I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/27/why-family-game-night-belongs-at-your-library/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com In a world full of screens, schedules, and distractions, it can be surprisingly hard to find time to simply sit down together and play. That’s why hosting a Family Game Night at the library can be such a powerful—and j

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/25/art-club-at-the-library-exploring-light-and-space-with-dan-flavin/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com 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

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/23/hosting-an-after-hours-nerf-wars-event-at-your-library-everything-you-need-to-know/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com If you’re looking for a high-energy program that will have your registration list filled within hours and kids talking about the library long after they leave, Nerf Wars is it. Durin

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/22/host-a-stuffed-animal-storytime-clinic-activity/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com Looking for a fun, engaging program for young children that combines storytime with hands-on learning? A Stuffed Animal Storytime followed by a “Stuffed Animal Clinic” is the perfect way to spark imagination, build ea

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/13/gutsy-gourmet-turning-after-school-hunger-into-a-high-engagement-library-program/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com 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,

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/11/more-than-a-party-how-our-back-to-school-bash-came-together/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com Our Back to School Bash was loud, joyful, and a little chaotic in the best way possible. Music filled the air. Kids ran from games to giveaways. Families left with backpacks full of school supplies, fresh

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.

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/12/starting-from-scratch-why-phonics-became-the-priority/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com When I stepped into my Youth Services role, one thing quickly became clear: our children’s collection was missing a critical foundation— phonics. There were no phonics-specific books at all, and while we did te

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2026/02/12/easy-high-impact-socialization-programs-for-the-public-library/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com 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 childre

How to host a fun, educational class trip to your library

I've moved! PLEASE VIEW & BOOKMARK THIS POST ON MY NEW  WEBSITE: https://youthservicesplaybook.com/2024/10/13/among-us-irl/ This site is no longer maintained. You're missing all of the new content! www.youthservicesplaybook.com *post includes affiliate links to help support this blog Hey there, beautiful programming people!! This is a program that I have been wanting to do for a long time and FINALLY got around to doing it not once, but TWICE! I've fine tuned it enough to be

An updated Home Ec class for your library!

Passive programming for all ages!

DIY Sidewalk Chalk

Boba Slime!