Cindy Crushes Programming: My Programming Resolutions
Editor’s Note: For a few years now, on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, Teen Librarian Cindy Shutts has been sharing her programming with us here at Teen Librarian Toolbox. Today, she is sharing her programming resolutions for this new year. This post was supposed to go up last Wednesday but I, Karen Jensen, didn’t get her act together. That’s my bad. I don’t really do much programming at the current moment, but her resolutions are good. Especially #1. Share your programming resolutions with us in the comments.
I am going to try to do new things this year but also keep a few of the same resolutions I have every year.
Do Not Over Program
In the past I have been guilty of scheduling too many programs and wearing myself out. This year I want to focus on doing programs that will matter to the teens and having less filler programming.
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Don’t Just Do the Programs You Think You Should Do
Every library is different and the needs of the teens are different. I have tried to do more educational programs because they look good on the calendar, but my teens have expressed that they do not enjoy those programs. I know my kids want fun programs. Remember, if you are a public library, that teens spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week in school and when you are asking them to give you their free time, they don’t want more school.
Don’t Make the Program Too Difficult
This is something I have done. It’s hard to tell how difficult a program will be six months before it happens, so I have sometimes over planned and the program attendees have not been able to finish in the allotted time.
Make Programs Something I Will Enjoy Doing as Well
I know if I am more passionate about a program, it will rub off on the teens. Such as when I do the Escape rooms I did recently for Five Nights at Freddy’s and Percy Jackson. When I am enjoying the programs, teens can tell and are more likely to enjoy the program as well.
Filed under: Cindy Crushes Programming
About Cindy Shutts
Cindy Shutts is the Teen Services Librarian at the White Oak Library District in IL and she talks programming every 1st and 3rd Wednesday. You can follow her on Twitter at @cindysku.
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I am a school librarian and I have sponsored a Book Club for years, but have always had trouble with participation. I think there a number of reasons for this, one is the same kids are in several different clubs and the club meeting times overlap and kids choose other clubs. Now, reading your article, maybe the book club is too much like school. Even though the kids choose the books we read. We have an author who has donated a book, and is coming to the school, and I cannot get the book club members to attend a meeting or read the book. Maybe it’s too much like school. I know one thing, I am giving 100%. This is my last year doing a book club. It’s been like this for years, and I am just tired. I have no problem with students taking the lead, but the kids at my school do very little and it is very discouraging to me after I have sent out emails, spoken to them personally, and they still do not attend, and if they do, they have not read the book, even the ones they choose. I have better things to do with my time.