Programming. Problems.
That’s a big way to start a post isn’t it?
Maybe I should have started this way-
“Programming causes problems” or “Problematic Programs” or maybe just, “Programs. AHHHHHH!!!!!”
Programming is the cornerstone of Libraries. It’s how we get people through the door but it’s also SO. MUCH. WORK.
The patron may attend a half hour story time that includes songs, stories, and a craft. Sounds simple right? But each of those crafts have to be prepped. Each of those books have to be found on the shelves and picked. Each of those songs that match the themes of those books has to be practiced, written, or discovered. And that’s just for a “simple storytime”!
We’ve not even delved into the depths of “Evening Programming” or (Insert Horror Music) “Summer Reading”. Hours of activities. Unknown number of crafts to be prepped. Clever Snacks to pick, buy, and possibly create. Songs to go with the themes. Books a plenty. PLUS! Most patrons will want to check out books before they leave….. Welcome to crazy town.
No matter what you do, it is crazy. You can plan for everything and have ideas ready to go any time but things will still go wrong.
So I present to you a list of ways to survive programming! My fellow Children’s Librarian and I jokingly came up with most of this list recently and I thought I would share with all of you.
Top 10 Ways to Survive your Programs
1. Have something special at home to celebrate when you survive. (I suggest cake)
2. Never expect the food to stay in the designated area. People are terrible at following your guidelines
3. Plan for everything to go horribly wrong. Then when something goes right, you are pleasantly surprised!
4. Don’t clean up the food before the program is over! Communicate this well to your volunteers. Your volunteers may think they’re being helpful but experience shows that people will be late and will be upset if they miss out on food.
5. Protect appendages when children are cutting crafts. I have been in danger of almost losing fingers on more than one occasion. Someone asks you a question while you are helping a different child and all the sudden the kid you were helping has cut your finger.
6. Don’t expect non-children’s department employees to get your vision. If they’re not part of the children’s department their ideas of how things should go will be very different. For example, they may expect quiet.
7. Designate someone to make your Santa, Elf, Speaker, etc. presentable. People very rarely realize what they actually look like and having someone there specifically to help them be where they need to be and looking how they need to look is very helpful!
8.People will congregate in the doorway. No matter how you set up a room, people will congregate in the doorway. If possible, set up the room so the doorway is in the back so when people come in late, or try to congregate there, they won’t be distracting during the program.
9. Enjoy singing at the Children, this is the only time it is socially acceptable to do so.
10. More Cake. You’ll need it!
I hope you laughed during this, if you’re a Librarian, because I’m sure you’ve probably experienced all of this at one point or another. You’re doing great friend! Keep going!
Keep Sparkling,
B
The Sparkling Librarian 