Articles

Catch up on the latest in library programming news.

Making Dementia-Friendly Libraries

How libraries can incorporate dementia-friendly principles into their spaces, their collections and their interactions with patrons.

Setting Up a Memory Café at Your Library: A How-to Guide

By creating a space for people with dementia and their loved ones to relax and enjoy the company of others, Memory Cafés can reduce feelings of isolation.

Death Café at the Library: Where Strangers Meet to Discuss the End

A Death Café is a place where “people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death." And they are quite commonplace in libraries.

Our Top Picks for ALA Annual 2025 in Philly

Check out our recommended ALA Annual 2025 sessions that will spark fresh ideas and elevate your library programming game.

Creating Engagement Through Questions

A simple question can be a passive program and community engagement all at once. So what should we ask?

Apr 16, 2018

Blogs for Programming Librarians

Is your well of programming ideas running dry? Find inspiration in some of our favorite blogs.

Apr 12, 2018

NILPPA Update: How Do We Learn to Run Library Programs?

Informal vs. formal, on the job vs. in the classroom — 1,200 programming librarians tell us how they learned to do their jobs.

Human Battleship

Inspired by a school gym class, this life-size version of the classic tabletop game is fun for all ages.

Fact vs. Opinion for Middle-Schoolers

Help young people distinguish fact from fiction with these information literacy resources.

Apr 3, 2018

What Skills Make for Good Programming?

We asked 1,200 library workers which skills they used to plan library programs. Here's what they told us.

Bullet Journaling for Everyday Organization

Bullet journaling may not be for everyone, but we can all learn from some of its basic methods.

Bookmark Design Contests

A bookmark design contest highlights students' artistic talents — and provides a nice creation to give away in the library.

Mar 28, 2018

NILPPA Update: The Wide and Wild World of Programming

Through the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA), ALA is quantifying the impact of library programming.

Libraries Rock: Music Therapy for All Ages

Incorporate the Collaborative Summer Library Program's rockin' theme with a music therapy program.

Breaking through the Busy: Tips for Getting the Students Who Already Do Everything

Students are busy. Here are some tips for getting the most over-extended kids into the library (or bringing the library to them).

Don’t Do It All Yourself: Creating Health Fairs through Partnerships

A new blog series on health-related library programming kicks off with tips on hosting a heath and wellness fair.