This is the last week for Kids Summer Reading Program ideas before we move to Teen ideas. So this week we're talking about Food Programs as they can overlap.
More on Foodie Fun programs. All the Foodie Fun programs are up on the library's YouTube page.
It's that time of year again to start planning the Teen Summer Reading Program.
I have a bunch of craft ideas to choose from this year. I'm not sure teens care about the theme as much, so my crafts don't always follow that.
We're virtual again this summer, so we're creating Take & Make craft bags.
We talked about crafts and food. My favorite nonfiction books. Nonfiction books that I plan to order.
This week is the last week and I'm diving into a program that we do at the library for kids and teens. It's been our most popular program during the pandemic.
It's is a costly program. The Friends of Cragin Library generously pays for it. We've been doing these programs monthly, but in the summer, they are weekly.
Foodie Fun is a cooking program. Or rather, a baking program. We pick out a recipe, purchase the ingredients, bag up the ingredients, and film a video. If it's a very common household item, we don't include it. Then the kids/teens/parents pick up a bag, watch the video, and make the sweet treat.
We hand them out on a Saturday. A video of instructions drops that morning.
We usually have between 30 and 40 bags. They are gone by Tuesday.
What do we make?
Usually sweets. We pack each bag enough for a serving. If they like it and want to make more, they have the instructions. We do seasonal themes - the picture above is bags from our turkey Oreo pretzel. I like making different Chex Mixes or variations on chocolate bark.
The time has come to start planning the summer reading program. So I'm busy looking at Pinterest for fun crafty ideas as possibilities for programs with teens.
I've done two weeks of crafting - you can see them here and here.
Even though it's winter outside, in the library world, it's time to start planning summer reading. This year's theme is all about fantasy and fairy tales in Imagine Your Story.
Three weeks ago I looked at Castles, two weeks I looked at Fairy Tale Crafts, last week I looked at STEAM programs, and this week I'm talking about food programs.
We are celebrating with a few programs at the library:
Apple Nachos
Celebrating National Dessert Day
A passive program surrounding pizza toppings
And a contest for those checking out new teen or middle grade books from the Teen Room.
I'm excited about these because I hope they will bring more teens into the library and they will realize that we're a fun bunch, they have a safe space in the library, and you can just hang out in the library. And I hope they spread the word. Because it's an important message for the community.
I know Summer Reading is starting to wind down. But my head is filled with ideas for fall programs. Fall for my library runs from September thru December. This is my first fall for teen programs at the library, so I'll be doing a mix of old ideas that worked well and new ideas.
It sure feels like Spring now in New England, but I'm sure that will change soon. It's nice to imagine that we might just sail through winter without huge snowstorms and move right into Spring. Or maybe it's just fun to imagine Spring programs. So I thought I'd attempt to help and toss out a few ideas for fall - all from pinterest
