Who can resist?

In June the Summer Reading Club launched with this fun craft dreamed up by the kids' team.  Dinosaur and frog footprints were laminated, and taped to the floor winding through the library.

It led to our beautiful windows, where customers were offered window markers to add their drawings.

Brainstorming fun ideas on Pinterest

I love brainstorming fun stuff to do at the library on Pinterest.  It's great to toss ideas back and forth.

Catch their attention

Our library is on a light rail transit line, and we want to catch the attention of people riding by.  Something a little puzzling that will make them look twice.  Also something that would suggest we're having fun inside. 

We photoshopped our namesake librarian onto Mona Lisa's body.  She has a speech bubble so that we can promote our programs and collections with dry erase markers.  The sign is clipped to the brick wall with brick clips, so she can move to different locations.  "Mona Louise" has proved to be a hit after 3 days.  From Day 1, passerbys have stopped to take pictures with her on their cellphones!

Today she's saying "Let them eat cake" in honour of an upcoming birthday party.

The Mancave

Perennial library question: "What do you have that my son will read?"  Using customer donations, we created a one stop "Mancave" of books for boys.  Stacked messily on a bottom shelf, they're in no particular order.  This is an appealing organization technique I've learned from my son.  This way there's always Wimpy Kids available, even when those organized girls put holds on everything!  All that's missing is a half eaten sandwich...

Games, big and small

Small-board games left out at random on the tables, like Trouble with it's pop-o-matic bubble

Big- chess horses that are also fun to ride around on if you're 3

Bartholomew Cubbins was on to something

Downton Abbey episodes showing on the TV

Staff wearing their mom's and grandma's hats

Paper plate hats

What do these 3 things have in common?

Hats!

It's surprising how many more customers talk to you when you wear a funny hat

WWCNR?

I love finding suprises in the library!  Didn't you always wonder What Would Chuck Norris Read?!