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passive programming

Build a Better World: Recommended Reading Wall

Submitted by brussell on Thu, 2017-08-17 00:00

Build a Better World Globe and brick wall

Volusia County Public Library follows the annual summer reading program themes as specified by the state of Florida. In 2017, the theme was Build a Better World.

To promote and raise awareness about summer reading, library staff created a visualization of the world to display on the branch's curving staircase wall. Staff then invited patrons to write their reading recommendations on individual "bricks" that "built" the community reading wall. Each brick included a book title and author recommended by local participants.

Paint by Sticker

Submitted by brussell on Wed, 2017-04-12 11:58

Paint by Sticker lion

Stickering is a fun alternative to the coloring craze, and it requires few supplies. I purchased three "Paint by Sticker" books — two for children and one for adults — to use at the event. Participants were invited to pick out whatever image they wanted from the books and go to work!

The children's images took about 30 minutes to complete, and the ones for adults took approximately an hour.

Watch the video below to see how painting-by-sticker works.

Tiny Library

Submitted by harata on Thu, 2021-01-07 09:05

Photograph of the tiny books, one open to reveal the pages.

The most successful displays I've done at my library have been passive readers advisory. For the last five years or so, I’ve done a monthly display of minature books based on the top YA titles checked out in my library system, with the top 10 books getting four readalikes. 

8 Ways to Save Money on Programming in a Tiny Library (Part 2)

A group of women lined up in the library

In last month's post, "8 Ways to Save Money on Programming in a Tiny Library (Part 1)," I offered four strategies that have helped me stretch my small programming budget to its limits. I talked about looking to friends and family for free programming; tapping resources in your community; partnering with other organizations; and turning your own passions into programs.

The Giving Tree

Submitted by cbarbus on Thu, 2017-10-12 15:57

tree with holiday decorations

The Giving Tree is an annual event that begins right after Veteran’s Day and runs through mid-December. We set up an artificial pine tree that collects donations of new children’s hats, gloves, scarves and socks (and sometimes new picture books) for distribution within our community before the December holidays.

Mini-Maker: Sew a Felt Cat

Submitted by cbarbus on Wed, 2016-03-23 00:00

Complete felt cat

Wanting to encourage our patrons to try their hand at sewing, we created a mini-maker kit with everything they'd need to create a felt pocket cat. This passive program allowed patrons to take a kit —  given out at the front desk, displayed next to a completed cat and flier — and create their own cat/pencil holder/fuzzy friend. 

Art and Activism: An Interview with the Magpie Librarian

Ingrid Abrams, founder of The Magpie Librarian blog

Magpies are birds with a reputation for collecting shiny objects. It was with this in mind that children’s librarian Ingrid Abrams, a colorfully dressed, self-identified glitter addict, named her blog The Magpie Librarian. Abrams created the blog in 2012 to document her adventures in library programming at the Brooklyn Public Library. Four years later, she has nearly 5,500 social media followers who stay updated on her library advocacy and inventive displays.

Tags
Magpie Librarian
passive programming
displays
social justice
urban librarian
Ingrid Abrams

Who Am I? (Display)

Submitted by cbarbus on Wed, 2015-07-22 16:34

Who Am I? A Black History Month Interactive Display

An interactive display for Black History Month, Who Am I? shares historically important facts about 17 black Americans. It invites users to read the information and guess to whom the facts are referring, then lift the cover page/fact sheet to reveal the image of the person, along with date of birth and, when applicable, date of death.

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