Articles

Catch up on the latest in library programming news.

12 Program Ideas for Kids and Resources to Prepare for Financial Literacy Month (April)

April is Financial Literacy Month. Start your preparation now with these program ideas, book suggestions and resources to get kids involved.

Planning a Cents-ational Financial Literacy Storytime

Financial educators recommend teaching basic money concepts as early as three years old. One way to achieve this in your library is by incorporating financial literacy themes into your storytimes.

Time Travel in a Trunk: Engaging Learners with Historical Artifacts

How can librarians and educators bridge the gap between the past and present? The answer lies in Historical Artifact Footlockers — a dynamic, hands-on tool that brings the thrill of historical investigation directly into the library.

Know Your People: How The Gail Borden Public Library District Turns Exhibits into Community Unity

By knowing their people, empowering staff and building strong partnerships, the Gail Borden Public Library turns every exhibit into a shared experience of learning and connection.

Dec 20, 2019

Honor the Past, Embrace the Future: Exploring Services for Veterans and Their Families

Through Skills for Community-Centered Libraries, staff at the Free Library of Philadelphia explore how they can better serve veterans.

Dec 19, 2019

Tackling the Tough Stuff at Public Libraries

Libraries are the perfect places to discuss the past — particularly histories that are contested or messy.

Dec 11, 2019

Not Today, Santa

Are you swearing off holiday programs at your library? Here are a few winter program ideas to try instead.

Dec 6, 2019

Spotlight on 'Include': Takeaways from the 2019 AASL National Conference

Inclusion was a central theme at the nation's gathering of school librarians in Louisville.

Dec 4, 2019

Reindeer Run: A Holiday Tradition

This time of year, we could all use some exercise. This festive, dress-up fun run raises money for charity.

Dec 2, 2019

APPLY NOW: LTC Engagement Grant

Apply now for a new annual grant to support innovative community engagement efforts in libraries.

Nov 27, 2019

Reflections on Year 2 of Skills for Community-Centered Libraries

The Free Library of Philadelphia looks at the evaluation results of their Community-Centered Libraries initiative as it plans for the future.

Nov 26, 2019

Hosting a 'Stranger Things' Escape Room

You don't need a lot of space or money to host a themed escape room, but being a superfan helps.

Nov 21, 2019

APPLY NOW: Facilitation Training

An ALA initiative helps small and rural library staff develop the communication skills they need to thrive.

Nov 21, 2019

Building Community in a School Library

Students should feel welcome in their library. Luckily, programming is a great way to build community.

Nov 15, 2019

Public Humanities in Public Libraries

Hannah Schmidl from Princeton Public Library explains why libraries are the perfect place to connect people to thought-provoking humanities work.

Nov 13, 2019

Grant Prep: 6 Things to Do Before Starting

Finding and applying for grants can be a slog, but it’s easier with some advance preparation.