Tag: summer

Blogger Kirsten Caldwell

Summer Creation Stations

| Kirsten Caldwell|Leave a comment

Each week during the summer, our library sets out a new Creation Station for kids to explore. It’s a self-serve table with a fun board that includes graphics, simple instructions, step-by-step directions, and cool facts about the project. Kids can jump in whenever they want—no sign-up or staff help needed. Since it’s passive, we track participation by counting how many supplies get used. Curious what we’ve got planned? Keep reading for all 8 of our summer projects—fun, simple, and full of creativity!

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Blogger Maria Trivisonno

Bringing Back Play

| Maria Trivisonno|Leave a comment

This past month, my library system has allowed certain toys (plastic, easily washed) to come back on the floor and to be used in programming, with daily (or more) cleaning. Parents and children alike are delighted, and library staff rejoiced that our baby playtimes can return.  Several branches are designated Family Place Libraries, and we had been holding socially distanced “play” programs that aimed to give parents tools to guide their children in play, but which were certainly not as robust and developmentally appropriate as a full playtime.

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Blogger Early & Family Literacy committee

Summer’s Changing and It Should

| Early and Family Literacy committee|Leave a comment

For years, public libraries have been offering some form of Summer Reading Program for the youth in their communities. There is an abundance of evidence on the benefits of Summer Reading Programs in reducing the effects of summer slide and reducing the achievement gaps that can exist between students from low and middle income families. (For more resources look at http://www.summermatters.net/summer-learning-loss-increases-the-achievement-gap-diagram/ and https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/summerslide). In the last ten years, many public libraries and youth librarians have been asking the questions “Is a Summer Reading program enough?” and “How can we help reduce our students’ losses in mathematics and other subject areas?”  The evolving solution to those questions is the transformation from Summer Reading Programs to Summer Learning Programs.

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Partnerships

Summer at the Movies with the Library

| School-Age Programs and Services Committee|Leave a comment

Summer blockbusters, popcorn, and a reprieve from the hot weather. All things that conjure up pleasant memories of summer at the movies for many, I’m sure. What about adding library programming and awesome librarian superstars to the movie-going experience? This summer San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) has teamed up with a local movie theater, the Alamo Drafthouse at the New Mission, to partner on their Kids Camp. Kids Camp runs from May to August at the theater and is a way for kids and their families to affordably see films together with low ticket prices at just $1 – $5, with all proceeds going to local non-profits. On Wednesdays the films are free so SFPL staff has been facilitating pre-show crafts weekly in the lobby. Library staff also get to introduce the film and talk up Summer Stride and get some time in the spotlight! Did I mentioned that the…

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