In an effort to keep the programs running without cutting the amount we offer, I've come up with a few that can be offered with minimal effort. Too much planning, preparing and how much staff time is used on program day is the reason we're told we have to cut some programs. The more time spent on them, the less time is spent working on a desk. Speaking as someone that does the desk schedules for the entire staff, I know how hard it is to get the desks covered. Obviously, covering the desk, no matter which one it is, is the most important part of a library staff's job.
I started Knit/Crochet Club, Parachute Play and Beat the Librarian last year as a way to keep me on the desk, but still offer special programs. Parachute Play is for ages 2-4 years and only lasts 30-45 minutes. Everything I need for the program is contained in a bucket. No preparation necessary after that initial "buy everything you need for the program."
Same goes for Beat the Librarian. I have this program right at the Children's Desk. Kids of all ages can drop in and try their best to beat me in whatever the game is that day. If they beat me, they get a small prize. I don't know if the prize is even necessary since bragging rights to "beating a librarian" seems to be enough, but I like giving prizes, especially when they aren't expensive. We play games like Guess Who, Battleship, Connect Four, Cooking Mama on the Wii, Mancala, Scopa, etc. Some of the kids have played the games before, but a surprising amount had not played so I was exposing them to some new things. My favorite games to play with them are games from other countries, which I'm relying heavily on this summer since it fits the theme so well.
Knit/Crochet Club is my favorite program. I host it every Monday night (library hours, my schedule permitting) and its very popular. Its drop in and I consistently have 12 or more kids and adults every week. And its not always the same people! This program consists of skeins of yarn that I separated into balls of yarn for practice and they have to bring their own crochet hook or knitting needles. I teach the basics, how to read a pattern and get started on making projects. I run this from the Children's Desk so I'm doing a program WHILE working the desk.
This summer I plan to host puppet shows. I have always wanted to have puppet shows, but we never had a good puppet theater or good puppets (the puppets were old and creepy). I got a design together of what I wanted my puppet theater to be and asked my dad to help me build it. It is built and ready to be painted, which I will get to once it gets warmer. I've started working on puppets.
I am going to do Cinderella stories around the world this summer and will put on a Cinderella puppet show! During the summer, we have teen volunteers so finding extra hands to do this won't be hard! Teen volunteers are a good reason why we can have so many things going on to promote summer reading. I wish we were allowed to have them all year! I have been working on these puppets while I'm working on a desk or at home, so it isn't taking EXTRA time, which is awesome. I did the same with the flannel board stories I make and the public don't seem to mind the felt spread across the Check Out Desk when they want to check out their materials. :)
So these are Cinderella and Prince Charming in progress:
I also have outfits for the 2 stepsisters and the stepmother ready to be sewed. I'm just nervous about their faces. I'm not sure how I'm going to go about them. I'm deciding between google eyes or just sewing the features on... I'm sure I'll have a bunch of faceless puppets before I decide what to do.
I have a few store bought puppets that I plan to use with different puppet shows, so hopefully by summer I'll have quite a collection to choose from and I can put on puppet shows all year.
