As a school librarian member of ALSC, I have a programming hiatus thanks to our summer break. I enjoy the break and time off to refresh and renew. As the new school year approaches, though, I am beginning to look ahead to programming for this year. This will be my sixth year in the library but only my second year as a full-time school librarian, and I know that thinking about a year of programming can be daunting. So, for this ALSC SAPS blog, I thought I’d offer a few tips for my fellow librarians who are similarly in the planning stages for a year of programming! My first tip is for those of my fellow librarians who are also relatively new to this profession: Remember that you don’t have to do it all all at once! When I began work as a librarian, I had So. Many. Ideas! …
Category: Blogger School-Age Programs and Service Committee
Facilitating STEAM Programming Through Exploratory Play
STEAM programming can feel like an expert and expensive challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Anyone can be the conduit for exploratory play by simply modeling what that looks like.
Where in the USA is Ms. Amber?
Today, we are officially beginning our road trip across the United States with the first stop– Washington, D.C. I’m doing what I can to help teach American and World history in a fun way, from cup stacking to line dancing, sharing my love for history as I go.
Tuning Up Bike Month Programming
May is Bike Month, so it’s a great time to tune up your bike and your library’s bike-related programming. Between circulating bikes, riding book bikes to outreach events, and offering bike repair workshops or stations, opportunities abound for connecting communities with alternative transportation. Libraries also offer books, of course! These resources and activities can help build a strong cycling community in Bike Month and beyond.
Bring Kids All Together Now—With Collaborative Bulletin Boards
Collaborative bulletin boards are great for summer reading programs. They keep kids busy during the school break with much less effort than putting together a structured program. And they fit perfectly with this summer’s CSLP theme
Reflective Practice in Children’s Services
Setting aside just fifteen minutes a week for reflective writing has made a huge difference for me, from planning more successful programs to making better use of my time to feeling more motivated and joyful at work. This post will show you how to do it and how it will improve your programs.
Partnering to Increase Program Reach and Impact: Musical Story Hour with the Moab Music Festival
Four times a year the library teams up with Moab Music Festival to present a special Musical Story Hour featuring a new musical artist(s). Musical Story Hour has been one of our library’s most consistent programs since 2018; it was one of our library’s first programs to transition to an online offering during the pandemic and last year was offered in city parks to a multigenerational audience.
Adventures in Programming: When I Grow Up
Description, images and top tips for creating a play-based learning and career exploration program for younger children at the public library.