Cindy Crushes Programming: 5 Virtual Programming Ideas You Can Do Right Now, Part 2

With a lot of library teen programming pivoting to virtual for the forseeable future, teen librarian Cindy Shutts has been working on putting together virtual programming ideas that can be implemented quickly. She’s talked about running a virtual Dungeons and Dragons game. And she’s shared ideas like virtual escape rooms and digital art shows in part 1 of this series. Today she’s talking online puzzles and games, including pandemic favorite Animal crossing.

Online Puzzles

Evan Mather at Arlington Heights Public Library worked on doing a virtual puzzle with library teens via jigsawpuzzles.io and it was a blast. The amount of time depends on the difficulty of the puzzle.

Jackbox Games

https://www.jackboxgames.com/games/?fbclid=IwAR0J3X8uSlMxe3lXJmKZ8nr4Hbr-4q_llQk8PD-SUiUQR4nXqc42hvmHQJQ

Tracey Todd Vittorio at The Plainfield Public Library had ten teens come to her first Jackbox program and had the teens asking for more. I would recommend checking the ages on any games you use since some of them can have more adult content than others. Here is a list of their games that come with a filter.

https://jackboxgames.happyfox.com/kb/article/3-are-your-games-family-friendly-what-are-they-rated/

Animal Crossing

A lot of libraries are having their staff develop library islands so that they can do virtual programming through Animal Crossing similar to using discord. This is fun since Animal Crossing is super popular. The downside is the staff would need to have a switch and the game, but if they do it could be a very easy way to program. The staff would issue a one time dodocode so that teen patrons can come visit the island. http://www.ilovelibraries.org/article/visit-library’s-virtual-branch-animal-crossing-new-horizons

Animal Crossing Cindy in her library room

Mario Cart Tournaments

Mario Cart is always a winner for teens and on the switch you can run a virtual tournament. This was a program the Brooklyn Public Library had and it is easy for teens to find because they can search under tournaments for your library’s tournament.

Virtual Volunteer Service

Since my teens get service hours via summer reading and it is looking like many libraries will have limited or cancelled summer reading programs this year finding virtual service opportunities is more important. I have seen a few libraries who have started a pen pal program for teens to write to seniors who are in nursing homes since many of them are not able to see their families. This is a great way to connect and partner with an outside group.

More Virtual Programming at TLT:

Cindy Shutts, MLIS

Cindy is passionate about teen services. She loves dogs, pro-wrestling, Fairy tales, mythology, and of course reading. Her favorite books are The Hate U Give, Catching FIre, The Royals, and everything by Cindy Pon. She loves spending times with her dog Harry Winston and her niece and nephew. Cindy Shutts is the Teen Services Librarian at the White Oak Library District in IL and she’ll be joining us to talk about teen programming. You can follow her on Twitter at @cindysku.

Filed under: Teen Programming