August is National Dog Month! That’s right, Dogust lasts all month long. Here are some quick program and story tips to get libraries in on the tail wagging good vibes.
Category: Programming Skills
Shake Up Your Outdoor Storytime with Colored Powder
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite topic for storytime. I love going over letter sounds and numbers with my youngest patrons. Storytimes about pets always lead to fun conversations and audience participation. But above all, my favorite storytime topic is colors. Especially when we can get very, very messy with colored powder. What is Color Powder? If you’ve never heard of it, colored powder is what it sounds like: vibrantly colored powders. They are often sold in variety packs, so you can have many different colors at the same event. They are often used in outdoor color runs, where different colors are thrown at runners in a 5K or 10K race. You toss them in either a paper bathroom cup or out of a squeeze bottle. There are many different companies to choose from, but I went with Chameleon Colors.
Engaging Teens and Tweens in Fan Programs
Often when I am at the library providing reader’s advisory services, I get asked by young folks, “Can you recommend a book to me?” My immediate follow-up is, “Well, what do you like?” I tell them that it doesn’t have to be a book; it could be a favorite character, movie, or activity. This sparks so many conversations about what youth feel very passionately about. Often, I pocket these conversations not only to help in the moment, but also for later programming ideas.
Building Better Business Partnerships for Storytime
Every month, I partner with a local business and head to their gymnastics studio to lead a brief storytime that kicks off an hour of free play. From its inception, this program has been a smash hit, with some months reaching the capacity of the studio space! The genesis of Gymnastics Storytime? Jealousy. When trying to reschedule storytime to better align with staffing needs, I was running into a bit of a problem. Families are busy, and almost everyone was busy on the same day. As I spoke with folks about dates and times, it became clear that everyone was doing gymnastics, and they were doing it for free, in the town over, with a story-reading included. Our town has its own gymnastics studio, but I’ve never heard it mentioned in the busy schedules of younger children. Well, that seemed like a big opportunity to me! I reached out to…
Get Organized: Creating Clear, Scaffolded Learning Paths
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, lose weight, and save money. This month, we’re looking at organization. While it would be easy to talk about cleaning up supply closets or doing a deep clean of your digital files, I’m taking a different approach. Organization isn’t just about space – it’s also about creating clear paths for learning and engagement. Let’s talk about ways that intentional, scaffolded program structures create organization and clear direction for patrons and staff alike. While each library’s program structure is different, my goal today is to share replicable models that work for all types of libraries and programs. I’ll explore how scaffolded programs help you reach specific audiences and customize patron experiences. At its core, scaffolded programming is about purposeful program design over time. Why…
How to Host a Messtival Without Getting Messy
As a certified process art fanatic, I’m always coming across ideas that are a little too messy for out carpeted meeting room. When summer rolls around, I delight in moving outdoors, where I can splash and splatter more freely. Messy play is sensory play, making it great for a wide age range. To save on cleanup time, I roll all the messy fun into one action-packed celebration — a Messtival! Today, I’m sharing three years’ worth of trial and error, finding activities that are engaging, messy, and still easy to clean up after.
Pokémon Club: More to Explore
In October 2025, ALSC and AASL announced a partnership with The Pokémon Company International to help kickstart Pokémon Clubs at libraries across the country. This launch kickstarted a Poké-craze with librarians, myself included, with many folks interested in starting their very own club. With many librarians asking “how,” ALSC Blogger Ariel Barreras shared some of her preparations for Pokémon Club earlier this year. Now that we are in the throes of summer, and many of our patrons have more time on their hands, I thought it would be a great time to share some additional resources for those who are looking to change up their regular sessions, or for those who are interested in having a summer club!
Save Money: Using Low-Cost Library Programs to Maximize Impact
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.