Science Programs at the Library!

Oh how I love developing programs for my library.  Besides collection development it is one of the best things about being a youth librarian.  Since this is my first full-time librarian position I have been busy developing new programs for my new library.  But since I have been working in libraries since the age of sixteen I have plenty of ideas that I can recycle to my new library that have not been done before. One type of programming that is near and dear to my heart is science programming in the library (I blame this one my undergrad degree in science).

Too many kids just aren't given the chance to perform simple kitchen chemistry experiments.  My Mad Lab program allows kids to come in once a month and have a blast creating slime, blobs, volcanoes, and anything messy.  For me the messier the better!

Total I have been doing science programming in public libraries for about a year now and it is a great way to pull in those tween boys and girls as well. 

The basic plan for Mad Lab is to have one big experiment for the kids to do, possible a second if time allows.  I usually plan the program to last about 35 to 45 minutes (that seems to be a good amount of time before kids start to go stir-crazy).  I start the program by explaining what we are going to be doing, if I have a book that matches well with my experiment I read it at the beginning of the program.  I also have a display of books related to the experiment, plus I like to pull some of the new fiction books as well (a great chance for quick booktalks as well).  Then we jump into our experiment.  For example my last Mad Lab we did Hot Chocolate Science and made homemade hot chocolate and then had a taste test while we painted with Epsom salts.  Food related programs are always a hit and plus the kids got to take home a small portion of the hot chocolate that we made.  (Of course before we started mixing we all made a trip to the restroom to wash our hands!)  Then once the kids were finished with their paints and they had dried a bit they were free to go, so the program was about 40 minutes and all the kids left with smiles on their faces.

Science programs are a great inexpensive way to add some diversity to your library programming schedule.  Plus it is a great way to pull in those boys who are hard to pull in at that age.  Every month I am adding kids, which is wonderful.  So hopefully by this summer my summer reading program Miss Jess' Mad Lab will be a hit, with science experiment performed by yours truly and then allow some hands on experience.  I look forward to continue to develop awesome library programs that will continue to pull in new kids and expose them to the wonderful of world of kitchen chemistry.


Picture used from ClipArt