Articles

Catch up on the latest in library programming news.

Q&A: 3 Expert Librarians Share Their Summer Reading DĂ©cor Secrets

We asked three librarians with decades of combined experience planning large-scale summer reading décor to share their advice and go-to materials.

Reader Voter Ready: Support Voter Engagement Through These Program Ideas

Libraries are nonpartisan, but they are not indifferent. Libraries play an important role in ensuring voters are prepared to participate in local, state and national elections. Check out these program ideas to support voter engagement at your library.

Aging Together: What Libraries Are Learning About Serving Older Adults

Whether working in large urban systems or small-town libraries, four library workers emphasize that older adults are not a niche audience. They are a vital part of the library community.

Apply Now: 2026-27 Cohort of the Yiddish Book Center's Public Libraries Program

Apply to join a cohort of public library workers to explore how Yiddish literature can provide a springboard for powerful cultural conversations.

Enhancing Library Accessibility for Older Adults

Though age is not a disability, many older adults experience barriers that directly impact their interactions with their environment. Senior patrons share what they're looking for in library accessibility upgrades.

Children's Earth Day Books and Programs

A lot of children’s nature literature, though well-meaning, pushes a narrative of “it’s up to you to save the world!” The librarians behind the Blueberry Award share ideas for excellent Earth Day programs and book suggestions that inspire a love for nature in young people without inciting climate anxiety or fear.

Sorry, We Are Out of Eclipse Glasses

Was your library's phone ringing off the hook on the day of the solar eclipse? Did you run out of eclipse glasses quicker than anticipated? Libraries share their solar eclipse day successes and stresses.

Incorporate Media Literacy Teaching in Everyday Library Interactions

One of the best places to teach media literacy is at the point of need, where the users are. Most library interactions occur during the delivery of services, such as reference interviews, technology classes and interactions at the circulation desk. Consider these five ways to incorporate small lessons about media literacy into your regular services.

What Neurodivergent Patrons Want from Small and Rural Libraries

Many libraries have found that to make their libraries truly accessible spaces, they need to consider the specific concerns of neurodivergent patrons. What are the accessibility priorities of these individuals, and how can libraries address them?

Programs to Teach Adult Patrons Internet Literacy

These program ideas teach media and internet literacy skills that allow patrons to think critically about how the architecture of the internet influences what they see and do online.

Welcoming Patrons with Disabilities in Rural Libraries

Small and rural libraries provide essential services to their communities. But for the 1 in 3 adults in rural areas who live with a disability, these libraries are not always accessible. How are small and rural libraries addressing the needs of patrons with disabilities?

Our New Look

Welcome to the new (and, we think, improved) Programming Librarian! Not to worry — beyond looks, not too much has changed. Learn about a few new features here.