. Also consider those pieces that aren’t working as intended. Instead of retiring or throwing out, can you use it in a new way? Don’t underestimate the value of your creativity as a resource. In my library, we found that some toys purchased for the public floor didn’t work well in large-scale collaborative play. Instead, we repurposed them into program kits. Patrons still interact with the toys, but they have better staff oversight and support. We improved both the individual programs and the overall patron experience in our play areas.
Picture Book Tie-In: Not a Box
As you look at ways to spend less and embrace creativity, take a moment to return to a storytime favorite, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis. Bunny shows us over and over again that a box is more than just a box if you only have a little imagination. This title works great in storytimes and early learning programs, but even if you’re reading it on your own, it’s a powerful reminder to look beyond the obvious. With creativity, anything is possible! Pair your reading with open-ended materials like boxes, paper scraps, and other leftovers, and allow children (or adults) to make their own creative interpretations. This also helps remind staff that sometimes our most impactful programs come from reimagining the supplies right in front of us. For more inspiration, be sure to check out the follow-up titles Not a Stick and Not-A-Box City.
As you consider ways to create more on a budget, remember that meaningful programming isn’t about how much you spend, but about how intentionally you design. For more low-cost ideas, check out this post on budget-friendly meaning-making ideas or this post for opportunities on a shoestring budget. Stay tuned next month as we look at overall organization and clarity with scaffolded programming. Where will you create the most joy for the lowest cost?
This post addresses ALSC Core Competency #3: Programming Skills and ALSC Core Competency #6: Administrative and Management Skills. Featured image created by Jaime Eastman, ALSC member.
Jaime Eastman is a senior Public Services Librarian and Early Learning Coordinator at the Harrington Library, one of the Plano (Texas) Public Library locations. Jaime is also working on at least two ambitious cross-stitch projects, dreaming of future travel plans, and reading far too many books. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be an author. Writing for the blog and publishing with Children and Libraries feels like a good start, and she regrets nothing about her adult decision to be a librarian doing storytimes, who didn’t have to grow up too much.