I’d been looking forward to the day all year- an energy-filled meeting of the library minds! This year was another wonderful day full of so many things that I love: old friends, train rides, good coffee, free books, sparkling wine, and most of all, inspirational conversations about library services. As I sat in each packed session,… Read More OLA Super Conference 2016: The Idea Incubator
What I Read Slade House by David Mitchell Once every 9 years on the last Saturday in October, a specially chosen guest is lured into Slade Alley. They discover a small black door with no handle. When they touch the door it swings open and they discover an impossibly large, impossibly lush garden – and… Read More What I Loved #15 – Graphic Novels, Radio Radio, Pandemic Legacy, and…Diamonds?
It was time to follow up after my Marvel Vs. DC superhero extravaganza display (Marvel circulated twice as much as DC, by the way). With all the superhero TV shows, movies, and general hype, I thought it was a good time to present an alternate option: awesome graphic novels with no traditional superheroes. There’s still… Read More Sick of Superheroes? Graphic Novel Display
Turns out terrariums and the library are a great mix! I’ve run this DIY Terrarium workshop twice and both times it’s been full (20 attendees) with a wait list! With the right know-how and resources librarians can run this workshop themselves. And it can be done for less than $40 for 20 people.… Read More DIY Terrarium Workshop – Library Program Guide
At one of my libraries, we have regularly post YouTube videos on our Teen site. It adds content, keeps things interesting, and gives teens a reason to keep checking back. Here are a few of my favourite YouTube videos for teens – some educational, some hilarious, all interesting. These would work great as social media… Read More 13 YouTube Videos For Teens
The flow chart display wall has quickly become one of my favourite work projects. It’s big, bold, and fun. People stand in front of it and laugh to themselves. People wander around the library with their personalized booklist gathering items. People get to participate with a passive reader’s advisory tool. Theme In the past I’ve… Read More Flow Chart Display: Meet Your Next Literary BFF
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this display earlier! It’s such a simple concept. Some kids and teens might not grasp the difference between superhero universes, so this is a cool way to get them thinking about the differences between their favourite heroes. I used coloured printer paper (red for Marvel, blue for DC)… Read More Marvel vs. DC Graphic Novel Display
The force is strong with this one! Are you as excited as we are for the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens? If you like Star Wars, you won’t want to miss the Teen Star Wars Party at Clemens Mill! We’ll make lightsabers and Star Wars buttons, play a hilarious Star Wars game, watch… Read More Teen Star Wars Party
Not since Harry Potter have I devoured a book like this. The writing – fantastic. The plot – even more fantastic. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins is a dark comedy, twisty mystery, and modern mythology, rolled up into one magnificent debut novel. Twelve orphaned children are adopted by a man with supernatural abilities named… Read More Favourite Book of 2015: The Library at Mount Char
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… An Ontarian Librarian was struck with the sudden inspiration to make a display that perfectly mimics the opening crawl of Star Wars. Down to the very last font. At first I considered writing the text in Word, and applying a perspective affect to make it… Read More Star Wars Opening Crawl Library Display
Ontarian Librarian 