Library Programming Ideas! :)

[Lizzy Bennet]

As a brand-new Children's Librarian of a brand-new library (grand opening date: 1 October 2003!), I am super-psyched for our grand opening on 1 October and our Halloween bash on 21 October (the other library in town--also in my library system --has a huge annual Halloween party on Halloween and we are NOT going to compete with that...I may help out with it!). I have one scheduled nightly program a month, so my October one (on 21 October) will be Halloween-themed and relatively low-key, but super-fun (hopefully!!!). It should be loads of fun, but I was hoping all of you might help me get some ideas!

Obviously, you aren't my target audience, HOWEVER, you were once kids...if you were going to a grand-opening of a brand-new public library and were cruising around the Children's Department, what would you like to see/do? Also, what would you have wanted to do at a Halloween bash as a kid (roughly ages 12 and under...mostly the younger set)? Do share your ideas!!

I have a few ideas thus far. My boyfriend, with his lovely British accent, LOOKS like Harry Potter (obviously, he's older! ). He is fair-skinned, has dark hair, green eyes, and wears glasses! He's even had people call him "Harry Potter"! He may either dress up as Harry Potter and young fans will have their picture taken with him and/or he may do a 'reading' of one of the Harry Potter books. Obviously, I've not worked out all the details or made any decisions...just brainstorming! For the Grand Opening, I'd like to have balloons and bags with pencils, bookmarks, brochures, and such to give to the kids. Perhaps even face-painting, done by the volunteers for the Halloween event. Back to the Grand Opening, I may have a puppet show going on...my Children's Assistant is well-versed in puppets! I have all sorts of ideas, but I'm interested in hearing more...perhaps adapting some for these two events and saving others for future programming.

Please share your ideas and insights! Can you tell I'm LOVING my job??? I *heart* my job (which means, "I love my job")...it's the best job I'll ever love!


~ Lizzy

[Mint]

Obviously, you aren't my target audience

oh man!!! Im not?!?



Um, when I was the kid I would go to the libraries and search for adventure, fantasy, sci-fi books. U know, I dont know of too many kids that like fiction.

But sometimes I would go there and had no clue which book to read. So sometimes I had to pick by the cover. I think its a good idea to make a list of "recommended book" (like 5-10) and post it near the shelfs. May be u can even include a little summery.

like "The little boy was wondering though the forest. It was dark and he couldn't see anything, suddenly......." And end there, u know - so the kid would want read more of it.

[HuffleDuck]

If i went to the library, i always go looking for scary books to read, but it's really hard for me to find an interesting book without looking at the covers. Even though "you can't judge the book by its cover", but I cant help but go by covers.

My favorite book before HP is the(forgot what it's called)something have to do with a bunch of kids solving mysteries. my all time favorite.

[Marcus Baker]

When I was little, we had this thing at our library called "Wacky Wednesdays" where they planned activities for us kids. There were magician acts on day, and story time another day, and it was pretty cool. Good day to spend Wednesday nights. I remember one time, "harry potter related" where the librarian printed out all the houses, and we picked form a hat, and that was our house for the day, and we painted HP pics, and played HP games with our house, and then rotated to different places. They were so much fun.

[bludy mery]

mine is just pretty uncosy... the feeling on its building is that you are not wanted... as if you are watched by people waiting unpationtly for you to take a book and get your fuilthy figure out of that space... and it just donsn't have that.. you know "library" thing... that sparcle (I sound stupid don't I?) I hate that... because I love libraries basicly... and I like reading but I hate being there...

[han lin]

urrrm
my pubclic library used to be a killer. I HATED IT because the floor creaked and you didn't feel comfortable being there as a child. you just felt likt you had to choose a book as quickly as you could and get the hell out.

A couple of years ago the library moved and I guess they got some new staff in or something because it was a lot better. and now i even go back there to do my work sometimes. ( esp in the morninge before my exams i'd go in and work its good in there now)