It’s been a very busy summer at the library, which is good! This is the first children’s summer reading program I planned pretty much solo. Fortunately, there is a children’s librarian at the branch library, and a teen services librarian here who were both able to tell me what had been done in the past, what worked, and what could change, so I leaned on them as I tried to simplify and streamline as much as possible – and plan fun programs people would want to come to, as well as continuing all our regular offerings.

Our summer reading program officially ended on Friday, August 9, with all-ages indoor mini-golf. Over 125 people attended over three hours, and it was pretty rowdy and fun. Since then, things have quieted down just a bit, the back-to-school books have been flying off the display (I felt kind of bad putting up a back-to-school display on August 1, but it was obviously the right call – those books are in demand!), and thoughts turn to fall…

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. Hispanic Heritage Month begins halfway through the month, on September 15, and Banned Books Week – when we celebrate the freedom to read (#fREADom) even more than we usually do – is September 22-28. (People will also certainly begin asking for Halloween and spooky books before October 1.)

To prepare for Library Card Sign-Up month, I cut a square out of some foam core to make a frame, then used the pages from a copy of Ramona and Her Mother I’d had to weed (based on condition – I replaced it!) and some colored tissue paper and modpodge to create a photo frame. You know, like they have at farm stands and Renaissance Faires:

This is something we can use year-round, and adults and teens can use it too (if they want). It took about an hour, and actually turned out pretty much the way I had envisioned – not always the case with arts and crafts projects.

Setting kids up with their first library card is a great part of the job. (At our library, kids have to be five years old – some come in on their birthdays! – but other libraries have different rules.) It’s also a good time to emphasize that our library is fine-free (no late fees or overdue fines) and that if anything happens to a book in their care – torn pages, water damage, etc. – they should let us know when they return it, because a lot of times it’s something we can repair! A big reason lots of libraries have started going fine-free is to reduce the barrier to library use. Don’t let one damaged (or even lost) book keep you away from the library forever.

This fall, you can be a library ambassador. Look up your local library’s policies, and tell your friends if your library is fine free!