Virtual Program: Dig Deeper Storytime and Craft

 For one of my first virtual programs, I did a storytime around our library's Summer Reading Club theme: Dig Deeper. I was happy to start off my first virtual program as a storytime because truth be told it was a little scary to do any program virtually. Thankfully, everything worked out and it was a lot of fun. I do miss having a live audience though because it really adds to the atmosphere of storytelling.

I started off this virtual program talking about the summer reading club and provided step-by-step instructions on how to register online via Beanstack.

After that brief explanation, I read Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. This was the perfect story to go with our digging deeper theme that fit well with the gardening theme. It also was available to use from the publisher. (This really narrowed down choice of books quite a bit.)

Once I was done reading our fitting story, I explained how to do an easy gardening carrot craft using a paper plate, construction paper, and tracing your own hand.

This was a good start to getting the feel of doing things virtually.

Drop-In and Get Crafty: It's Showtime at Your Library!

I always enjoy putting on this drop-in program to kick off summer reading. This year's theme was "It's Showtime at Your Library!" and after looking at different craft ideas, I knew I wanted to do this cute popcorn craft because it would go perfect with the theme.

Everyone cut out their popcorn buckets and glued their piece and their movie ticket onto their construction paper. The fun part was scrunching up yellow tissue paper to put a 3D effect to their popcorn.

This program is always a great chance to talk to patrons and inform them of upcoming programs.

We had some coloring pages to color and some nice Kids Bop background music.

Summer Reading Club Outreach

Today, I visited with a local school to tell 1st through 5th graders about our Summer Reading Club program at the library. It was a great chance to see the kids in the community and spread the word about a valuable program that promotes reading. 

I was able to tell them all the details of the program, answer any questions, hand out fliers to their teachers, promote upcoming programs, and read them a short story.

The kids were so welcoming and sweet and had a lot of great questions. It was also nice to visit one of my elementary schools as a kid.

Right now, it's all about gearing up for the kickoff this Saturday because after all, "It's Showtime at Your Library..."

It's Showtime at Your Library!

Reading By Design

I really liked how my last spring bulletin board turned out, but it was time to take it down and promote the Summer Reading Club, Reading By Design. 

I had the idea to use Little Elliot, circus font letters, and pink and blue dots to go along with the promotion iRead has been using. I like the way this turned out, but I have to get better at centering. 

 

It won't be up for long anyway because our library lacks bulletin board space and we will be needing a lot of space to put up names of those who sign-up. What makes this year different is that we will be separating each name by school they attend and will be having them write their name on a book die-cut to be displayed. Of course there will also be a spot for those who aren't old enough to attend school yet and those in private and home school. 

Our busy summer will soon be starting!