Special Winter Rule

One thing I do want to share with you is one of the procedures we have in place at our library that another library asked me about.

We do cancel our Youth Programs if our local schools close for weather related conditions.

As soon as we get word the above image gets shared across our social platforms. We prefer to err on the side of safety and tell our families that we would rather they stay safe and read together. We also follow it up with a special message telling them to share with us how they are spending theirsnow day.

Cookies & Quiet: Programs for Parents

What started off as a bit of a joke with parents has evolved into an evening program for parents. Almost any parent can relate to the ordeal of trying to steal some peace & quiet for themselves (let alone one with sweets), so we thought that seemed like a good premise.

DIY Rings & Magnets

One of the simplest recurring crafts I do is DIY Rings & Magnets. The sheer versatility of this program means that I can do it over and over and it is always something different.

Plus, fancy jewelry or super unique locker magnets.

Notebooks

I am all for recycling products into something new, so when I started hoarding old food boxes I'm sure nobody was surprised. From here we have made some really original notebooks.

 

Rock On: 1990s

Celebrating the 1990s gives me the perfect opportunity to bust out the henna, which definitely hit its stride in the states during the decade.

Rock On: 1970s

The 1970s saw the rise of disco and lava lamps, but other really awesome things like Tinkertoys and Macramé.

Our week will kick off with Willy Wonka and the Charlie Factory. Naturally we will be needing chocolate to mix in with our popcorn this week.

Our activity is two-fold this week. First up, is DIY String Art which has made quite the comeback in recent years so we are also on trend. String Art is super simple-pick up some cuts of wood about 12x12 or 10x10 or 8x8 (you get the idea). Grab some small nails (make sure they have decent heads so your string doesn't slip off). Embroidery floss is cheap and pretty easy to find. And hammers (many hammers).

From there all you need is patterns. Simple, simple patterns.

Tape patterns to the wood and then start nailing in around the border.

Then you start weaving your floss through in whatever pattern you desire.

The designs are limitless.

Additionally, you can also jazz up your wooden canvas too. Cover it or frame it out with washi tape or just give it a coat of paint.

That's really it.

Now the pet rocks are even easier. Bag of rocks, sharpies, googly eyes and a glue gun and you are ready to celebrate a truly random invention that made its creator a millionaire back in the 70s. That is definitely something to celebrate.

Rock On: 1960s

Oh the '60s-what fun! The hair, the clothes, the dancing....

Rock On: 1950s

We are kicking off our teen summer programming with the 1950s and I can't wait!

Rockin' Through the Summer

This summer is all about music and I couldn't be more excited. After taking a super long time to get a game plan I final hit the right note.

We are jamming through the decades this summer!

Safety and Security in Your Library

Do you work alone at your library?
Do you work at night? 
Do you work with the public?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then there are times you are at risk when you are at work. 

But luckily there are steps you can take to make you and your workplace safer.

If you are a solo librarian, find a buddy in town that you can call when you need back up. Make it someone who can be there in seconds and put them on speed dial or listed 1st in your contacts.

If you work at night, always work with someone else. Close together, lock up together and leave the building together. Make sure your outdoor lighting is bright.

Keeping safe while working with the public is on a case by case basis. However, there are some good resources for you:

Albrecht, Steve. (2015) Library security : better communication, safer facilities. American Library Association. 9780838913307

Graham, Warren Davis. (2012) The black belt librarian : real-world safety & security. American Library Association. 9780838911372.

Khan, Miriam. (2008) The library security and safety guide to prevention, planning, and response. ALA Editions. 9780838909492

Mallery, Mary. (2015) Technology disaster response and recovery planning : a LITE guide. ALA
TechSource. 9780838913154.

Writing Club Basics

 "You can make anything by writing." --C.S. Lewis

Right next to book clubs, writing clubs hit right at the core of what we love.  Having a future author in our midst is something we can all hope for. While writing clubs work for any age group, my focus for this article will be on teen writing clubs, but the elements in this can be easily applied to any age.

Chapter 1

The Groundwork

This is where you need to decide the absolute basics of your club. This needs to focus on when you will meet, how often, your age range, and your meeting length.

Chapter 2

The Meeting

What do you want your meetings to look like? Is the focus sharing their creations they bring with them or writing practice within the meeting itself? Perhaps some combination of both?

Chapter 3

The Sharing

During the sharing, it is important to make your teens comfortable to not only share but critique too. It is also a good time to decide if you will also be reading their work or do you just have teens critique one another.

Chapter 4

The Practicing

I personally love giving teens the opportunity to practice their writing. Writing prompts are a great source of inspiration and can get them thinking outside the box and help teach them how to overcome writer's block. Prompts can be anything: sample dialogue or plot, photos, music, etc.

Chapter 5

The Extras

Other things to consider:

• Food. Goodness gracious you must feed them!
• Icebreakers. We dread them, but they do help. Just make sure they aren't lame.
• Bribery. Consider rewarding those who share their work. Candy is always a pretty solid motivator.

Recycled Book Art

National Library Week is almost here and one of my favorite activities is cutting books apart.

Don't fret-these aren't just any books. They are usually books that are featured in our "Why We Weed" segments and so they really, really need to go (really!).

And then--craft time begins!

Why You Want a Button Maker

I love buttons. Not as much as I love stickers, but it is still a weird obsession of mine. I have an odd assortment of buttons that I have acquired over the years and sometimes they even come in handy (if anything to inspire personalized creations).

That's right I do have a New Kids on the Block button-be jealous!

Anime Club Basics

Anime is super-fun and crazy popular. Consider starting a club celebrating anime at your library and be prepared to make some non-library users incredibly happy.

Book Series Review

I'm a fantasy book geek. I also love science fiction. I just can't get enough of either. But I also enjoy history, alternate history, Tolkein, dystopian literature and studying social roles. And now I have found a series that offers all this and more!

 I recommend the Emberverse series by S. M Stirling.

In 1998 all technology dies: electronics, automobiles, planes, and the flash point of gun powder, oil and alcohol. Basically the laws of physics change throwing the world back into the middle ages.
It's a prolific series that spans from 1998-2045 (maybe further, I haven't read them all). Many different societies emerge: knights, gaelic cairns, Tolkein inspired Rangers, military bases,  ranchers and so much more.

It's got everything: apocalypse, alternate history, dystopian societies, kings, witches, horses, Dunedain Rangers, sword fights, cannibals, archery, and sociology. Give it a try!


via GIPHY

Book Club Basics

Varieties of Book Clubs are extensive and can range from the simple to the oh-so-complicated. But one way or another they should also be oh-so-fun.

What follows is a general overview of things to keep in mind and how to get started with a book club of your very own.

Craft Clinic: Memory Games

No-Mance Parties

This February we decided to celebrate the unromantic side of this romantic month by having a No-Mance Party.

Why We Weed: BioHazard (Viewer discretion is advised)

Disclaimer: Not for the weak of stomach.

I do not have a photo of this. I will not apologize. It was too gross.

The other day I was working at a School Library, helping to add items to our consortia catalog, when I came across a very disgusting thing.

Nancy Drew (not the disgusting part)

The Mystery of the Ivory Charm (still not the disgusting part)

--with a mysterious pinkish stain (getting warmer)

--that had chunks in it (HOT!)

--and a very distinctive smell. (TOO FAR!)

That's right. A book shelved among all the others, was covered in dried, pink vomit. 

And I touched it! 

That went in a plastic bag and in the trash. Some things cannot be saved.

via GIPHY

FrankenToys, Part 2

 When you run a program every year you can always learn something new. FrankenToys (I've just done it for the 6th year in a row-I think) is no exception.

One year I learned to have them dismember the plushes full of beans over the trash can (that was a mess).

Another year I learned that yarn can make for some awesome oversized stitches for a truly Frankenstein-esque creation.

Last October it was all about the fluff.

For more on FrankenToys: click here to visit our earlier post.

We're Back

It's probably no coincidence that September 14th was our last post. It was a big day for both of us-the BookGeek1 family welcomed our newest little BookGeekBaby.

That's right, we now have a little girl that we can raise with a healthy love of literature and libraries.

We are loving our Mom and Daughter matching panda socks.

From BookGeek2:
My apologies as well. While my changes are not as dramatic or life altering as becoming a parent, I have had some changes as well. I am growing into a new position at work as a Continuing Education and General Consultant. That means my posts are going to shift to a broader library spectrum than just IT.
Plus I gotta spoil BookGeekBaby. It's my job as honorary aunt!