Activate Your Space with Programming
There are many sources of ideas for programming —the internet, your library colleagues, social media groups, webinars, etc. Library staff are usually eager and generous about sharing what they’re doing and what is particularly successful. The following are just a handful of resources for programming ideas.
Makerspace and Digital Media Lab Resources
This list of links offers curated resources for planning makerspace or digital media spaces and choosing useful tools and materials.
Resources for STEM/STEAM Projects and Programs
This curated list of STEM programming ideas starts with responses to the question “does this belong in a library?”
From Tots to Teens: STE(A)M-powered Ideas for Programming (1-hour webinar)
The presenters in this webinar—"The Heathers"—are passionate about creating engaging and skill-building STE(A)M programs for kids from preschool age to teenage. Find out what to look for in a good program and hear their top picks for programs for each age range.
Family and All Ages Programming for Active Learning (pdf)
The Smart Space is ripe for bringing together community members of all ages to engage in active learning—and it doesn’t have to cost a lot.
Program Palooza Brainstorm (pdf)
This list of programming ideas was generated by a collaborative brainstorm with the Round 2 cohort of Smart Spaces libraries; it’s organized by types of spaces – crafting/making, kitchen/cooking, kids’ STEM space, and teen space.
Partners in Programming (pdf)
You don’t have to invent and deliver all of the programming yourself. Your community members are a source of programming ideas and talent.
SkillShare Proposal Form (pdf)
So you got the word out that you’re interested in community members’ proposals for designing and leading programs at the library—terrific! What if you’re attracting more response than you can handle? And how do exert some quality control over your enthusiastic community? Take some direction from this form that Bellingham Public Library (WA) created to regulate and filter proposals from their community.
Learn the Art of Gathering (pdf)
Priya Parker, who wrote the powerful book The Art of Gathering, would like all of us to think more deeply about how and why we gather. This includes library programming.
Photo: Making Board Games by San Jose Public Library on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Smart Libraries Create Smart Spaces project was made possible by support from OCLC and a National Leadership Grant (project number LG-80-16-0039-16) from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Association for Rural and Small Libraries was implementation partner for the project.
Toolkit for Creating Smart Spaces
WebJunction offers a toolkit to help you re-envision your library’s place as a center of community learning. Explore more of the Toolkit for Creating Smart Spaces.