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Science Rocks! @West Springfield Public Library

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Science Rocks! @West Springfield Public Library

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We've had science programs for 9-12 year old for about 5 years now with great success. The kids love the hands-on activities, the parents loved that they were excited about a "school subject" I was excited because... science is cool!
Like many, COVID made us rework how to present the program.
Each month a short video is posted on the library's YouTube channel with information on the subject of the month as well as a "how to" on a project they can do. The families pick up the materials for the project or experiment on that day.
This month, American Heart Month, we talked about one of the most important muscles in our body, the heart.  The materials were to make their own heart pump (Rhoda Crowell)

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Fiske Public Library, Wrentham...It's for the birds.  Mini pinecone feeder take home craft kit. (includes directions, pinecone, birdseed, craft stick to use instead of a knife, piece of yarn)

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Fiske Public Library, Wrentham...It's for the birds.  Mini pinecone feeder take home craft kit. (includes directions, pinecone, birdseed, craft stick to use instead of a knife, piece of yarn)

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We are offering several storytimes on Zoom and Lego Live, which has had up to 18 sign-ups so far.  We are also doing programming for older ages. One new monthly program is a Creative Mindfulness program that includes a
take-and-make craft  for ages 8-12. I have short and child friendly breathing exercises, a singing bowl for them to practice listening, and a fun calming take-and-make craft. We made Mandalas using recycled DVDs and CDs this month. Some new editions include: a monthly creative writing meetup on Zoom with ice-breaker games, and
Uke-Crew with Zoom Bingo. (Jen Struzziero)

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Read-Aloud Book Club at Milton Public Library

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Read-Aloud Book Club at Milton Public Library

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I have run a book club here for the last several years, while I read a book to the participants while they do a hands-on activity. This club, known as the SPUB Club (Super Popular, Unbelievable Book Club) has BLOWN UP during the pandemic! I regularly have 15-20 kids in grades 2-6 participate via Zoom, and the hands-on activity these days is often eating dinner :) We are currently reading The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street - a little on the long side for this crowd, but they are enjoying it. (Sara Truog)

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We started a program in which families get a kit each week to do storytime at home. In the first one they get a pizza box with a felt board and then after that the kit includes a felt story, science experiment, puppet to create, and books from the collection as well as the rhymes and songs and outline. It is registration and they pick them up any time during the week at curbside pick up, It is a bit of work as we didn't realize it would be so popular so we are figuring out the balance of it but so far a huge success and the feedback is really positive. Amesbury Public Library (Clare Dombrowski)

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We have a whole bunch of virtual programs this fall, which you can see the flyers for here! I'd suggest opening the image in a separate tab so that it can zoom in more easily.

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Via an informal poll I learned what patrons want here is focused fun learning activities for kids.
I created a virtual learning room via Google Slides. I am planning to do a new one every month or so. This month is pollinators and includes a downloadable printable learning packet with experiments, crafts and learning pages as well as interactive links for kids to learn more. I used my Bitmoji to make it more personalized, as well as adding in a couple of my pets! I've gotten good feedback so far!

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Dracut Public Library: Regular Programming 

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Dracut Public Library: Regular Programming 

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For babies and toddlers I do a video once a week called Mini Melodies. I teach two rhymes or songs and talk about how they promote early literacy.
We have one live and one prerecorded story time a week and craft videos using common household items every two weeks.
I am running a virtual Young Writer's Club for grades 3-5. We meet every 3 weeks on Zoom. I teach a little lesson on writing and we play various games designed to encourage storytelling skills.

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I’m still doing Storywalks with crafts.

For Talk Like a Pirate Day, I did this book and activity. I found the bag puppet idea online and loved that the bag for the puppet also contained the materials needed (except a glue stick).

My bag puppet faded a lot in the sun.

Fun, thrifty and easy!

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We currently have 116 members of our closed FB group where we post story sessions.  My weekly STEAM Story Time with Make & Take kits for the projects has been well received.  The Toddler Story & Craft (every other week) has good views, but only a couple of people pick up the Make & Take kits.
Teen & Adult Make & Take kits have only had a few takers.
We offer Read-to-a-Dog via Facebook Live, but no one really participates.  We decided early on not to do any more paid virtual programs, as many libraries have reported lack of attendance for those.

We do quite a bit of Reader's Advisory book bundles.  I have a couple of families who email me a list of topics every week, and others just say "Please pick out another 5-6 (or a dozen!) books".

We did 2 StoryWalks, since we had them in storage.

I want to try one of those virtual book shelves to highlight New Releases in the Library.

We will be passing out kits to make Mummy Luminaries for the Town's upcoming "Spooky Walk", along our new Riverwalk trail in downtown.  The families will make the lights ahead of time, then set them in place when they go on the walk. Several town organizations are jointly

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Book Bundles and online storytime have been successful.  Working on take home art and science kits which ranked high on the patron survey regarding services.  Starting our Fall Reading Challenge on Monday, October 5th.  Fall Storywalk coming soon.  Every year we do a costume swap and have a storage area full of donations from previous events.  We can't accept donations but we can give away costumes to those in need via curbside service or on the holds shelf packed up in bags.  I've also been updating a virtual storytime room.

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In Stoughton, we have tried a few different virtual programs. The most popular seem to be our virtual family storytime, take and make crafts that we make together on Zoom, STEM programs with live animals presented by Blue Hills Trailside Museum and our summer magic shows. Here are our October events!

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April here, from Essex (TOHP Burnham Library)...I hosted a Zoom event for our teens (but could easily be done with older grade school children) that turned out to be very well received and so fun! I created kits, each with a library mug inside and an ingredient list. Then we met on Zoom and I revealed the exact measurements and together we made mug cakes baked in the microwave. They were super yummy and easy! I'd be happy to share the recipes I used if anyone is interested : )

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Second Outdoor Photo booth for Fiske Public Library: 

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Second Outdoor Photo booth for Fiske Public Library: 

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Fall/Halloween Outdoor Photobooths at Fiske Public Library: Looking for a fun fall activity?  Come try out our Fall and Halloween photo booths behind the library.  Enjoy the new StoryWalk on the library lawn, WE'RE GOING ON A PUMPKIN HUNT, and take home a surprise treat!  Happy Fall!  (Feel free to add your photos in the comments below.  You could even wear your costume for the photo!)

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Fall/Halloween Outdoor Photobooths at Fiske Public Library: Looking for a fun fall activity?  Come try out our Fall and Halloween photo booths behind the library.  Enjoy the new StoryWalk on the library lawn, WE'RE GOING ON A PUMPKIN HUNT, and take home a surprise treat!  Happy Fall!  (Feel free to add your photos in the comments below.  You could even wear your costume for the photo!)

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Too young to vote in the Nov. 3rd election?   You're not too young to vote for your favorite book character at Fiske Public Library.  Pick up a ballot at the front door.  Check out the candidates posters in the children's room windows.  Cast your ballot and drop it into the book drop by Nov. 3rd, 2020.  Every vote counts!
(I have lots of characters in the windows...here is a sample..)

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We offer ZOOM storytimes as well as prerecorded unlisted ones on YouTube, that way there's something for everyone. We record crafts for our teens and talk about them in our live ZOOM sessions.

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We are doing 3 levels of portable programming this fall-winter since we don't know how long in-person programming will be out.
A-Z literacy envelopes for ages 3-6, make a paper animal and literacy sheets that correspond to weekly letter.
STEM Grab & Go for ages 7-11, monthly STEM/craft project bags (at least 2 per bag).
Teen Takeaway for ages 12-17, monthly project bags (at least 2 per bag).
Our school district started full remote so we opted away from virtual programming and wanted to get the tactile activities out to kids, away from screens!

PS-I love padlet!  Tried to do one in spring for YA book club to post things about books they liked (not so successful) but I also created one with a bunch of virtual resources for families.

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I am making Mystery STEM bags with challenge cards for some homeschool families.  I am filling paper shopping bags with recycled materials and odd and ends like pipe cleaners, cups, wire..pretty much anything.  Each bag will get a challenge card and the student creates something to complete the challenge.  An example is: While going on an adventure in the rain forest, you become lost from your group.  Design a device to get their attention so they can find you.
A day or so after they get their bags, I plan to set up a Zoom meeting so the students can share their thoughts and creations.

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We're logging on to zoom for 30 minutes to chat and play with legos. I bring a challenge to try, but it seemed to be more talking about our day/summer/etc. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's nice to see kids' faces and voices!
-Rachel from Stoneham

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We did two and I think I'll keep doing them until snow flies!