DIY - Self Directed Programming

1. Summer Reading 2013
Presented by: Helena Brittain
Bethany Deneve, Katie Cox and Crystal Edwards
SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMMING

2. SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMMING
• According to the Librarian’s Guide to Passive
Programming, a passive or self directed program can
neatly sidestep concerns you may have regarding
issues that may arise with traditional programs.
• Such as: Bad Weather, staffing, or another community
event.

3. WHEN TO USE SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMS
• Self Directed programs are for patrons to participate in
anytime the library is open. You could even have Self
Directed programs online for patrons to do.
• Self Directed programs can be built around almost any
topic and the cost is typically little, and requires only
minimal staff involvement beyond initial setup and
ongoing promotion.

4. WHY USE SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMS
• Self Directed Programs are desirable because they
encourage patrons to linger in the library.
• Patrons lives are filled with families, jobs, household
chores, hobbies, and dozens of other things.
Competition for the public’s time and attention is fierce,
and distractions are numerous.
• Let’s make Summer Reading participation easy for
patrons, so it will be harder for them to say, “No, I don’t
have time.”

5. TYPES OF SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMS
• Interactive Bulletin Boards
• Tabletop activities
• Worksheets
• Take Home Kits
• Scavenger Hunts
• Seek and Find

6. INTERACTIVE BULLETIN BOARDS AND
TABLETOP ACTIVITIES

7. TAKE HOME KITS AND WORKSHEETS

8. SEARCH THE STACKS
• Scavenger Hunts seem to do well with patrons
because this type of self directed program is perfect
for families; kids can do the searching, while older
siblings or adults help with reading instructions and
completing answer sheets.
• The real benefit of a scavenger hunt is that they can
be used to direct traffic through your library. If you
want your collection of children’s music CDs
discovered. Hide a clue nearby!

9. TYPE OF HUNTS
• Coded Scavenger Hunt
• Find the Gnome (or an object of your choose)

10. CODED SCAVENGER HUNT
• For the Coded Scavenger Hunt you will need to do the following:
• Pick out 26 easily distinguishable symbols one for each letter of
the alphabet.
• Use the images chosen and create an answer key. Each symbol
should have a blank space nearby so that they can write down
the letter that matches the symbol. Brief program instructions
should also be included on this handout.

11. CODED ANSWER KEY SHEET

12. PRINT SYMBOLS AND THE LETTER IT EQUATES ON A 3X5 CARD
AND POST AROUND THE LIBRARY

13. START THE PROGRAM BY HIDING THE CLUES. TO KEEP THE
ACTIVITY FROM BEING TOO DIFFICULT, HIDE THE CLUES IN EASY
TO SPOT PLACES.

14. CODED SYMBOL

15. SET UP A STAGING AREA FOR THE PROGRAM. HANG UP THE WEEKLY
QUESTION, HAVE ANSWER KEYS AND ENTRY FORMS AVAILABLE, AND SUPPLY
PENS AND AN ENTRY BOX.

16. ANSWER
•Means Terrible Lizard

17. •Decide how long to run the program and write one question for each
week. The answer to the question will be the coded message. The
trivia used in the questions can follow the theme of the symbols.
Create a poster for each week that states the question in plain text and
the answer written in code. Make answer sheets for each week that
include the question and a space for each letter of the answer. Be sure
to have a place for participants to record their names and phone
number if you plan to give away prizes.
•Swap out the questions and answer sheets weekly, but use the same
code for the entire length of the program.
•If you want you can give away a small prize to one participant weekly,
as doing so will help keep them interested in the program.

18. CATCH THE GNOME!
• Create your Gnome.
• On the back of the Gnome create a
question requiring patron to search the
stacks for the answer.

19. Hide the Gnome somewhere in the stacks but be sure to make him visible
so that he can be found.

22. CREATE A NEW QUESTION AND HIDING PLACE EACH WEEK OF
SUMMER READING.
Make it fun!

23. SEEK AND FIND
• I Spy Jars are fun for all ages and they are
simple to make.
• Ideas for I Spy Jars are endless but here’s
a few I found.
• Take a picture of all the items in the jar.
Then have patrons to see if they can find
them all.

24. • For an older child you could ask them to tell
you the color of the item, the first letter of the
item or have them rhyme a word with the item.
• You can have cards with an image of each item
hidden in the jar and a timer - you would draw
a card then see if you could find the item
before the timer ran out.
• Again ideas are endless.

25. I SPY JAR AND OBJECTS

26. LETTERBOXING AT THE LIBRARY
• Letterboxing is becoming a favorite outdoor and indoor
activity in America as it has been in England.
• Libraries can join this international activity by placing
their own letterbox within the library’s collection.

27. WHAT IS LETTERBOXING:
• Letterboxing is a hobby in which people follow a set of
clues in order to find a hidden box.
• Each box holds a logbook and a rubber stamp.
• Letterboxers each have their own stamp, which they
imprint into a box’s logbook to record their discovery of
it.
• Letterboxers then imprint the stamp from the letterbox
into their own personal logbook.

28. YOU WILL NEED:
• A small metal box (for inside use). It’s best if the metal
box can stay closed so that it can be hung on the
underside of a shelf (the small tins that some breath
mints and cough drops are sold in works well).
• Magnet if you are using the small metal box. Make sure
magnet is small enough to be glued to the bottom of
the metal box, but strong enough to hold the box to the
underside of a shelf

29. YOU WILL NEED CONTINUED:
• A notebook that fits inside the box.
• Rubber stamps – Either purchase premade rubber
stamps or design your own with a stamp-making kit.
Kits are available online at art supply stores.
• Ink pad
• A pencil or pen
• Prizes (if you choose too).

30. THINGS TO DO:
• Decide where to hide the letterbox.
• Create a list of clues that will lead to your letterbox.
• Clues should include direction such as: Stand with your
back to the water fountain, Take 5 steps forward, Turn
right, Take 3 steps forward., look under the shelf with
books about hamsters, and so on.
• Make the clues progressively harder each week; you
can even consider using misdirection to make the
discovery more challenging.

31. THINGS TO DO CONTINUED:
• Once your program has started, participates can stop
by the circulation desk to pick up a clue sheet.
• Once the box is found, participate will bring it back to
the circulation desk and they will sign and date a
logbook.
• Staff will return box to it’s hiding place.

32. PROMOTING LETTERBOXING
• To kick off the letterboxing activity you could have a
program introducing patrons to Letterboxing. Maybe
have them make their own stamps from craft foam and
create a logbook to keep track of their findings.
• For more information on Letterboxing you can go to
www.letterboxing.org

33. COST OF SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMS
• Most Self Directed programs do not require a lot of
supplies beyond items the typical library has on hand,
in addition to the occasional prize.
• Don’t forget to promote your Self Directed program.
Made sure patrons are aware of activities that are
available to them.
• Remember how you choose to implement the program
impacts it’s success.

34. DISPLAYING YOUR SELF DIRECTED PROGRAM
• Set up the program in a high-traffic area, either near
the entrance, service desk, or in an area frequented by
the target audience.
• DON’T let the program get lost in the clutter.
• Set up a display on a table, a countertop, or a piece of
display furniture.
• An appropriately decorated bulletin board makes the
perfect backdrop for many activities.

35. MAKING YOUR SELF DIRECTED PROGRAM
WORK
• The ultimate key to a successful program is talking
about it. Make sure all staff members are aware of the
program.
• They need to know what the program is, how it runs,
where it is set up, and details on how to participate.

36. TRACKING SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMS
• Tracking attendance is an important tool in judging the
success of a program. With Self Directed programs this
can be a little tricky, but not impossible.
• If using a worksheet, consider having patrons turn it in
at the service desk.
• Design the program so that patrons must see a staff
member in order to participate. With a craft program,
this might involve keeping a potentially high-loss supply
behind the service desk.

37. TRACKING SELF DIRECTED PROGRAMS
• If your program requires patrons to consume supplies,
you can record the quantity of materials you put out,
and then subtract the number that remains at the end
of the day or at the end of the program to determine
participation.
• Offering a prize can provide strong incentive for
participation. After completion of an activity, participants
can be given a ticket for a prize drawing later.

38. RESOURCES
• Librarian’s Guide to Passive Programming: Easy and
Affordable Activities for All Ages / Emily T. Wichman
• Counting Coconuts:
http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2011/02/homema
de-i-spy-bottles-tutorial.html
• 2013 Collaborative Summer Library Program Children’s
Manual
• Letterboxing: www.letterboxing.org