{"id":18,"date":"2026-09-13T22:09:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T22:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/dungeoncrawlercamille\/?p=18"},"modified":"2026-09-13T22:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T22:09:39","slug":"assignment-x-get-with-the-programming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/dungeoncrawlercamille\/2026\/09\/13\/assignment-x-get-with-the-programming\/","title":{"rendered":"Assignment X: Get With the Program(ming)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was fired up by\u00a0Jina DuVernay\u2019s article,\u00a0<\/span>There\u00a0is Joy for All: Tips for Joyous Library Programming<\/span><\/b><\/a>. I thought YES! Exactly! I want my library to be a safe and fun space, and if we sprinkle a little <\/span>participatory\u00a0service<\/span><\/b>\u00a0in\u00a0there while we are at it and invite the patrons to\u00a0help\u00a0us come up with cool stuff and useful resources, we are golden.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This year my colleagues and I are going to focus on fostering a love for libraries through fun programming and a newly designated \u201cgames and crafts zone\u201d for our middle schoolers. For context, our school library is shared by middIe school and upper school students, so we designated a study area for upper schoolers, a study area\/\u201claptop zone\u201d for middle schoolers, and a games and crafts zone. The zones will mostly be enforced in the mornings before classes start, which is typically a busier time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My school\u2019s policies state that middle school students are prohibited from using their phones at all during the school day, and they are not allowed to use their laptops for gaming or other non-academic purposes. Since we must also enforce these policies in the library, we are offering more screen-free alternatives. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Two weeks into the school year it is going well, and\u00a0I am excited\u00a0to\u00a0collaborate with\u00a0students\u00a0to\u00a0find\u00a0more\u00a0ways\u00a0to unplug and connect.\u00a0We are keeping an eye on what seems to be\u00a0popular, and\u00a0asking\u00a0students\u00a0for game recommendations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So far the UNO cards have been taken out every morning, Rubiks cubes have been completed, and even the classic Etch-a-Sketch is getting some love. It is great to see students coming in at lunch as well to check out books, socialize with friends, and take a nice brain break with our games.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Past successful programming<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We have tried little things like this in the past, like offering chess boards and puzzles, and one tissue paper flower craft. This year I get to personally spearhead new arts and crafts programming. I was born for this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoy is contagious, so if you exhibit joy in being at your library program, attendees will see and feel it\u201d\u00a0(DuVernay).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Spooky desk decor I made myself<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u00a0spent my summer as a camp counselor leading the arts and crafts workshop, and I noticed that the student counselors enjoyed making lanyards and bracelets, so we are bringing them into the library.\u00a0In his article\u00a0<\/span>Think Like a Start Up<\/span><\/b><\/a>, Mathews states that\u00a0three qualities that successful \u201cproducts\u201d\u00a0(or programming)\u00a0must have are \u201c<\/span>usability,\u00a0feasibility, and value<\/span><\/b>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I chose the lanyards and bracelets because they are:<\/span> \"\"<\/span><\/p>\n