Looking for easy ways to spark collaboration and creativity in your learning space? Look no further than whiteboard surfaces, says maker educator Diana Rendina. From dry-erase tables to removable sticky tiles, there are myriad ways you can inspire kids to learn and create.
Do you have good a good reason behind why you want to start a makerspace? Taking the time to craft a vision for your space will ensure that it’s successful. The question is, how do you find your “why”? Seasoned maker Heather Lister gives you four strategies to help you define your vision and makerspace goals, as well as ways to measure your success.
School makerspaces can play a pivotal role in helping students cope with grief and loss. Get makerspace programming ideas and tips on how to facilitate compassionate making projects.
Inspire your adult patrons to spend quality time at the library this summer! Get display suggestions, interesting dates in history, and creative ideas to celebrate LGBT Pride Month, Global Running Day, and more!
Summer has arrived, and what better place for teens to spend those long summer days than at the library? The June calendar is filled with fun crafts, cool displays, and exciting celebrations, like LGBT Pride Month and Best Friends Day.
The school year is winding down, but that doesn’t mean the fun stops in your library! The May children’s activity calendar offers exciting activities, book suggestions, craft projects, and fun celebrations, like Lost Sock Memorial Day and Love a Tree Day.
Make parents happy with a month full of early literacy activities to do at home this May. Get ideas for crafts, STEM activities, books, songs, and fun celebrations, like May Day and National Space Day.
As a critical component of STEM learning, engineering is an important skill to teach kids starting at a young age. Discover eight engaging tools to use in your makerspace or classroom that will get kids designing, building, and using their imaginations, from building blocks to curriculum-based activity kits.
Are you applying for a grant to start your makerspace? Or maybe you’ve already won a grant or received a donation. Regardless of how you received the funds, chances are you need to make some quick but thoughtful decisions about what to buy. To help you decide, maker educator Diana Rendina recommends some tried-and-true tools for your makerspace.
When Cabot School District in Arkansas decided to focus on STEM learning in their makerspaces, they wanted a solution that would not only provide engaging, student-driven learning opportunities, but that would also make it easy for educators to get started. Discover how the Demco Maker Collection is getting kids and educators alike excited about STEM learning.
Having a school makerspace allows teachers to increase learning opportunities for students and build connections across grade levels and content areas. Read examples of making throughout the curriculum and gain ideas for your own classroom.
Robots and tech gadgets aren’t just for kids! Learn tips and tricks for running a tech outreach program for seniors that promotes socialization, fosters interaction, and boosts overall well-being (and is just plain fun!).
Need adult programming ideas? The May calendar will inspire patrons to celebrate Mental Health Month and make a library visit part of their wellness plan.
Spring is in full swing in your library with a May calendar full of teen programming ideas, like crafting paper flower bouquets, as well as fun celebrations, like Cartoonist Day; interesting dates in history; and more!
It’s not an April Fools’ joke – the April children’s activity calendar offers a month full of exciting programming. Find fun celebrations, like National Poetry Month; book suggestions; crafts; and more!
Give parents fun ways to build literacy skills at home this April with a month full of early literacy activities they can do with their little ones. Find fun celebrations, like Animal Crackers Day; craft ideas; book suggestions; and more!
When it comes to furnishing your makerspace, it can be tricky finding the right pieces to meet all of your needs. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what you need until you get your space up and running. That’s why we’ve done some of the homework for you. Check out three innovative makerspace furniture products available only from Demco that provide creative work surfaces and mobile seating and storage while helping you keep your space organized.
Having all the goodies is great, says educator Diana Rendina, but to build a thriving makerspace, you also need to spend time on nurturing the maker culture in your school. Read on for practical ideas you can implement right away.
[VIDEO] Maker educator Nick Provenzano teamed up with Demco’s interior design experts to create three separate spaces for making that follow the design process. Read about his schools’ new tools and furnishings and take a video tour of the space.
April is Stress Awareness Month, the perfect time to encourage patrons to relax at your library with these adult programming ideas from Trisha Frankland.
Encourage teens to get creative in your library this April with teen programming ideas, book suggestions, crafts, and fun celebrations from Trisha Frankland.
Let the creativity flow in your library this March with a children’s activity calendar full of activities, book suggestions, crafts, fun celebrations like Youth Art Month, and much more!
Welcome spring with a March calendar full of early literacy activities parents can do at home with their little ones. Find craft ideas, math and science activities, book suggestions, songs, and much more!
You’re ready to make the change to a flexible seating classroom, but how do you get parents and students on board? Find out with helpful tips and free downloads and start making parents and students your biggest flexible seating advocates.
You’ve got all the maker stuff, but where are you going to store it? Whether your supplies are on the move or stay in one place, the right makerspace cart can make all the difference. Find out how to choose a cart that work best for your space and discover six educator favorites.
Where will my students put their things? How often can they change seats? How do I prevent arguments over seating choices? If you’re thinking about implementing flexible seating, this post will provide you all these answers and more.
Learn what you need to consider before implementing flexible seating in your library or classroom, and get tips on how to make a smooth transition when you make the move.
Promote nutrition and health in your library this March with adult programming ideas that include display suggestions, crafts, fun celebrations, and more!
Keep teens feeling lucky this March with a month full of fun celebrations, book suggestions, STEAM activities, and much more!
Celebrate Library Lovers’ Month and feel the love all February long with fun children’s activities, book suggestions, craft projects, and much more!
Spread the love in February with a month full of early literacy activities parents can do at home with their little ones. Find craft ideas, math and science activities, book suggestions, songs, and much more!
Find display suggestions, craft projects, and passive adult programming ideas to celebrate unique holidays, birthdays, interesting dates in history, and much more!
Get teen programming ideas and book suggestions to celebrate fun days like Make a Friend Day, National Weatherperson’s Day, National Walk Your Dog Day, and much more!
Find out about the learning that took place when one administrator introduced her elementary schools to the Demco Maker Collection with Challenge Guide.
Learning about the mysteries of outer space appeals to all ages. Pair these five space-themed makerspace activities with a research lesson or create stations for STEM night to spark imaginations.
Welcome 2019 with a month of fun and creative children’s activities! In the January calendar, you’ll find book suggestions, craft projects, unique celebrations, and much more.
Help parents get the new year off to a fun start with early literacy activities they can do at home with their little ones. In the January calendar, you’ll find unique days to celebrate, like National Sticker Day, as well as craft ideas, book suggestions, and much more!
Looking to add flexible seating to your learning space, but not sure where to start? Meet the needs of all your students by offering different options. Choose from low seating, floor seating, soft seating and standing options to set your students up for learning success!
Computer programming is now considered a skill that is necessary for success in the 21st century workplace, and many schools and libraries are taking the lead in giving everyone an opportunity to learn this critical skill. Meet five creative, inclusive products that make it easy to introduce coding to kids and adults alike.
Inspire your patrons to get 2019 off to a positive start with the January adult programming calendar from Trisha Frankland.
Kick off the new year in your library this January with fun library program ideas for teens. Trisha Frankland shares celebrations, book suggestions, bulletin board ideas and more!
Making is not only for students who excel in math and science or who are exceptionally artistic. Makerspaces benefit students with academic and behavioral barriers to learning, as well as students who are nonverbal or those whose first language isn’t English. Discover the many benefits of maker education and how it offers every child an opportunity for hands-on learning.
The holiday spirit is in the air — and in your library! The December children’s activity calendar offers festive celebrations, book suggestions, craft projects and more.
This holiday season, give parents the gift of early literacy activities they can do at home with their little ones. The December calendar includes celebrations, craft ideas, math and science activities, book suggestions, songs and much more!
What happens when administrators give their staff permission to try new things? Learn how saying “yes” to makerspaces can result in powerful learning opportunities.
Make December merry with engaging adult programming in your library! Trisha Frankland offers display suggestions, craft projects, passive programming ideas and much more!
Spread cheer in your library this December with creative teen programming, book suggestions, bulletin board ideas and more.
There’s so much to be thankful for this November! Make it a month to remember in your library with fun children’s activities, book suggestions, craft projects and more!
Our November Early Literacy Activity Calendar is overflowing with simple activities parents can do with their kids to celebrate Thanksgiving, autumn and much more!
Maker expert Nick Provenzano saw firsthand how creative students could get when given the opportunity to create with cardboard. When he introduced Makedo™ tools to the mix, students took their creations to the next level.
Looking for ways to ramp up the STEM learning in your library or classroom? Take a closer look at K’NEX. K’NEX are a popular and versatile building tool for all age groups, and they allow students to quickly design, prototype and iterate. Get students’ gears turning with three quick K’NEX challenges from Diana Rendina.
This November, show your patrons you are thankful for them with creative adult programming ideas to celebrate National Novel Writing Month, Parents as Teachers Day, important dates in history and much more.
Help teens show their gratitude for others with creative programming ideas and book suggestions that celebrate Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday, Homeless Youth Awareness Month, National Adoption Month and more.
This October, scare up some tasty fun in your library with this children’s activity calendar from Matthew Winner. Get ideas for delicious celebrations like National Pizza Month and National Cookie Month, including book suggestions, craft projects, and more!
Give parents a treat this October with early literacy activities they can do at home with their little ones. Celebrate fun days like Homemade Cookies Day and Color Day with crafts, math and science activities, books, songs and more!
Whether you’re a librarian at the secondary level or college level, it’s likely you spend a lot of time talking and teaching about information literacy. Instructional and Research Librarian Dr. Lauren Hays offers five steps to guide you in creating an information literacy course that will help your students become skilled researchers.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hispanic Heritage Month. Get ideas to celebrate and bring greater awareness of Hispanic heritage, culture, and achievements to your classroom or library this month, and all year long.
Keep your patrons engaged this October with program ideas and book suggestions to highlight National Reading Group Month, American Archives Month, important dates in history and much more.
Trisha Frankland offers a myriad of programs and activities to bring teens together and celebrate inclusiveness this October: not only is it National Bullying Prevention Month, it’s also Unity Day and Stop Bullying Day.
Administrators play a key role in leading the charge for creativity and innovation in their schools. Find out how you can best support a makerspace initiative in your school or library from an administrator who has spearheaded new makerspaces in two different districts.
The September calendar features fun children’s activity and book ideas to kick the school year off right in your library. Celebrate International Literacy Month, Library Card Sign-up Month and more!
Give parents easy early literacy activities that they can do at home with their little ones this autumn. Get fun ideas for crafts, math and science activities, books, songs and more!
The real-world design challenge Diana Rendina gave her students resulted in a maker cart that is now manufactured by Custom Educational Furnishings (CEF) and offered through Demco. Read on to learn how you can offer your students authentic design challenges in your makerspace.
If you’re looking for validation that makerspaces belong in libraries, seasoned maker and librarian Diana Rendina has got you covered. Explore these 5 important reasons and share them with stakeholders to help them understand how a makerspace can benefit your school community.
Try these powerful library activities to get your students involved and excited to start the new school year.
If you’re familiar with Sphero®, you know that this tiny, highly engaging robot will have kids coding and creating in no time. Get students started with four popular design challenges from Diana Rendina.
It’s time to unveil autumn programming at your library. Laura Damon-Moore offers ideas and activities for celebrating fun festivities such as Good Neighbor Day, National Grandparents Day, and, of course, National Read a Book Day.
September is National Library Card Sign-up Month — what better time to draw teens into your library? Laura Damon-Moore shares craft projects, game ideas, book suggestions and more to entice teens to visit the library again and again!
Not only is August Back to School Month, it’s also Family Fun Month and National Sandwich Month. And days like Friendship Day and National Book Lovers Day offer even more opportunities for fun library activities for kids!
Summer may be winding down, but you can still help parents and caregivers keep kids entertained this August with simple and fun early literacy activities that celebrate Friendship Day, National S’mores Day, National Dog Day and more!
Cardboard is the perfect medium to get your kids started with making – it’s free, it’s abundant, and what kid doesn’t see potential in a cardboard box? Learn how makerspace veteran Angela Rosheim helps her students take their cardboard creations to the next level with Makedo™ tools and connectors.
Learn how you can promote creativity, teamwork and experimentation by creating a STEM club for middle-schoolers. Amanda Bressler helps you face down your fear of not being the expert, walks you through program setup and gives you a simple challenge to get kids started.
Calling all book lovers! Go beyond the library this summer with Matthew Winner’s roundup of fun reading activities for the whole family.
Holding a Maker Fest in your school or library is a great way to showcase all the wonderful learning taking place in your makerspace. Diana Rendina walks you through the details, gives you ideas for stations, and helps you make sure your own Maker Fest will be successful.
Ready to take on the challenge of choosing new furniture for your library? The right furniture choices can help you make small spaces seem a lot larger or make your casual spaces great for work as well. Use these tips to create multifunctional library spaces that meet your users’ many needs.
Summer will be winding down in August, and it’s the perfect time to plan library programs for adults that celebrate National Simplify Your Life Week, National Book Lovers Day and National Relaxation Day. So grab a good book, put your feet up and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
Make the most of the final weeks of summer this August with teen library programs that celebrate Friendship Week, Women’s Equality Day, Coloring Book Day and more!
Ready to get kids excited about coding? Library Journal Maker Hero Alisha Wilson shares how she draws a crowd with her Coding for a Cookie event with three key steps. You’ll gain a host of coding resources, learn about setting up stations, and get tips on advertising your event.
Matthew Winner shares book suggestions and children’s activity ideas for a deliciously fun July at your library! Not only is it National Ice Cream Month, but it’s also National Hot Dog Month, National Blueberry Month, and National Picnic Month. Is your stomach growling yet?
Give parents simple early literacy activities they can use to keep their kids learning this summer. The July calendar offers craft ideas, math and science activities, book suggestions, songs and fun celebration ideas for National Ice Cream Day, National Dance Day and more!
You’ve prepped, planned and set up your makerspace, now how do you make sure that students and staff use it? Nick Provenzano brings you ideas on how you can engage students and get staff excited about the learning opportunities offered by your makerspace.
Makerspaces can get messy! Do you have a strategy to stay organized? Angela Rosheim offers ideas to keep your school or library makerspace materials in order and easy to find. You’ll also get storage tips, ideas for handling works in progress and advice on how to get students to help keep your makerspace in order.
Matthew Winner shares LGBT resources and books to help educators recognize Pride Month in June and celebrate inclusiveness all year long.
After using their geometry skills to create string art, Winnetka fourth-graders supersized their projects using the hands-on makerspace tool Rigamajig. Learn how they created a giant-sized protractor and took their string art experience outdoors to apply engineering, math and art concepts.
Oh, the places kids can go in the library! Bring the simple joy of whimsical rhyming adventures to your library this summer with these Dr. Seuss activities, passive programs, decorations and much more.
Get ready for some tasty treats — National Ice Cream Month, National Picnic Month and National Sugar Cookie Day all take place in the month of July! Check out this library activities calendar from Laura Damon-Moore for more sweet adult programming ideas.
July is National Anti-Boredom Month — keep teens engaged with a calendar full of creative activities from Laura Damon-Moore. Get ideas for craft projects, games, book suggestions and much more!
There are so many great makerspace tools and supplies you could use in your unique space. But how do you choose which ones to buy on a limited budget? Expert Nick Provenzano gives you tips on what to keep in mind when figuring out the right tools for your space and shares some of his favorites.
Ready to have a great summer at your library? The June calendar is full of fun activities for kids and book ideas for summery celebrations like Great Outdoors Month, Great American Picnic Day and more!
Help parents build early literacy skills at home this summer! You’ll find ideas like celebrating Best Friends Day along with craft activities, math and science projects, books and more!
Delight your students with unique animal activities that celebrate our furry (as well as feathery and scaly) friends!
It’s May – time to celebrate Get Caught Reading Month! Kids and teachers are dreaming of summer, and it’s the perfect time to boost recreational reading habits. In this month’s post, Matthew Winner offers fun ways to promote good reading habits in your school and community.
Kick off summer with library programs for adults that celebrate all things nature! Not only is June Great Outdoors Month, it’s also time to celebrate National Garden Week, Nature Photography Day and more.
Laura Damon-Moore shares STEM experiments, craft projects, summer reading lists and more programs for teens to kick off a spectacular summer at your library!
Deciding you want to create a makerspace is easy. Figuring out what it’s going to look like can be the tricky part. Read on for tips from Nicholas Provenzano, aka The Nerdy Teacher, about how to develop your creation space. Get advice on gaining more space in your library, considering instructional needs and choosing furniture for your space.
Grab a book that makes you grin – May is Get Caught Reading Month and National Smile Month! So gather your favorite books and get ready to get caught at the library!
Give parents fun and easy ways to build early literacy skills at home. The May calendar is filled with crafts, math and science activities, book suggestions, songs and more!
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects one in 68 children. You can use your makerspace not only to bring awareness to ASD, but also to engage children of all abilities. To celebrate Autism Awareness Month in April, Gina Seymour provides you with five maker activities and tips on how to offer programming that’s both inclusive and fun year-round.
Did you miss the Feb. 22 #DemcoMakerChat about meaningful making? No worries! You can still learn from your peers about how to promote meaningful making in your makerspace. Here are some of the great responses shared during the chat. For the full archive, search #DemcoMakerChat on Twitter.
With the release of the new Disney movie, it’s the perfect time to encourage students to read A Wrinkle in Time and engage them with these thought-provoking activities!
Gathering ideas for your summer reading program? Look no further! We polled librarians and asked what their favorite and most effective programs were and they delivered. From teaming up with hometown heroes to STEM programming to taking your show on the road, there are so many exciting ways you can engage your community through summer reading.
April is National Poetry Month! Discover new ways to connect your students with poetry and get the wheels of creativity turning—in April and all year long.
What’s the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators? Librarian Amanda Bressler explains and provides tips on how to foster a love of reading in your young patrons by building intrinsic motivators into your summer reading program.
Laugh it up at the library this April! Celebrate National Humor Month with eight kids’ activities that are guaranteed to bring on the giggles.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares library programs for adults that will promote health and happiness in your library and celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, National Salad Month and more!
Celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, Backyard Games Week and more with engaging activities for teens from Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis.
We dare you to try to keep a straight face this April — it’s National Humor Month! Get ready to laugh it up at your library with a full calendar of engaging spring activities for kids.
Share the inspirational stories and amazing accomplishments of notable women this March — and all year round!
Make parents and little ones smile with lots of early literacy activities they can do together at home to celebrate April Fools’ Day, National Pet Day, National Superhero Day and more!
In the second installment of the Demco Master Maker blog series, Nicholas Provenzano, aka The Nerdy Teacher, talks funding and gives you tips on how to build an engaging and educational makerspace.
Library summer reading programs are key to keeping kids engaged and learning over the summer, a time when many kids experience learning loss. Libraries are starting to take a closer look at their traditional programs and asking, “How can we have an ever bigger impact?” And some have already enhanced their programs by transforming them into a summer learning model. Learn the reasoning behind this change from Youth Services Supervisor Amanda Bressler, and gain 5 steps to get you started in your own transformation.
What happens when you create an Innovation Lab at your library where people can explore, learn new technology and share their knowledge? Everybody wants in! Learn how Chad Mairn from the Seminole Community Library designed a Maker Boot Camp just for kids to connect them to coding, robotics, circuitry and more.
Encourage your patrons to forget their troubles and grab a good book — Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares engaging programming ideas for Drop Everything and Read Month, National Stress Awareness Day and more.
It’s no April Fools’ joke — Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares ideas for teen activities, craft projects, recipes and much more!
Encourage students to let their artistic sides shine with March activities that celebrate Youth Art Month, Music in Our Schools Month and more!
Brighten parents’ days with a month of springtime early literacy activities, crafts, books and more they can share at home with their little ones.
In this first installment of the Demco Master Maker blog series, expert Nicholas Provenzano, aka The Nerdy Teacher, shares his background, talks about the importance of makerspaces in schools, gives a preview of the topics he’ll be addressing in future posts, and invites you to join the conversation during the monthly #DemcoMakerChat on Thursday nights.
Makerspace skills aren’t often recognized on report cards, so how can you celebrate student achievement in those areas? Nicholas Provenzano, aka The Nerdy Teacher, is using badges to acknowledge the hard work, ingenuity, critical thinking and computer skills students develop through working in their makerspace. Learn how you can develop your own badging system for your space.
Libraries are safe spaces, known for finding ways to welcome everyone, and makerspaces within libraries should be no different. Award-winning library media specialist Gina Seymour provides tips and resources for how to welcome and accommodate all users in your makerspace.
This collection of valuable resources will help you and your students celebrate African American heritage not just during Black History Month, but all year long.
Need to add a little art to your STEAM makerspace? Looking for a way to motivate summer reading program participants? Love collaborative art pieces? Read what librarians shared about how they are using StickTogether mosaic posters for all this and more and steal some ideas for your own library!
According to teacher-librarian Angela Rosheim, “Just having students make will not automatically create deep learning — you need to have sound pedagogy to go along with it.” In this blog Angela shares how she integrates making into her curriculum, along with a fun lesson plan that combines research with design thinking.
Show a little love at your library with these easy and engaging Valentine’s Day activities that readers are sure to fall in love with!
This March, celebrate Youth Art Month, Teen Tech Week and more with teen library programs from Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and National Optimism Month with engaging adult programming ideas from Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis.
February is the month of hearts and valentines — but it’s also the time to celebrate Library Lovers’ Month with books, crafts and engaging activities that kids will adore.
Help parents capture their little ones’ hearts with a month of early literacy activities they can do at home together in February.
You’re never at a loss for ways you could increase your library services to better serve your students and your community. Unfortunately, you don’t always have the funds to pursue your vision, but knowing how to write a winning grant application can help. Successful grant writer and educator Mary Bangert provides six tips for writing effective grants and getting the funds you need to support your mission.
Help students show their appreciation to the important people in their lives with these simple gratitude activities for Thank You Month.
Adding a STEAM component to a literacy assignment can encourage students to think more deeply about what they are reading and writing. Library Journal’s Maker Hero School Librarian of the Year Alisha Wilson shares three ways you can collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate robotics, circuitry and coding into English class.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares ideas for engaging adult programs to celebrate Library Lover’s Month and keep adult patrons visiting again and again!
Celebrate Library Lover’s Month with engaging teen library programs, STEM experiments, craft projects and more from Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis.
Usher in 2018 with engaging January activities, fun celebrations and book suggestions that will get the new year off to an inspired start!
Help parents get 2018 off to a great start with a month of early literacy activities, including math and science activities, art projects and more!
In the wake of this year’s devastating hurricane season, books about Hurricane Katrina carry timely messages. These lesson plans will help children understand the impacts of such disasters while also teaching skills such as problem solving and researching.
Expand students’ understanding with these Universal Human Rights Month resources and tips for building community and connections in your classroom.
You have so many ideas about new ways to serve your community, but how will you fund them? Library expert Cathy Hakala-Ausperk answers your questions about grants and gets you started on the road to funding success!
Winter blues setting in? Stave them off with a full month of fun library programs for adults from Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares fun activities for teens to help them shake off the winter doldrums in your library!
The holiday spirit is in the air — and in your library! It’s Read a New Book Month, so grab a brand new book and a tasty treat, and get ready for a sweet December!
Help parents bring winter cheer into their homes with a month of early literacy activities, crafts and books they can share with their little ones in December.
In the same way that companies use data to target specific customers, libraries can use data to identify supporters and plan a targeted library campaign. Learn how EveryLibrary uses data to inform their messaging and rally support for libraries — and how you can do the same.
Engaging college students is about much more than providing academic services. Learn how taking student outreach to a personal level can open new doors at your library.
Offering outreach services like bedside storytimes and volunteer training is an extremely rewarding way to support hospitalized children and their families. Gather tips and advice for reaching out to hospital staff, launching a partnership and designing your programs.
Media specialist and author Diana Rendina discusses the benefits of providing guided instruction through maker workshops and shares tips and ideas you can put into practice right away.
Challenge kids to get creative and unleash their inner novelists by taking part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) this November!
Diana Rendina details 3 engaging makerspace projects that fit right in with the 2017 Teen Read Week (Oct. 8–14) theme: “Unleash Your Story.” Students will be eager to tell their stories with these creative activities that combine literacy and making.
Make December a joyful time of year with fun ideas for engaging library programs for adults from Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis.
You’ll find plenty of ways to keep teens engaged over winter break with tips, tricks and ideas from Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis.
This calendar is full of November activities for kids, plus ideas for celebrations such as Dia de los muertos, King Tut Day, Sandwich Day and more!
Give parents and caregivers an exciting month full of early literacy activities to share with children at home during the month of November!
Global literacy heroes are working tirelessly to ensure books reach impoverished and remote areas around the globe. Award-winning librarian and SLJ Mover and Shaker Krista Welz shares ideas for introducing kids to these literacy heroes and inspiring learning opportunities through their stories.
Flexible seating is becoming more and more popular in today’s schools. Maybe you’re thinking about trying it, but you still have more questions. See what questions our readers had and how our experts answered them.
Are you on the hunt for new ways to serve your community’s diverse population? Learn how Adult Services Manager Trinity Lescallett finds books and activities to engage adults with disabilities in her library, and gain resources for your own programs.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month and there’s no better time to teach anti-bullying lessons through children’s literature. Promote discussion, spark writing activities, and teach kids how to be buddies not bullies with these three library activities.
As the days get shorter, add a little sunshine to a patrons’ day with adult programming that celebrates World Kindness Day, Guinness World Record Day and more!
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares tips, tricks and ideas for exciting and engaging teen library programs for the month of November.
October is packed with fall celebrations like Candy Corn Day and National Book Month. Engage your ghouls and goblins with these fun October activities!
Candy corn and pumpkins galore — fall is in full swing and the early literacy development opportunities for parents and caregivers are bountiful!
Looking for simple, inexpensive passive programming? These effective, engaging and fun ideas are easy to implement and won’t break your budget!
The Newbery award-winning book “The One and Only Ivan” tells the inspiring story of a captive gorilla from his point of view. Use this book to capture students’ interest with 3 library lessons centered around Ivan’s story.
You’re ready to start creating your makerspace, but what kind of furniture and seating will you need? Use this handy checklist to help you decide how you will you use your space and what you need to think about when choosing furnishings.
Book repair got you down? You’ll be on your way to becoming a licensed book doctor with these tried-and-true tips from your peers. From prevention to cleaning to repair, these librarians have got you covered.
With more and more libraries curating Libraries of Things, library cards just got a little more powerful. Read how two libraries have jumped right in to offer unique collections to their patrons. You’ll learn about their new offerings, from wireless hotspots to yard games, and how they’re getting the word out to their communities.
Let kids discover the impact even the smallest kind deed can have on another person’s life with these 8 simple kindness activities.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares tips, tricks and ideas for engaging adult library programming for the month of October.
It’s time to get crafty with jack-o-lantern jars, recognize teens’ talents on International Artist Day and settle in with cozy new book releases.
Welcome autumn and Library Card Sign-up Month with a full month of September activities and book suggestions that will keep kids coming back to the library!
Inspire parents to have fun with little ones this month with fun early literacy activities like going on nature walks, celebrating Teddy Bear Day and more!
Get amazing back-to-school ideas from teacher-librarian, blogger and author Matthew C. Winner. Bring on the robotics, author interactions, and stretch goals.
You and your staff are passionate advocates for your library. But what really matters when it comes down to gaining funding for your library? Patrick Sweeney from EveryLibrary shares with you why it’s important to build a network of activists who will take meaningful action for your library and its initiatives.
The role of the school library is expanding and it’s transforming the way students use your space and the services you provide. Learn from an award-winning library media specialist about what you need to think about when transforming your library to a learning commons model. From the services you provide to the instructional and study spaces you design, a little planning can go a long way.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares tips, tricks, and ideas for engaging adult library programming for the month of September.
The start of the school year brings new energy and fresh ideas! Get your teens excited to help you promote Library Card Sign-up Month with #selfies, celebrate being weird on Wonderful Weirdos Day, and spread some sunshine on Positive Thinking Day. New book releases and STEM fun will help start the year off right!
Get ready to celebrate Back to School Month and Family Fun Month, plus a host of holidays like Book Lovers Day and S’mores Day, with fun library activities!
As summer comes to a close, help parents keep their little ones learning every day with simple early literacy activities they can do together at home.
Find ways to promote compassionate making with makerspace projects that connect students to their school, the community, the world and the environment.
From comfy seating options to powered tables for multimedia presentations, find out the hottest products for creating collaborative learning environments in your library.
Marketing your library can be a struggle — you have so many great resources, but how can you promote all of them? And what’s the best way to get the word out? Library veteran Cathy Hakala-Ausperk offers advice for your marketing questions.
After writing grants, garnering the support of the college foundation and finding community partners, St. Petersburg College’s Innovation Lab was born.
Do your teens (and adults) love YA lit? Expand their horizons with 10 #diversebooks compiled by librarian Angie Manfredi that they won’t be able to put down — and neither will you!
Sick of the same old plot lines? Never fear — Angie Manfredi has put together a list of 10 diverse books from a variety of genres that your adult patrons (and you) will love!
Get the wheels of creativity turning in your young learners’ minds with Pete the Cat activities that get them thinking, writing, movin’ and groovin’!
Kick off adult programs in August by celebrating National Watermelon Day. Then celebrate Senior Citizens, Women’s Equality, dogs, bad poetry and more.
Help teenagers make the most of the last days of summer with holiday celebrations, book suggestions, after-hours teen programs and craft projects.
Celebrations and holidays abound this month, from Ice Cream Month and Park and Recreation Month to World Emoji Day. So jump into some sweet July activities!
Summer is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time to give parents a month’s worth of fun early literacy activities they can share with their kids at home!
A cardboard building project turned into a successful library makerspace and countless opportunities for students to learn through making.
Not a tech wizard? Try these 3 low-tech makerspace projects from Diana Rendina and see learning through making come to life in your library!
Professional conferences can leave you feeling ready to take on the world with all the new ideas you’ve gathered. But attending conferences and events isn’t always an option. Fortunately, there are multiple online learning opportunities available to the library community. Discover your options!
Support (and opposition) for your library can come from some interesting places in your community — and it’s all about relationship-building. Start developing long-term relationships that can result in positive support for your library campaigns.
Too Small to Fail’s campaign “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” provides you with early literacy resources to help you further your goals of empowering parents and enriching the lives of young children.
Get kids’ creativity flowing with imaginative activities based on the fun-loving characters of Mo Willems!
Libraries are a welcoming and safe place for everyone and you can help ensure this message gets across to your patrons from the very beginning. Learn ways you can practice inclusivity in storytime and throughout your library.
Head of Youth Services and #weneeddiversebooks advocate Angie Manfredi gives you 10 children’s book picks to diversify your storytimes.
Celebrate International Joke Day, World UFO Day, the Fourth of July, new book releases and more with these fun summer ideas for teens.
The July calendar is filled with ideas for adult programs — ones that encourage us to get outside, create time to relax and try some new recipes.
Celebrate the beginning of summer with June activities and books that will get kids excited to spend vacation time at the library!
Send parents home with a myriad of creative ideas they can do with their kids to build early literacy skills all through the month of June.
Looking for the next new tech tool to add to your makerspace? See how School Librarian of the Year Todd Burleson is using drones to engage students and teach coding in his classroom.
Searching for ways to make your librarian resume stand out to hiring managers? Look no further for the answers to all your questions.
Show students how fascinating following their interests can be with these engrossing nonfiction activities that teach how-to and how-do!
We asked five libraries to tell us about how this one product helped them do more with their media collection. See what they had to say.
Ramp up for summer reading with fun teen events celebrating Gay Pride Month, World Environment Day, Father’s Day and more!
What’s on deck for your June adult programs? How about ways to celebrate Great Outdoors month and more? Download the June 2017 Adult Engagement Calendar.
As a follow-up to his popular Book Doctor blog posts, expert John Ison answers your specific book repair questions, both common and unique. Learn how to remove a grease stain, fix the spine on a children’s book and what to do when your cat attacks your paperwork.
Support learning at home with this free early literacy resource! Kids and parents will love making spring crafts, doing simple science experiments and more.
Library content marketing expert Angela Hursh answers librarians’ questions about how to ramp up their library’s newsletters. You’ll learn the best content to include, how to find it, and the most effective way to distribute your newsletter.
Get caught having fun at the library this May with book suggestions and spring activities to celebrate Children’s Book Week, Star Wars Day and more!
Get valuable tips for running a successful direct mail campaign, including how to segment your audience, design tips and how to craft an effective message.
Celebrate our planet and promote conservation with fun Earth Day activities that will have your whole classroom or library thinking green!
Inspire kids to get involved and help others in their community with fun volunteering activities for your summer reading program.
May offers lots of opportunities to deliver engaging adult programs, events, displays and more with celebrations like Get Caught Reading Month and Teacher Appreciation Day.
This month’s calendar is jam-packed with April activities and book suggestions that will get kids excited to visit the library!
Spring is in the air and there are so many days and ways to celebrate in May. Try out some of these fun teen activities, events, crafts and more!
Give parents a full month of fun and simple early literacy activities that they can share with their kids to boost learning at home.
There’s no reason why you should stumble through your library career! Get tips on how to find a professional mentor and how to become one yourself.
Ah, teenagers! They’re a unique age group with their own wants, needs, and one-of-a-kind personalities. How can you reach them? Create a space that offers them comfort, creativity, socializing, and exploration. See top picks in teen seating.
The Demco Makerspace Survey revealed the pain points many librarians have with starting and running a makerspace, but it also revealed some great advice for meeting those challenges head on. See what your peers had to say about their makerspaces and get tips and pointers.
Combine this fun writing activity with Mo Willems’ “The Thank You Book” and you’ve got the perfect way to encourage children to express gratitude.
Get the scoop on essential makerspace ideas from TeacherGeek® kits to MeeperBOTs and more to help learners build their creativity and critical thinking — two important 21st century skills.
Master maker Diana Rendina has got you covered for Teen Tech Week. Diana shares 5 makerspace projects that will inspire teens to become change agents in their communities while practicing the design process.
Celebrate Women’s History Month in March by highlighting the struggles and accomplishments of women throughout history. Use this book list to break stereotypes and inspire and motivate students to follow their dreams.
Renovated and expanded in 2015, the Schreiner Memorial Library (WI) was smartly designed to serve the community’s current and future needs. See why it was named Library of the Year from the Wisconsin Library Association in 2016.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares tips, tricks and ideas for engaging teen library programming for the month of April.
There’s more happening in April besides filing taxes. Offer pleasant adult library programs — April is National Humor Month and Lawn & Garden Month.
March is the month to welcome warmer weather and celebrate Women’s History Month and Youth Art Month with engaging children’s activities, books and crafts.
Parents and kids will love celebrating days like St. Patrick’s Day and Puppy Day with simple early literacy activities they can do at home together every day.
See how Holly Storck-Post, a youth services librarian at the Madison Public Library (WI), has found ways to take her LEGO programming to the next level.
When this elementary teaching veteran read about the benefits of flexible seating in classrooms, she just knew she had to try it. Learn why she cleared 30 desks out of her room and replaced them with flexible seating and why she’ll never go back.
Libraries are known for offering equitable access to their services. To ensure that everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, feels welcome in your library, follow Jessica Jupitus’s 10 tips for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Measuring the impact of programs and services is a challenge, but it can be done. Learn how a library partnership and data sharing can get you started.
A year ago we published the first Adult Engagement calendar. Each month was filled with seeds of inspiration and ideas for programs of interest for your adult patrons. It has been a fun experience, and I’m amazed by how many interesting and obscure things there are to celebrate.
Teens are sure to find a topic to get excited about during the month of March, including women’s history, March Madness and Extraterrestrial Abduction Day!
Show the love in your library this February with heartwarming books, feel-good crafts and fun library activities from Matthew Winner!
February is filled to the brim with early literacy activities and books inspired by Valentine’s Day and more. Spread the love!
Prepare to be fascinated by the 2016 Paralibrarian of the Year. Winner Brown Biggers shares how his IT role makes important connections with students and faculty at UNCG’s academic library.
Read how the Gail Borden Public Library won the 2016 Upstart Library Innovation Award for taking traditional library summer reading programs in an exciting new direction.
There are inviting library signs and then there are library signs that just don’t work. Cathy Hakala-Ausperk reveals signage secrets.
Turns out socializing helps fight the signs of aging! Gain ideas to kick off your 2017 adult library programs for January and February.
Matthew Winner of All the Wonders is here to help you get ready to ring in the new year at your library with January activities and books that are sure to put big smiles on kids’ faces!
Help parents get the new year off to a great start with a full month of simple activities they can do with their little ones to boost early literacy skills.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares tips, tricks and ideas for engaging teen programs that’ll pack your library this February.
Children’s Librarian Holly Storck-Post brings STEAM, making and literature together with four preschool programs for preschoolers — happy making!
If you’ve found time to watch any of the Demco-sponsored webinars, you know we are fortunate to partner with smart folks who share their expertise and experiences. What you may not have discovered is the archive of the questions attendees asked but were not always answered during the live session. Read on to find answers to questions on library space design.
The results are in and one lucky makerspace fan has won a $250 Demco gift certificate! See who the winner is and read why your peers think makerspaces are essential to libraries.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Sharona Ginsberg highlights the benefits of makerspaces in academic libraries and gives tips to start you on your way to success.
Follow the lean startup process to makerspace success: start small, give yourself the freedom to fail and be willing to learn from your mistakes.
Ugly Sweater Day, new book releases, DIY crafts and more — celebrate the holiday season with these fresh ideas for teen library programs!
Warm up your library with fun December activities and heartwarming books that welcome winter and celebrate families and traditions.
Kids and parents will love getting cozy and sharing simple early literacy activities like wintery crafts, heart-warming reads and delicious treats!
Do you wish your library’s marketing efforts were more effective, but you’re not sure what you’re doing wrong? Library marketing expert Angela Hursh shares 5 tips you can implement immediately to improve your library’s promotions and get results.
It has been 8 years since the learning commons trend took hold. Where are we now? Learn about the 3 zones every library needs and what products best support different learning styles.
If you struggle to get community members in their 20s and 30s to use the library’s services, this post is for you! From partnering with a local pub to holding Punk Rock Aerobics in the library, Sacramento Central Library Manager Jessica Jupitus shows you how to design unique programs that speak to millennials and Generation X. Get ready to branch out and have some fun!
Learn how to evaluate your collection for diversity! Get diverse books and multicultural author suggestions, plus activities to help create a culture of inclusivity.
Having trouble managing your boss? Don’t want to be a difficult boss? This advice column is for you. Library expert Cathy Hakala-Ausperk breaks it down for you.
There has been a significant leap in adult programming and outreach. Read about 5 ways that libraries are pushing the envelope and leading the way in their communities.
There’s tons of engaging teen activities to be thankful for this November, including some election fun, delicious snacks and DIY buttons and origami.
Send parents home filled with gratitude for these simple early literacy activities they can do with their kids every day of the month!
There’s something to be thankful for every day of the month! Get your fill of November activities and books for Thanksgiving, Family Stories Month and more.
Looking for ways to take STEM programming to the next level? Check out MeeperBOTS! These mobile-app-controlled motorized BOTS bring LEGOs® to life. Plus get a tried-and-true program that’s sure to capture kids’ interest.
Accomplished maker and educator Heather Lister provides you with sample projects and resources to incorporate the maker movement within your school, library or classroom (or all three!), with little to no technology requirements.
Vote for Pete! During this presidential election season, use these 5 engaging activities to help your students understand how the election process works.
Amy Koester, The Show Me Librarian, shares 8 exciting STEAM activities to help you celebrate Space Week (Oct. 4–10) in your library!
Have you ever wondered what to tell parents and caregivers when they ask “Is it ok to share digital picture books with my child?” Early childhood expert Elizabeth Stilwell helps answer this question and shares advice and resources for librarians and caregivers.
Ready for some spooky fun this October? Pack the month full of creative Bullying Prevention Awareness Month and Halloween activities for teens!
Give this October calendar full of simple, fun ideas to parents for an at-home literacy resource to share with their little goblins — all treats, no tricks!
Celebrate Halloween, National Fire Prevention Week and more with spine-tingling books, creepy crafts and more spooky October activities for kids!
We asked renowned librarians and authors at the top of their game about their job advice for new librarians. What they said are things we can all learn from!
Want to get more buy-in from staff and added exposure for your maker programs? Children’s Librarian and maker extraordinaire Holly Storck-Post fills you in on the benefits of holding a maker program for the entire library staff.
Looking for ways to use the littleBits Synth Kit? Director Mary Glendening shows you how to emulate one of the most popular littleBits programs held at CreateSpace@MFL, located in the Middletown Free Library. Learn the step-by-step directions for running the program at your own library and encouraging kids and teens to invent music with littleBits.
What makes for a positive library user experience? What strategies and products can help? Read the blog post and browse a helpful idea gallery.
Are you entertaining thoughts of ditching Dewey and exploring subject-based classification in your library? Nationally Board Certified Librarian and Mover and Shaker Tiffany Whitehead gives you tips and tricks to help you start genrefying your library.
Learn how Skype can help create authentic, real-world learning experiences in the library. Plus, discover new ways to reach out for World Read Aloud Day!
Big on makerspaces, but tight on budget? Library Director Mary Glendening offers tips on how to obtain grants and other funding to bring your ideas to life!
Engaging a reluctant reader can be a challenge, but Mo Willems is here to help! Supplement his engaging books with these Elephant and Piggie activities.
Join the conversation! Madison Public Library staff reflect on the organization’s recent successes and plans for future community outreach programs and service.
Mover and shaker Emily Ellis offers ideas for getting the whole family involved in STEAM activities through Tinker Day at the library, plus find out how your library can can leverage the popularity of Pokémon GO!
Embracing change can be tough for library workers. Our resident library expert helps you be the change you want to see in your library.
What’s on the horizon for your book clubs and adult library programs? Need inspiration? Demco’s Angie Schoeneck talks unconventional book clubs. Plus, the September and October calendars will spark new ideas!
Reading aloud every day can have a big impact on a child’s future success. Join Read Aloud 15 MINUTES and share this literacy program with your community.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Emily Ellis shares tips, tricks and ideas to help you provide fun and engaging teen programming this September.
Welcome fall with a bushel of exciting September activities! This month is Library Card Sign-up Month, the perfect time to show off all your library has to offer.
Hand this September calendar full of early literacy activities to parents and you’re giving them a valuable tool for sharing learning with their kids every day.
Quicksand, black holes and tsunamis — oh my! Combine attention-grabbing topics with engaging STEM activities and books, and draw in even the most reluctant readers.
Support young patrons’ literacy development and confidence through artistic expression with The Picture Show — an easy program for any library or classroom to implement.
A feeling of solidarity resounded at ALA 2016 with attendees focusing on new ways to serve those in need and the community at large. Read the recap.
How well is your library meeting patrons where they are and understanding customer needs? Read this ALA session recap to check yourself.
Kendra Jones and Cory Eckert, creators of Storytime Underground, share multicultural activities, books, songs, rhymes and resources for creating diverse storytimes.
Back to School Month, Family Fun Month and more — use these August activities to help kids soak up the last days of summer and get excited for back-to-school fun!
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Colleen Graves discusses design thinking and making and provides project ideas to get started tinkering with littleBits™ in your library and creating a community of makers!
The way college library spaces are designed to meet the variety of students’ needs has evolved considerably. Read one university’s story.
Library makerspaces come in many forms and offer places to tinker, develop work skills or invent. What are your makerspace goals? Check out 4 essential considerations and the latest products.
America Recycles Day is the perfect time to start a global collaboration project that gives schools and libraries authentic opportunities to learn and make connections beyond their walls.
Participating in National Voter Registration Day on September 27 is a win for your library. EveryLibrary advisor Nicole Powell gets you ready!
Negativity in the workplace is catching, but even one person can change the equation and channel a healthy, uplifting environment for all! For all the details, read this Library Advice column from experienced library professional Cathy Hakala-Ausperk.
What adult library programs will keep people coming back to your library? Get ideas on where to start. Plus, download July and August activity calendars.
Four County Career Center has found the perfect tool for supporting teen parents in teaching early literacy skills — The Very Ready Reading Program.
Open-air pop-up reading rooms? See how the Brooklyn Public Library partnered with leading community organizations to bring the library to the streets.
Ready to embrace functional space both indoors and out? Get ideas from the Nashville Public Library on how to create an amazing outdoor space and discover ways to bring the outdoors inside.
July is National Blueberry Month, Ice Cream Month and Hot Dog Month — so break out the summer snacks and find a sunny spot for your July activities!
Your physical space is one of your library’s biggest assets. Wi-Fi tracking technology can help you visualize how patrons are interacting with that space, as well as inform new library programs and space changes.
There’s immense value in library professional development, especially for those new to the field. Read all that one librarian gained from attending her first ALA conference, and get re-energized by your own development and networking opportunities.
Fact-finding doesn’t have to be boring! Harness kids’ innate curiosity with fun library research activities tied to the curriculum.
The teens involved in every step of the planning process for The Mix helped make this teen zone the place to be. Explore the results as Manager Cathy Cormier takes us on a virtual tour of the multiple areas of SFPL’s teen zone, their uses and the tools they feature.
The State Library and Iowa Library Association work hard to provide continuing early literacy education and resources for librarians to support Iowa’s youngest learners.
Makerspaces in schools are becoming more popular. Hear from our expert guest blogger, Colleen Graves, on how to secure buy-in and funding.
Use these inspiring nonfiction children’s books to engage young readers and help them to learn the value of, as well as the difference between, fact and fiction.
What happened at PLA 2016 doesn’t have to stay at PLA. Read highlights, listen in on conversations with librarians and more.
With the proper circulation, protection and repair (CPR) solutions for book care, your collection lives on. Check out strategies for reviving materials.
Even the most reluctant readers are drawn in by the excitement of extreme sports! Discover STEM project ideas that will kick-start kids’ enthusiasm and test their engineering skills.
On the hunt for makerspace ideas? Bring on the arts! The library is the perfect place to give students valuable creation experiences and an artistic outlet.
Guaranteed you’ll be more dialed into your community’ changing needs after reading Part II of our interview with Library Director Kate Hall. She shares community engagement strategies that have made her library a transformation agent.
Back by popular demand, check out the latest adult programming calendars for May and June.
It can be downright hard to land a library job. Cathy is here to help you ace your next interview.
By collaborating with Reach Out and Read clinics to improve early literacy from birth, your library can have a greater impact on the lives of the children in your community.
May brings showers of fun library activities! Celebrate all month long with Get Caught Reading Month, Physical Fitness and Sports Month and many more.
This guide is a must-have for librarians — chock-full of kid and adult coloring tips from tried-and-true programs across the country! Plus, the coloring contest winners are announced!
Dealing with college students and stress? Get down with the ABCs of de-stressing! It’s easy to get started — all of these activities are budget-friendly and simple to set up.
Read the inspiring story about how an Illinois library used creative community engagement strategies to make a statement about autism awareness.
As centers of learning, college libraries are reinventing their spaces to facilitate just about anything students may dream up. Hear from 2 academic librarians about higher education makerspaces and design labs.
Digital citizenship is a critical literacy for today’s students to master, and the library is a natural place to do it. With these online and print resources, you can create digital citizenship lessons that help students learn to act safely and responsibly, with courtesy and respect, in the digital world.
Paperback book covers extend the life of softcover books, but how do you know which one to choose? The Book Doctor explains the differences.
Collaborating with teachers for a Mo Willems author study can help you spark a variety of engaging student projects and highlight essential skills.
Your library’s summer reading program has been helping kids stem the summer slide and fostering a love of reading for years. If you’re looking for ways to shake things up and enhance the learning opportunities for your program, look no further!
What library makerspace tools and activities will be the most effective and the most engaging for your users? Get the crowd-sourced answers!
Long-time artist or new to the color craze? It doesn’t matter — anyone can use these tips to bring some serious coloring therapy to their community.
Explore the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten partnerships, outreach, programming and more that helped one library make changes in their community.
Change is afoot in the world of library programming and services for adults. A recurring theme of limited resources and the need for ideas emerged from our conversations, with many seeking help and guidance, information and resources. This prompted us to take action.
Can educational gaming motivate kids to read? The winner of the Illinois School Library Media Association and Upstart Award says yes, indeed. Read the conversation.
You’ll find a plethora of April activities and resources to help you showcase all your library has to offer — and celebrate School Library Month!
From providing comfort and integrating technology to offering flexibility, learn about ideas to make library collaborative spaces great.
Who can answer your tough library questions? Try Cathy. This experienced library professional has seen it all. She takes your most pressing questions and offers the straight-talking answers you can really use! In this debut column, get staff motivation and meeting advice.
While hardcover books are sturdy and durable, it turns out they could use a little extra protection. See what the Book Doctor recommends.
Incorporating visual art-making into your kids book club or school library program is a flexible and fun new way to connect to literature. Discover the Book to Art Club!
Social and emotional skills play an important role in a child’s academic success. As an educator, you can use the friendship stories children gravitate towards to help them make connections, gain confidence and engage in learning.
These groovy Pete the Cat activities help kids to learn what it means to have good character. And your library is likely already filled with books starring everyone’s favorite feline!
Want to create a bilingual storytime, but aren’t sure where to start? Use these tips, songs, books and apps to reach diverse populations in your community — even if you’re not bilingual!
Celebrate Youth Art Month and National Craft Month this March with a variety of creative crafts, activities and books to welcome spring!
As 2016 winds down, what library predictions proved to be true? Get a read on the top 5 library trends and assess what will carry over into 2017.
The spectacular early literacy programming at Redwood City Public Library has established the institution as a leader in education and outreach, passionately supporting childhood development and literacy in their community.
Got pencil, crayon or ink marks in your books? Dirty covers? How about gum? The Book Doctor will teach you how to properly clean your books.
Have you been wanting to add a STEAM program to your library’s list of events but think it might be too expensive or too difficult to plan? Think again! In this blog post, Terry Ehle shares the inspiration you need to get started.
Your library is an important resource for your community — get the word out! Learn all about how the Take Your Child to the Library Day initiative started, discover how to get involved, and explore engaging program ideas, past success stories and online resources.
There’s something for everyone to love at the library this month — share February activities surrounding Valentine’s Day, Black History Month and more!
High acidity and books don’t mix, but what do you do about it? The Book Doctor to the rescue. Learn about book repair and why the right pH is so important.
What does it take for your children’s library to be a kid magnet? A little of this and a little of that to be sure. A Demco product manager breaks it down for you.
Raise awareness of your library’s services in your community and find ways to reach underserved populations with the 3 Ps of library outreach, a formula to help you plan your next outreach event and partner with community service providers for maximum impact.
Ring in 2016 with educational, inspirational and tasty January activities and event ideas — there’s something for everyone in the library this month!
Meet the 2015 Paralibrarian of the Year. This woman is positively unsinkable. See how one woman’s work is changing seniors’ lives for the better.
When a book cover is torn or ripped off completely, never fear, the Book Doctor is here. Get the play-by-play on how to mend broken spines, book covers, corners and more.
What a concept! A conference that happens at your desk. See what this year’s The Digital Shift virtual conference was all about. Hint: Libraries matter.
Get moving! Promote multimodal literacy skills with movement in your storytimes and set little learners up for reading success.
From virtual libraries to in-person adult library programs, really exhilarating things are happening at the library. Check out the latest.
What better resource to teach kids about the games of life than books?! Learn about 6 captivating children’s books that illustrate the enjoyment of playing games and the lessons they teach us.
Prepare for a flurry of fun to wrap up 2015! Enjoy plenty of engaging (and delicious!) December activities to draw the crowds into your library.
Let library advocacy crusader, Patrick Sweeney help you get your library’s message out. Who knew bar coasters could prompt more library visits?!
What do you do if a whole chunk of a book’s text block falls out? You read what the Book Doctor has to say. Gain step-by-step book repair instructions on how to reattach loose signatures.
Wordy, unclear or unconvincing messages are a snore. Find out how your library can use data and a 27, 9, 3 elevator pitch to arrive at an effective message.
Our population is becoming more and more diverse, with the youngest generation leading the way. We owe it to all our readers to offer diverse books during storytime, deepening the connections we are making and furthering our goal of building a solid reading foundation.
Hear about how Boopsie is now a Demco affiliate and is taking technology further with library apps that link patrons to online library materials.
What do you do if the cover of a book falls off? Hint: The right kind of book binding repair tape matters. In part 2 of this post, the Doc shows you what to do.
When children are not given opportunities to experience language through books and other interactions, disparities develop that can last a lifetime. Pediatrician Dr. Navsaria teaches us how to combat this and empower parents!
We’re not talking turkey! There are plenty of creative November activities you can play up to encourage more people to check out your library. Have a look.
Your library’s role in the community is evolving. However, people may not understand this. Plus, if your library is trying to be everything to everyone, you’ll end up being nothing to anyone. See why it’s so important for your library to have a message and learn how to get the word out.
Hardbound books can take quite a beating, but sometimes you’ll need to step in for some book binding repair. In this post, the Doc repairs a broken hinge.
“Play is really the work of childhood.” Fred Rogers was right — incorporating STEAM into preschool storytimes sets a strong foundation for future learning.
International Dot Day celebrates mentorship and its power to foster self-discovery, creativity and courage. How will you inspire and encourage this year?
Spark something new with fun, easy activities to teach coding.
Oh, yes librarians like to have fun! See if you can spot what’s wrong with this picture for a chance to win a book repair package. Contest expires 9/4/15.
Deliver a powerful message to caregivers through the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program — books are all kids need to be ready for school!
It’s time for some back-to-school cool. Get great new ideas on collaboration, programming and essential back-to-school supplies.
Looking for a cost-effective, parent-led library program that can have huge returns on early literacy in your community? Get the lowdown on 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and find out how easy it is to start this program in your library!
Yes, you’re around books every day, but do you remember all the ins and outs of bookbinding, hardbound books and repairs? Let the Book Doctor refresh you.
You’re in the fall swing of things and now is a great time to showcase your library’s many colors and programs. Get ideas for September activities, holidays and observances.
It’s easier than ever to have a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program at your library. Get ideas on scaling the program to suit your needs. Plus, get a free step-by-step guide!
How do you deepen patron engagement with the library and draw connections to other areas of your collection, services or programming? Read the latest ideas.
From fun displays to multimedia and guest speakers at your school, this list of reading strategies will help you win over kids and foster a love of reading.
Almost 16,000 library professionals attended ALA 2015 during a historic weekend in San Francisco. Read the top 3 highlights and apply the insights.
It’s a sad day when a book comes back with a torn page tucked inside. Good news! You can handle this book repair with a little help from the Book Doctor.
Crack the code on what baby babbling really means. As babies make these noises, they’re making important progress toward language development: they’re literally finding their voice! Learn about the importance of encouraging baby babble and ways your storytime can do just that.
Makerspaces in schools build students’ interests and competencies in STEM. See how to increase innovation and collaboration between librarians and classroom teachers.
See how a downtown public library successfully walked the line between a city project and a library project with outstanding results. Read Slover Library’s story in their own words.
When it comes to book repair, best do it as soon as you spot broken books in need of help. Get the Book Doctor’s spin on how to properly fix torn pages.
Summer library programs can reduce or eliminate summer slide! Check out the latest best practices for countering learning loss during the summer months.
Children with developmental disabilities can struggle in traditional storytimes. As a result, their caretakers may avoid bringing them to library programs. Find out how you can help all families feel welcome and address children’s learning needs with sensory storytimes.
Get book repair lessons from the stacks to give your books the TLC they deserve. Plus, share your book repair questions and comments for personalized tips and troubleshooting advice.
From new ways to describe your library to how small spaces can have impact, get a first-person account of the top 5 takeaways from this year’s Library Journal Design Institute.
Join the founder of Bedtime Math, a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids love numbers, on her mission to weave math into summer learning.
From funding to floor pianos, programming for all ages and makerlab inspiration, read how the Barrington Area Library makes its makerspaces and digital media labs successful.
From key learnings about about Texas library priorities to fun and games at Battledecks and the Book Cart Drill Team competition, see what Texas librarians are up to.
Mobile makerspaces can help resource-strapped libraries offer creative, flexible programming. See how one library system made their makerspace portable.
Get great ideas for great reads! Including diverse books on summer reading lists can have a major impact on children and on the publishing industry.
The new Slover Library epitomizes a modern library, embracing both past and present. See why this library shines with flexible spaces, technology and more.
May is the perfect time to flex your reading muscles and reach even more readers with great new ideas, displays and resources! Catch up on all the holidays happening in May 2015.
Collaboration is the word! View the Demco panel presentation that addresses collaborative library spaces and provides examples of spaces that can work for varying budgets.
Research skills are essential for college and career readiness in the 21st century. Prepare students to be research ninjas!
Let your creativity blossom as you celebrate March holidays and observances in your library. Get great ideas for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Youth Art Month, National Craft Month and more.
Borrow ideas from retailers’ visual merchandising playbooks to help your book displays gain more visibility, attract patrons and increase circulation.
With countless classic tales and tens of thousands of new children’s books published each year, selecting books for storytime can seem overwhelming. We’ve got just the fix. Gain helpful hints for choosing read-aloud books for your next storytime.
From encouraging fine motor movement to expanding vocabularies, art plays an important role in strengthening the skills our children need to succeed in the 21st century. Learn more about the benefits of incorporating art into storytimes and get 10 tips for talking to kids about art.
At the La Crosse Public Library in WI, children pretend to shop at a farmers market, tell stories on flannel boards and play parachute games. See how playtime at the library builds early literacy skills in a natural way and learn how you can create an engaging children’s environment, even on a budget.
Spring is in the air! Get crowd-pleasing and library-friendly ideas for April Fools’ Day, National Library Week and more. You may even learn about holidays and observances you didn’t know existed!
Makerspaces, hackerspaces, fab labs and more — different names, but similar intent. Discover potential ideas for sparking creativity and engagement in libraries.
Create a teen zone that hits on all the must haves for a fun, collaborative space. Check out the latest trends to attract tweens and teens.
February is known for Valentine’s Day, but there’s so much more to do this month! Get great ideas for your library programming, such as celebrating Library Lovers Month, Black History Month and more.
Find out how folktales, fairy tales and other traditional stories can capture children’s imagination AND help them develop important literacy skills.
Read how one determined library director uses creative programming and partnerships to build community at her library.
Couldn’t make it to ALA MW 2015? Or, were you there and the details have become fuzzy? Demco’s Janet Nelson catches you up on the top 3 library takeaways from the 5-day conference.
In an ideal world, libraries would be able to offer an array of storytimes designed to meet the varying developmental needs of young children at different ages and stages. But, this isn’t always the case. Get tips on creating successful mixed-age storytimes for kids.
The Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) could have held a film screening and called it a night. Instead the library team brought more depth to people’s lives. Read the story.
On average, Americans have 3 electronic devices on them or near them at all times. Eventually those devices need power. See how libraries are supporting this trend with charging stations and more.
Looking for a way to incorporate speaking and listening standards into projects? Look no further! See LibrarySparks’ tips for holding a student debate that draws on students’ reading, writing, and speaking and listening skills.
Nearly every library could use some extra funds to better serve their community! Discover grant writing tips that make writing library grants easier and more effective.
Imagine teens calling all the shots and adults letting them! Sound crazy? That’s the case at Mattoon Middle School in Mattoon, IL and librarian Anieta Trame prefers it that way. Read her story!
Children today are born as digital natives, surrounded by cell phones, televisions, tablets, computers and other media. See how one Youth Services Librarian is using storytimes to help parents find and use the best apps for early literacy learning.
Picture books capture children’s attention while building essential literacy skills. Get started with book recommendations, resources and a library lesson plan from LibrarySparks.
School librarians have the opportunity to position themselves as essential and irreplaceable. Read real stories about 2 associate professors who thought school librarians deserved more respect. Watch their advocacy video to see why principals appreciate school librarians.
Find out what happened at the 2014 Library Journal Design Institute. Get the top 5 takeaways you need for any library building or renovation project.
According to researchers, children’s participation in unstructured playtime is crucial to laying a foundation for literacy success. Learn how to maximize the positive effects of play through storytimes and parent involvement.
Did you know that there is an Appreciate a Dragon Day in January? You do now. View the January calendar for more fun kids activities and programming ideas.
Raise healthy readers! See how one doctor uses well-child visits to build early literacy skills, providing books to children and encouraging parents to be active in their children’s learning.
How do you nurture a child’s interest in reading and support Common Core Standards? Learn 4 ways to help reluctant readers reach Common Core objectives.
See how librarians can promote early literacy skills through enriched storytimes. During these storytimes, librarians model activities that parents and caregivers can practice at home with their children to boost reading readiness.
At libraries, there are often more tasks at hand than staff to accomplish those tasks. Learn how to master effective time management.
Access a wayfinding signage planning worksheet to create a solid foundation for helping people navigate your library.
Catch up on what happened at WLA 2014. Read about some of the great adult programming tips shared at the conference.
Celebrate the season and December’s many special days with book suggestions and holiday activities for kids. You won’t believe all the ideas that await you.
Learn about the benefits of sharing stories and how you can model best practices for caregivers. Plus — get our caregiver handout, “10 Tips for Sharing Stories.”
Six library displays and activities that support Common Core State Standards and help you inspire and challenge kids to read more nonfiction material.
The right preparation goes a long way with wayfinding design and customer satisfaction. Learn simple strategies to observe patrons and glean signage cues.
Wayfinding and signage significantly influence customer perception of your library. Strategies like user observation can help to maximize their experience.
Your ticket to the helpful how-to videos that show you the ins and outs of book repair. Master broken hinges, worn spines and torn pages.
When it comes to library signage, you have to think like a marketer. Find out why it’s important to review and assess your communications from a branding standpoint.
Fall into some great ideas for kids, teens and adults alike with our November activity calendar! You’ll benefit from new angles to engage readers and your community with your library.
Educators have students take a second look and even a third look at texts. This deeper study of text is called close reading, and it’s helping prepare students to meet the text analysis requirements of the Common Core State Standards. But, how can you help students get the most out of close reading? Read this post to learn more about effective close reading strategies.
Catch the highlights from Library Journal’s recent virtual tradeshow, The Digital Shift: Libraries @ the Center and see how they apply to you.
View a clever infographic showing survey results from real librarians about customers’ needs for digital content, community engagement and programming and what librarians are doing about it all.
In this first of 4 articles, find out how to use signage to enhance your spaces and reinforce your merchandising and service models. This blog post moves you closer to mastering the art and science of wayfinding and provides resources and ideas for effective and practical signage solutions for your library.
Sue McCleaf Nespeca, a youth services librarian and early childhood education expert, has traveled across the country to train librarians in research-based best practices for early literacy learning. During her travels, she heard a common plea: How could librarians incorporate best practices into storytimes? Learn more about how Sue turned research into action with The Very Ready Reading Program.
Sound familiar? Crucial need for family literacy services. Limited resources. See how a new storytime for kids approach was the solution for a Washington library.
What do your favorite clothing store and your library have in common? Answer: strategic displays — “merchandising” your collection stimulates interest. Master the art of display.
Studio 300 is Fountaindale Public Library’s answer to what their community needs in a space that allows creation and collaboration. While there is never a typical day at Studio 300, there is a common theme. Patrons use lab resources to curate, create and share their own stories.
