Art Club was one of the most personal programs I ever created so this will be the first of a multi-part series on this blog. My undergraduate degree is in art, and for a long time, I thought I would become an art teacher. Life took me to the the library instead—but as youth services librarians know, the library is a place where you can make almost anything happen. Art Club became my way of bringing those two passions together. Each month, we explored a different artist or art

If you’re looking for a passive program that keeps kids engaged, builds critical thinking skills, and practically runs itself, let me introduce you to one of my all-time favorite passive activities I've created: Break-In Bags , also featured in School Library Journal ! This program quickly became one of the most talked-about activities in the youth department. Kids would come in just to see if they could crack the code—and the best part? It requires minimal staff time once it

Teens are one of the hardest age groups to reach at the library—at least, they were for me at the beginning. When I started as Youth Services Librarian serving ages 0–18, teen involvement was almost non-existent. They came in, grabbed what they needed, and left. My After School Snack Initiative helped get more kids in the door—teens included—but it raised an important question: How do I keep them in the building and engaged after they’ve collected their snack? The answer, it

If you work with tweens and teens, you already know this universal truth: They are always hungry after school. They walk into the library at 3:15 with backpacks, stories from the day, and the kind of hunger that could level a vending machine. And if your library is anything like mine, snacks instantly become social currency. So instead of fighting it, I built a program around it. Gutsy Gourmet is a monthly themed tasting program where kids try foods (and drinks!) they might

Sometimes the best library programs are the ones that let participants get a little messy, a little creative, and leave with something they actually want to keep.

Not every library program needs instructions, worksheets, or a finished project. Some of the most successful programs we’ve offered were built around one simple idea: free play . Free play gives children the space to explore, experiment, and problem-solve on their own terms. It encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking without the pressure of doing something “right.” While many libraries have embraced free play through programs like Lego Club or another free

An updated Home Ec class for your library!

Passive programming for all ages!