As librarians serving school-aged children, it can be easy to stick to our comfort zone with the tried and true programs that we have done in the past or with programs that are on topics that we personally know a lot about. It is also tempting to stick with programs that have all the pieces in place to run smoothly instead of introducing new programs. I am here to encourage you to get outside your comfort zone with new programming, to stretch yourself into new areas, and to try an “everything is beta” approach to programming! I will share about an after-school program that has caused me to stretch outside my comfort zone with my middle school students and offer some tips for making such programs work. When I began working at my middle school, a small group of parents were running an afterschool program for Dungeons & Dragons players. …
Tag: tweens
Tween/Teen Privacy: Inside and Outside the Library
Privacy and intellectual freedom go hand in hand, once you think about it. The ability to explore new ideas and information -without fear of judgement or repercussions- directly supports the growth of intellectual freedom. As tweens and teens seek knowledge to understand themselves and their place in the world, they benefit from protections inside, and knowledge outside, the library. Here are some resources that may be useful in thinking about working with teens and tweens in your library!
Books for Tween Reluctant Readers (Gamers Edition)
Excitement is in the air as many of us slowly start to adjust to our new normal. It is summer reading season for most, and since many of us sat out last year, we are upping our game to welcome families back into the library, but as you do so, make sure you can target reluctant tween readers in the process. Being a tween already has many uncertainties, but things are even harder to navigate amid the pandemic, especially for reluctant readers. But libraries can help! To get these young tweens interested in reading, librarians need a hook. These hooks can be as simple as sports, video games, or even popular T.V. shows. For the past few weeks, I have been working on booklist bookmarks that tweens can pick up during the summer. I have also created a reader’s advisory sheet for tweens and families to pick up to get…
Ultimate Summer Reading Programming Guide 2021
Summer Reading 2021 So, it’s the ninth hour. Summer Reading 2021 is just about here. Things are changing rapidly, though. COVID safety guidelines are positively fluid. What’s a children’s librarian to do?! Fear not, fearless reader — you’ve got OPTIONS! A Spectrum of Five Options Five options…well, more like 5.2 Passive programming Hybrid programming Limited seating indoor programming Outdoor programming 100% digital programming Pre-recorded Live streaming Passive Programming I know you know what it is. However! There’s an awesome new reference and even a free webinar about this very topic that I want to direct you to. The webinar is a called “Passive Programming That Pulls Them In: Provocative Passive Programming Ideas”. You can find it on Niche Academy. As a matter of fact, they have an upcoming live webinar. Here’s the 10-4: PASSIVE PROGRAMMING THAT PULLS THEM IN: PROVOCATIVE PASSIVE PROGRAMMING IDEAS Wed May 12 at 2:00 pm US…
Virtual Summer Reading 2021
Summer Reading Virtual Once More So, for most of us, summer reading 2021 will be virtual once more. For some, it meant outsourcing virtual programming, with others flipping coins to see who’d go in front of the green screen. But overall, this is the future of public library programming. Need some help? Read on, fellow green screeners! Best Practices Understand that best practices are still being established, and represents an evolving skillset. We are understanding the platforms and their capabilities as we go along. When it comes to producing content, though, many standard best practices for streaming and broadcast apply. TWITCH DISCORD Appears to be a combo of equipment and broadcast practices broadly applicable to streaming in general: Streamer and moderator best practices Consistency with schedule Marketing and promo Equipment and software It’s a communication tool, not a vault Organization is key Library specific recommendation is to connect with local servers to promote programs Don’t @everyone Keep posting,…
New Year’s Resolution: Inspo 2021
Inspo for 2021 So, we get another shot. The celestial odometer ticks one more trip around the sun. And here goes: some inspo for you to make your 2021 sunny and bright, youth services style! Hygge for Children and Families 30 Phrases That Will Change a Kid’s Day (for the Better) 100+ Indoor Activities to Do with the Kids Re-Arrange! Re-arranging your room is one of the best ways to blow out the cobwebs, literally and metaphorically. Wanna let your fingers do the heavy lifting? Try this free children’s room designer! Create a floor plan with a bird’s-eye view 1. Choose an example from our gallery or create a new design 2. Start with your room’s shape and dimensions, add doors, windows & other features. 3. Browse our furniture and click or drag the icons into your plan. 4. Arrange the pieces to create your perfect set-up You can choose just…
Children, Pornography and Suicide
Children, Pornography and Suicide I know that Children, Pornography and Suicide are terms you never want to hear in tandem. As tough as it is, it is a reality. Most of us work with children who are at-risk. And as Chris Crutcher once said, “When you work with at-risk children, you are going to lose some. I don’t like that answer”. The CDC reported in 2019 that: “the number of young people dying of suicide jumped…56% between 2007 and 2017“ That’s people aged 10-24 years of age, well within our realm of service. While we don’t want to think of any child as being capable of “looking up porn”, the reality is, it is ubiquitous. We know how to lock our doors from strangers, and how to train children to recognize a multitude of dangers. We understand that substance abuse claims over 70,000 children every year in the U.S. But think…
12 Books Tweens Can Read After Dog Man
Last month, I highlighted twelve books readers who enjoyed Raina Telgemeier should read. This author is outrageously liked, but another equally popular series I can’t seem to keep on my shelf is the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey. Readers who like Dog Man are typically just starting in chapter books or are reluctant readers. They generally enjoy books that are fast-paced, funny, and have some illustrations. Usually, they have already read Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Big Nate, and it is often difficult to find other books these young patrons will enjoy. If you are running out of suggestions, this post is for you!