Passive Programs

Passive Programs Discussion

Hello, everyone! I know this is very tardy, but the passive program group had a great discussion at the May youth meeting, and I wanted to share with you all some of the things we talked about.

Available All the Time

These are activities that live out on your public floor or can be requested from the front desk at any time.

• Toys
• Coloring table
• Board games
• Puzzle on a table
• Magnetic end cap display:
• Mr. Potato Head
• Felt Stories
• Lacing cards

As needed

• Simple craft
• Movies (flexible) - staff concerns
• DS
• SRP Overflow Craft
• Crafts/LEGOs (1 for babies, 1 for older)
• Crayons
• Photo ops - baby Instagram

• Balloon arches (Jennifer)

Rotating

• Interactive displays
• Where do you want to travel? Etc.
• Measuring - are you as tall as…
• Bluebonnet List - which have you read?
  

• Giant crossword puzzles
• LEGO wall
• Post It Note Poetry / magnetic poetry wall
  

• Jumbo word search
• Literary riddle quest/scavenger hunt

Issues

• Staff buy-in
• Youth services staff can lead the way in passive programming, but it is important to get all staff involved to keep everyone’s sanity
• Engagement: how do we get caregivers to participate in the activities with their kids?
• Model best practices and engage with kids when possible
• Put descriptions of activities out with early literacy tips
• Clean up: how do we motivate kids and caregivers to leave the library the way they found it?
• Keep any crafts in one specific area (I find a butcher paper table helps a lot) and keep an eye out for wandering supplies
• Model by cleaning up throughout the day
• Treasure chest reward for picking up
• Loss
• As Sara counseled me, you cannot be too precious about anything you put out on the public floor. Use your discretionary budget wisely to purchase items that are sturdy, not too expensive, and kid-appropriate.  
• Don’t spend your own money!

*Bonus note on flipkits: Evelyn was in our group and we spoke about the issues with people opening flipkits inside the library and gluing and painting everywhere.  

Further Reading on Passive Programs:

• Jbrary (kids)
• Programming Librarian (teens)

Also, I am sad to say that this will be my last blog post! I am on to new adventures.

I have loved working with everyone in youth services here at HPL.

-Angela Barratt