Programs on a Shoestring

Jennifer SchultzYouth Services Librarian

Fauquier County Public LibraryYouth Services Forum Executive Committee

Why “Programs on a Shoestring?”

• Expensive performers• Budget restrictions

Gathering Ideas

• Go local• Many benefits of using local talent/resources• Partnership with local businesses• Parks & Recreation

Websites

• Making Friends• Disney’s Family Fun• EZ Library Programs• Kaboose• 4 YA• YALSA Wiki

Email Lists

• PUBYAC• YALSA-YAAC

Community Partnerships

• Theater workshop with local community theater

• K-9 unit demonstration• Musical “petting zoo” and performance with

local performing group/music fraternity• Amateur performing groups, karate/dance

centers, local businesses

K-9 program

Musical Menagerie

Musical Menagerie

Musical Menagerie

Super Science

• Lava Lamp• Pencil Through Bag• Uninflating Balloon

Crafty Creations

• Jackson Pollock program• Cards for Troops• Goth sock puppets• Sidewalk chalk art

Cards for Troops

• Low maintenance program• Can be an all-day “make and leave” program• Good community event• Don’t use glitter-can make troops visible at

night• Operation Write Home• Scrapbook Royalty Cards for Troops

It’s the Simple Things

• Sock hop• Express Your Inner Child (Arlington County)• Local author visit and story time• Smoothies• Ice cream in a bag• Wacky Wednesday (10 wacky things in the

library)

Toddler Sock Hop

A Bubbly Program

• Materials: water, liquid detergent (Joy or Dawn), Karo syrup, food coloring (optional)

• Mix everything together (ideally, 4 hours before program)

• Make bubble blowers with pipe cleaners• Will it Pop? science experiment

Express Your Inner Child

To the Top

• Mountain climber presentation w/show and tell

• Craft: paint rocks• Booktalk: The Young Adventurer’s Guide to

Everest/Chester• Snack: climber’s food (chocolate bars,

camper’s food)• Program idea from CRRL

Express Your Inner Child

Going Green (Earth Day Celebration)

• Informational tables from local parks & rec and local environmental groups

• Decorated banner• Teen Council collected and distributed free

plant clippings to every participant• Seed guessing game• Face painting• Program organized by CRRL Teen Council

Happy Trails (hiking theme)

• Scout troop demonstrated hiking/camping gear and hiking safety

• Storytelling: Sody Sallyratus• Food tasting: camping food• Snack: DIY Tail Mix (children mixed cereal,

raisins, small pretzels, M&Ms)• $21.47• Program idea from CRRL

DIY Magazine Bows

• Free Kids Crafts website• Cut 9 strips from magazines/catalogs• Recommended ¾” wide and 9” long• Loop one end of the strip, then the other end • Poke a brad through the middle• Slide each remaining looped piece through the

brad• Open the brad

Magazine bows

Bow #1 up close

Bow #2 up close

CD Scrapbook—Supplies Needed• “yes paste”• Foam brushes/craft sticks• Olds CDs with a small hole drilled in top• Hole puncher• Scrapbooking papers• Gold rings/ribbon• Double sided tape• Gel pens, stamps, ink pads, stickers• Rulers, penvils• Thin markers, scissors• pliers

CD Scrapbook Instructions

• Everyone gets 3 CDs• Trace & cut out 6 paper circles to glue onto the

CDs• Punch a hole in the paper where the hole is on the

CD• Glue circles to the CD (using “yes paste”)• Decorate and attach decorations using doubled

sided tape• Attach a gold ring/tie lace to hold CDs together

Contact Information

• jennifer.schultz@fauquiercounty.gov• Twitter: @kiddosphere