Unique Programs at Strathcona County Library

Strathcona County Library has one of the most interesting line-ups of library programs I've seen. We regularly browse through their program guide here at Chinook Arch, and so I thought I'd share some of the programs I find particularly interesting from their Winter 2011 Guide.

Kids Programs

• Take Twenty Five - this program invites parents of preschool children to "take twenty five minutes to relax and learn about some of the best titles and literacy tips for preschool children." The Early Literacy Librarian shares favorite books and simple literacy activities appropriate for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
• Radiant Child Yoga - for children aged 3 to 5 years, this program is intended to "engage the dynamic energy of your children through body movement and breathing". The instructor uses a story based approach to engage children through rhymes, songs and movement.
• Sen-Seuss-ional Stories and Stuff - still my personal favorite children's author, I wish I could attend this "fantabulous good time!" intended for grade 1 to 3 students. It includes Seuss stories, games and activities as part of a "weird and wacky afternoon".
• Believe it or Not? - for students from grades 4 to 6, this program is for fans of Guiness World Records and Ripley's Believe It or Not. This program promises to "delve into mysterieis, trivia and more through books and YouTube videos". Participants are invited to join silly group challenges and slightly gross experiments.
• Strathcona Coin Kids - for students 8 to 16 years of age, this program asks participants to bring in "mysterious or old coins". The Coin Kids Club encourages the collecting of coins which can tell stories about art and history.

Programs for Teens:

• Hunger Games - this program invites participants to test their survival skills in games of strength, stealth and mental agility inspired by the books of Suzanne Collins.
• Teens Write! - teens are invited to come to this writing workshop to work with authors and find their writing voice.
• Teen Yoga - teens are enticed to this program by the promise of enhanced sports performance and de-stressing through breathing and relaxation techniques.

Programs for Adults:

• Travel Club - particpants are invited to "share [their] adventures, favorite destinations and best tips and trips with other travel lovers".
• Scrabble - this program is promoted as a way to improve your concentration and memory, as well as to enhance your language skills and potentially boost intelligence.
• Resume and Cover Letter Workshop - this program uses strategies and exercises to help participants effectively market themselves to potential employers. Participants receive a final version of their resume and cover letter after completing the workshop.
• Strong Moms - in celebration of International Women's Day (March 8, 2011) this program invites moms to enjoy a relaxing coffee and learn some emotional health and beauty tips to nurture and keep them strong.

You can read about the other programs taking place at Strathcona County Library on their website at: http://www.sclibrary.ab.ca/programmain.htm

There are lots of unique and interesting programs out there for your library to 'borrow'. There is even a search engine available at http://support.midhudson.org/ezprogram/ezprogram.htm which makes it easy to search for library programs anyone can do. It's worth taking a look at what others are doing. Whether you are able to provide many programs a week or just a few a year, why not offer something new and innovative to draw in new patrons or just bring back some old ones?