Summer Program Idea Swap by

Summer internships

jonathanlclark — 2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

To support libraries interested in launching their own internship program, PLA is pleased to offer the Inclusive Internship Toolkit: A Practical Guide for Teen Internships, available as a free download.

Idea: Community Art Swap

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Early literacy programming

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

We continue all of our early literacy "morning lineup" programming that we do during the school year, but we rethink some aspects knowing that our attendance will be much bigger, and outdoor environments have different challenges. Our patrons expect a full slate of morning programs for young children every week.

Scavenger Hunts

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Picture scavenger hunt around the children's room (we change ours out every month with a different theme and the families LOVE it), spot the difference and "I Spy" displays.

ANIMALS!

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Anything with animals - we have received grants to get in paid presenters but therapy dogs that the kids can read to are free and always a hit.

Library Makers: a Community of Leaders and Learners

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Library Makers is a networking group for library staff and volunteers who run maker programs and makerspaces in libraries.

• Connects and supports library maker staff of all levels of experience.

• Equips and advances library professionals to be innovative leaders for library makerspaces.

Teen Incentives

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Our teens that earn reading badges this year will receive little scratch tickets that I am making myself. I have partnered with local businesses so the teens can earn free slices of pizza, baked goods, gift certificates, and raffle entries.

Get messy

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

We do Messy Art every year! We've done stomp painting, finger painting, splatter painting... anything and everything that will make a mess. Kids love the approval of and enthusiasm around getting messy, and parents love the opportunity to provide the activities to their kids without the cleanup. It is pretty staff-heavy and lots of prep and cleanup involved, but worth it. Everyone loves it.

Board Games

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Throughout the year we have been having a passive program were we just put out board games in the children's room for families to play on specific evenings. This summer we are going to try a program to learn specific, more unusual board games that we have access to. (We'll see how that goes!)

Adult incentives

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Adults love prizes too and definitely seem motivated by them to complete a book bingo card in the summer - especially gift certificates for food/restaurants and our local used bookstore, even for small amounts. (And our Friends of the Library who run the bookstore are happy to donate them).

Teen Incentives - Stickers!

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Last year we offered vinyl stickers, kawaii-design erasers, and small buttons. A few patrons liked the erasors, but the vinyl stickers were highly-desired. We had a couple parents tell us afterwards that their teens were working their way through our bingo card primarily to get the vinyl stickers!

Escape Rooms at the Library

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Unlocking Adventure: Creating Themed Escape Rooms

Incentives - Brag Tags

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Our children loved earning these throughout the summer. They have SRP-themed ones and generic ones. Generic can be used all year, or are a great way to start if you're not sure if you'll have leftovers at the end of summer reading. Though kids often like the themed ones even after the program ends!
Library - Brag Tags® - School Products (schoollife.com)

'Scout' Badges Buttons

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

This year we are making badges with our tiny button maker that patrons can earn and add to their lanyards that they get at sign up. We are making them look like scout badges to go with our take on All Together Now, but the buttons can be fit into other themes!

Candy Sushi

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

https://www.thespruceeats.com/candy-sushi-recipe-521299

ASL Story Directory

kpowecsl — 2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

This ASL Stories Directory makes it easy for you to find hundreds of free videos of ASL retellings of favorite books. Research shows that reading and signing stories together helps promote essential literacy skills for ALL children: deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing.

Incentive

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

We have a "mystery" mosaic poster. The readers earn stickers to add to the poster throughout the summer and try to guess what it will be.

Writing Letters

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

We are hoping to collaborate with the town Senior Services department to have an ongoing letter writing program over the summer where youth correspond with veterans and other seniors in town.

Counting Jar

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Fill a jar with objects. Kids submit guesses for how many objects in the jar. Winner gets a prize or raffle entry.

Find Your Voice: Yoga!

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

Yoga can be a great resource for all ages to express themselves and practice in selfcare, so my library is working with a local mom who's a certified yoga instructor on a kid friendly yoga class!

Wordless Books

2026-03-20 15:46:11 UTC

I'll be doing a "Make Your Own Storytime" with wordless picture books. I'll gear it towards 3-5 and have a book per kid (or close) and we'll work together to form the story. Then do some kind of craft.

CLiF Summer Readers Grant

jonathanlclark — 2026-03-20 17:04:55 UTC

The Summer Readers grant offers a CLiF presenter who will tell stories, read aloud from books, and share their love of words, reading, and writing at your program site. Every child who participates chooses two books to keep from a wide selection of brand-new children’s books that CLiF sends in advance of the event.

Applications are due by May 18, 2026. We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible to have a better chance of receiving programming and to enjoy greater scheduling flexibility.

jonathanlclark — 2026-03-20 18:07:07 UTC

Acts of Science with SciStarter at Your Library

Summer Programming Grants

jonathanlclark — 2026-03-20 18:25:03 UTC

Applications are closed for summer 2026 but will open again at the end of the year for 2027.

VLA Recommended Performer List

jonathanlclark — 2026-03-20 19:13:20 UTC

Help update VLA’s recommended presenters spreadsheet. Submit your recommendation through the Recommended Presenter Submission Form, which then populates their Recommended Presenters, Performers, and Speakers Spreadsheet. Please feel free to add recommended programs here as well!

Winnie Belle Learned Grant

jonathanlclark — 2026-03-25 12:05:21 UTC

Grants in the amount of $2,500 will be awarded to up to seven libraries whose proposals best meet this year’s grant theme focused on the United States 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (2026), the Vermont Statehood 250^th anniversary (2027) or both. The application closes at 11:59 pm on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Announcing the Streets as Places Micro-grant Program

jonathanlclark — 2026-04-06 14:13:22 UTC

Local Motion new program to help fund street gatherings in Vermont.

The program, “Streets as Places,” is with the aim of helping Vermonters connect with each other, by offering a small sum of money – $200 to $500 – to help residents hold block parties, neighborhood potlucks, and more.

Applications are due by April 22 and can be found on the Local Motion website.

NASA STEM Grant for Vermont Libraries

jonathanlclark — 2026-04-08 14:15:11 UTC

The Vermont Department of Libraries and Vermont Space Grant Consortium have partnered to invite applications for grants of up to $1,000 to support STEM programming at Vermont public libraries. The objective of this grant program is to increase STEM engagement capacity at the community level across Vermont by providing our public libraries with supplemental funding to deliver high quality programs. Applications are due by 11:59 PM April 17, 2026.

Vermont Humanities Rapid Response Grants

jonathanlclark — 2026-04-09 17:37:35 UTC

Rapid Response Grants are quick turn-around small grants for humanities-focused community projects. We award Rapid Response Grants of up to $1,000. We do not use federal funding for Rapid Response Grants. All 250th-related projects are eligible for funding and encouraged to apply.
The summer deadline is Wednesday, May 20 2026.

CLiF Rural Library Grant for 2026-27

jonathanlclark — 2026-04-15 13:18:31 UTC

Are you a small public library serving rural populations? Do you have a limited budget and yearn to expand your children’s library collection? If so, check out the CLiF Rural Library Grant for 2026-27 that is designed to create connections between the library and local elementary school. This grant offers a year-long program with new books for the public library and elementary school library, CLiF author/illustrator presentations for local children, book giveaways, and a menu of options for additional support serving youth ages 0-12. Applications due May 25, 2026. https://clifonline.org/rural-library

3D Dino Templates

jonathanlclark — 2026-04-21 20:17:38 UTC

3D Dino Templates for displays or programs

3D Printer Templates

jonathanlclark — 2026-05-13 14:49:19 UTC

Thingiverse is a thriving design community for discovering, making, and sharing 3D printable things.