Because many libraries are staff-strapped as well as cash-strapped, do-it-yourself programming is a growing trend. Amanda Moss Struckmeyer and Svetha Hetzler base their book, DIY Programming and Book Displays: How to Stretch Your Programming without Stretching Your Budget and Staff , on ideas they came up with at Middleton (Wis.) Public Library. They set up and equipped a do-it-yourself station to encourage children, teens, and families to engage in activities ranging from the simple “Guessing Jars” (“How many crayons are in the jar?”) to the more complicated “Pets and Pages” (matching literary pets with books). Step-by-step instructions are provided. It’s not exactly toddler storytime or teen gaming night, but DIY frees up staff to focus on the essentials without doing away with programming altogether.
Indexed. Libraries Unlimited. 213p. $36. 978-1-59884-472-6