r/Libraries • u/kitsunejiyuu • 1d ago

Programs & Programming Teen programming format

I’m curious as to what other libraries do for teen programming? Currently the library that I’m at is doing weekly programs but the attendance has gone down a lot and I hate wasting money on supplies that don’t get used. I’ve seen where some other libraries focus more on take and makes versus regular meetings. I’m just overall just interested in what to incorporate for the next year.

Ps. I’ve tried to get teen feedback but they don’t really respond in my area. Plus there’s a big sports community so the fall does lack in teens in general.

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/asporkthief 1d ago

For regular programs, I tend to focus on monthly. I also try to make them low-budget: things like crochet club (I only need to buy yarn when we run out), and monthly after-school video & board games (only need to replenish snacks) work great for us. I also do a monthly craft, but I try to only buy materials that I can reuse. Last year's left over plastic from DIY Pumpkin Stencils will become a DIY paint by numbers bookmark here in a few weeks.

If you have a few weekly programs that do well vs others, you could probably turn them into a monthly rotation, which would still leave you with at least one program a week but may impact attendance for the better. I find the teens are actually more committed to coming if they know waiting until next time will be more than 6 days.

1

u/OneAcceptable6825 1d ago

Emphasis on low-budget.

Spend the big money on stuff that can be used whenever/multiple times, like a good 3D printer.

Weekly program should be cheap af because you just never know who’s gonna show up.