The Big Sourcebook of Free and Low-Cost Library Programming

Book excerpt: There’s no need to spend hours trying to come up with creative programming ideas—bestselling library activity guru Kroski has already done all the hard work for you! Largely drawn from contributions by library workers across the country, this e-book is a cornucopia of ready-to-go activities, easily accessible resources, and adaptable tools for inspiring countless fun and engaging programs at your library. Best of all, these exciting low cost/no-cost library programs can be implemented using only free resources. Offering a broad selection of ideas for adults, tweens, and younger children that can be tailored to a variety of contexts, inside this sourcebook you’ll discover seniors and older adult programming resources on such topics as genealogy, financial literacy, lifelong learning, gardening, and health and wellness; career, ESL/literacy, and "just for fun" programs and book clubs perfect for adults; young adult programming resources such as the Book to Action toolkit, YALSA’s Teen Programming Guidelines, literacy and educational resources, computers and coding activities, live action roleplaying games (LARPS), and many more; free resources to teach financial responsibility to toddlers, lesson plans from NASA, resources to host an Earth Day event incorporating a “free trees for kids” program, StoryWalks and more ideas for children; makerspace, STEM, and art programming resources; Pinterest boards, idea lists, writing prompts, coloring pages, free books, and passive programming downloadables and printables; information about more than two dozen grant opportunities for funding programs; and planning templates, marketing tips, assessment resources, and tools for brainstorming and productivity.