Our first snow came early this year! Here is a fitting bulletin board idea. Put a blue background on your bulletin board and then add a layer of white for snow. Place a large snowman in the center. The title is “Reading is Snow Much Fun!” Have patrons add snowflakes (they can make their own or use some that you have pre-made) with the titles of new books they read during December. Here are ten more program and display ideas:
National Cookie Day (December 4)
This is a great time to find all of your picture books about cookies for a display in the children’s area. Cookie cookbooks are always popular during the holidays. You could host a cookie exchange or give away cookies at the circulation desk. You might fill a clear jar with mini cookies and have patrons guess how many are in the jar. The closest guess gets the jar and the cookies!
Mitten Tree Day (December 6)
Establish a mitten tree at your library to help warm the hands of those in need in your community. Read Jan Brett’s book, The Mitten. Print some of the activity sheets from this website and use them for passive programming.
Willa Cather’s Birthday (December 7, 1873)
Pull out all the Willa Cather books you have. You could also display a Nebraska map with Red Cloud marked. Put an annotated list of Cather’s books on the display for interested patrons to pick up.
Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 1941)
Highlight your nonfiction collection of World War II history books and DVDs.
Poinsettia Day (December 12)
A day to enjoy poinsettias and to honor Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the American diplomat who introduced into the US the Central American plant that is named for him. Decorate with some poinsettias and put a plant stake with this information in one of the pots.
Monkey Day (December 14)
Share a video about the leisurely life of spider monkeys, as well as other primate videos, on the National Geographic website. Display both fiction and nonfiction books about monkeys along with a stuffed toy.
National Ugly Sweater Day (December 15)
Provide thrift-store sweaters or sweatshirts, glue, buttons, tinsel, felt, and other supplies for your teen group to make their own ugly holiday creations. Stage a style show to crown the winner.
Chocolate-Covered Anything Day (December 16)
Ask your patrons to write down the most bizarre food they have ever eaten covered in chocolate. Then show them the list from this website. You could even have some of the treats on hand for sampling, such as regular and white chocolate covered Cheetos and chocolate covered bacon.
A Christmas Carol Published (December 17, 1843)
This holiday classic by Charles Dickens was published in a print run of 6,000 copies that sold out in one week. Display every version of this story (books—both children and adult, DVDs, audio) plus other Dickens titles.
Winter Solstice (December 21)
On this first official day of winter, find books, dvds, and cds, that remind you of the season. Display them with a fuzzy blanket. Light a cinnamon candle to complete the cozy feeling.
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