Read to a Dog
Read to a Dog at Shaker Library is an ongoing opportunity for young readers to read to a certified therapy dog. The program is offered on the third Thursday of every month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and has been running since 2010.
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Adult Literacy One-to-One
Since 1986, Sonoma County Library's Adult Literacy’s One-to-One program has matched adult learners with a volunteer literacy tutor in their community. The program provides assessment, training and facilities that enable the pair to meet and work toward the learner’s chosen literacy goals on a weekly basis at the library location of their choice.
Counting Down to Kindergarten
Due to lack of universal preschool opportunities in our area and expressed interest from patrons, our library designed a six-week program with lesson plans and thematic activities for children about to enter kindergarten. The program started over the summer, but sessions are now offered year-round.
100 Days/100 Books
Every year in late January or early February, children all over the country celebrate the 100th day of school with all sorts of clever projects — bringing 100 items to school, wearing “100th-day” glasses, listing 100 things they love to do. Why not add a reading activity to this list? Ask a group of younger students to read 100 books on the 100th day of school in one hour!
Magic for Muggles
Magic for Muggles was created by my teen advisory board, which had several Harry Potter fans. They wanted to create a program series where they could do all kinds of Harry Potter activities, and they came up with the catchy name. The group met monthly from September 2016 to May 2017.
We found tons of ideas on Pinterest. We did indoor Quidditch with brooms and balls; potions and spells, where we did Hogwarts science projects; Harry Potter Clue; and a day at Hogsmeade, when we made butterbeer and other themed snacks.Â
See What I'm Saying
See What I’m Saying was a children’s program that promoted reading, writing and public speaking skills in students in kindergarten through grade 5.
The program took place on Saturday mornings over a nine-week period at our county’s Civic Center (since the library doesn’t allow food). At each session, kids were invited select a book, read the book, write a brief report about it, and share their report out loud to a group.
Book Club Round-Up: From Our Archives
Book clubs: libraries love them, and with good reason. Reading groups are a great way to bring communities together, highlight collections and share our love of reading.
There are many different twists on the familiar book club, from clubs without required reading to those that incorporate films or food. We have highlighted several creative book club models on Programming Librarian; here are a few of our favorites.
Welcome New Baby Program
Is there anything sweeter than a new baby? The arrival of a new child is always cause for excitement — especially because it means there is a new reader to welcome into the world!
APPLY NOW: Great Stories Club on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation
Library professionals are invited to apply for ALA’s Great Stories Club series on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT). This thematic reading and discussion program series will engage underserved teens through literature-based library outreach programs and racial healing work.Â
So Many Books, So Little Time
As library professionals, we feel compelled to stay abreast of new publications, award-winning titles and the latest installment in a beloved series. But the reality is that keeping up with so much reading can be overwhelming.
Here are some tips to help library professionals find ways to conquer their ever-growing stack of books to read.
Books to Get Kids Moving
Looking to add some movement to your storytimes? Interested in physical literacy, but not sure where to start? Here are six groovy titles to get you off on the right foot (pun intended). You can find more kid-friendly physical literacy book reviews here. So gather some kid-friendly instruments and be prepared to make some noise!
Eight Nifty Summer Programming Ideas to Fight Summer Slide
Summer is nearly upon us. It’s the season where life slows down, vacations happen, students joyfully turn off their early morning alarms and teachers can catch their breath for a few moments. It is also a time when students are less likely to read.
Learn More: Great Stories Club
In this free, 60-minute webinar, presenters will discuss the Great Stories Club program and application process, in advance of the July 9 application deadline. Learn more about the Great Stories Club.
Webinar topics will include:
APPLY NOW: 'The Great American Read' Grants for Public Libraries
Public libraries may apply for grants to host public programs around the PBS series “The Great American Read,” an eight-part television and online series designed to spark a national conversation about reading and the books that have inspired, moved, and shaped us, the ALA Public Programs Office announced.
APPLY NOW: Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Great Stories Club
ALA invites libraries to apply for a pilot of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Great Stories Club, a thematic reading and discussion program series that will engage underserved teens through literature-based library outreach programs and racial healing work.
The TRHT GSC is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Sarah Jessica Parker Kicks Off ALA Book Club Central
Looking to try something new with your library's book clubs (or your personal one)? Maybe something with a dose of celebrity? Announcing Book Club Central — and its first honorary chair, actress and book lover Sarah Jessica Parker.
Express Yourself, It's Poetry Month!
April is one of the most interesting months of the year for me because it’s National Poetry Month. Poetry Month was thought up back in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets. Twenty years later, the month has many supporters; there are now countries all over the world that celebrate the month of April and honor their favorite poets. Poetry Month is a wonderful way to raise awareness about the value of poetry, to pay tribute to all the amazing poets, past and present, and to entice our future poets as well.Â
New Year's-Inspired Crafts for Teens
Happy New Year, everyone! 2015 went by like a flash, and now we are in a brand new year. Here in California, we have been battling some extremely cold weather. Extremely cold for us, that is; we can't handle it when it gets cold. Although I must say, chilly weather is the perfect time to pick out some new books and read away. Every year I like to say that I will read at least 100 books, but I tend to lose count around summertime. I need to keep better track of my YA reads.
March Madness School Reading Competition
March Madness is a reading competition between teams within our school. The program was created to promote reading in a school where kids weren't reading enough. I found that the students could read, but only when they were excited about it.
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