Program-a-Rama at ALA Annual 2016 in Orlando

Last weekend at ALA Annual 2016 in Orlando two Program-a-Rama sessions were held. Formerly known as Program-a-Looza (but changed because we do so love a good rhyme), Program-a-Rama was created as a way for children's librarians in public and school libraries to share and take home tangible programming ideas, tips, and resources. 

After introductions, each person shared a favorite cheap, easy, and successful program. There were so many wonderfully easy, yet ingenious ideas. Big ideas, like holding a student mock award or throwing a Hogwarts open house, and smaller, yet fantastic ideas, like making light up animals with LEDs and pipe cleaners or having a paper airplane flight school. 

Next, we did some group brainstorming on programming topics using pens and sticky notes. Totally participant directed, topics included preschool maker projects, International Games Day, and obstacle course ideas. 

Finally, we spent a few minutes discussing programming challenges and possible solutions, such as what to do when you have more kids than computers at a Minecraft event. 

Sessions were lead by Danielle Jones (Multnomah County Library) and myself (Denver Public Library) and we look forward to hosting another session at ALA Midwinter 2017 in Atlanta. We hope you can join us! 

Wondering what we talked about? Here are the notes from both sessions:

• Saturday Program-a-Rama notes 
• Sunday Program-a-Rama notes 

Want more programming ideas? Take a look at previous Program-a-Rama session notes, as well as a the notes from a recent passive programming brainstorming session held at the Colorado Association for Libraries 2015 Conference.

• Program-a-Rama notes from ALA Midwinter 2015 in Boston
• Program-a-Looza notes from ALA Annual 2015 in San Francisco

Program-a-Rama at ALA Midwinter 2016

Image by Dean Hochman via Flickr: 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/deanhochman/15304546246

Last weekend at ALA Midwinter 2016 in Boston the second Program-a-Rama session was held. Formerly known as Program-a-Looza (but changed to rhyme better), this grassroots session was created as a way for children's library staff to take home tangible programming ideas, tips, and resources.

After introductions, each person shared a favorite cheap, easy, and successful program. Next, we did some group brainstorming on programming topics using pens and sticky notes. Finally, we spent a few minutes discussing programming challenges and possible solutions.

This session was lead by Danielle Jones (Multnomah County Library) and myself (Denver Public Library) and we look forward to hosting another session at ALA Annual 2016 in Orlando.

Wondering what we talked about? Check out the Program-a-Rama Notes.

Want more programming ideas? Take a look at my posts about last year's Program-a-Looza, as well as a the notes from a recent passive programming brainstorming session.

Brainstorming - CALCON 2015

http://www.clipartbest.com/clipart-dcrarbAqi

Recently, Kahla Gubanich, Warren Shanks and I presented at CALCON 2015. Our session was called Hands Off!: Passive Programming for Children. During the session we asked participants to help us brainstorm ideas for a passive Halloween program for children. They came up with some super rad ideas compiled in this Google Doc. You can also take a look at our Prezi.

Many thanks,
Amy

Passive Programming Brainstorming Notes

Image from Torange.us

This week I co-lead a session on passive programming with my colleagues Warren Shanks and Kahla Gubanich. Although this wasn't an official Program-a-Looza session, we did a passive programming brainstorming activity and I'd like to share our results. The group of Denver Public Library staff came up with the brainstorming topics and then we all grabbed markers to jot down our ideas on big pieces of butcher paper. The three topics were a haunted house, LEGO, and Greek mythology. 

Check out the cool ideas: Passive Programming Brainstorming Notes

For more programming ideas, check out my post about our first Program-a-Looza sessions at ALA Annual 2015. 

-Amy

Program-a-Looza at ALA Annual 2015

This past weekend at the American Library Association's Annual Conference in San Francisco the first Program-a-Looza sessions were held. This open share session, brainchild of Danielle Jones, Kahla Gubanich, Mary Pearl, and yours truly, focused on cheap, easy children’s programming for public libraries. Inspired by grassroots sessions, such as Guerrilla Storytime and YA Smackdown, Program-a-Looza was created as a way for children’s library staff to take home tangible programming ideas, tips, and resources.

We held two sessions and participants were encouraged to brainstorm and bring their personal strengths and experiences to the table. First, each person shared a favorite easy to replicate program. Next, we picked a programming topic and spent 2 minutes brainstorming ideas using pens and sticky notes.


Wondering what we talked about? Check out the session notes.

• Program-a-Looza Notes - Sunday

• Program-a-Looza Notes - Monday

We plan to hold more Program-a-Looza sessions at ALA Midwinter 2016 in Boston. Stay tuned for more info on dates/times.