This week's adventures began with a lot of paperwork! Baby Blossom and I read through the Westwood Public Library's 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, which can be found online here.
From there, we were tasked with finding passive programming ideas that could meet some of these needs at the Islington Branch. The Strategic Plan found six key initiatives that the WPL is going to strive towards in the next few years, including drawing in more users, expanding our outreach in the community, and increasing the quality of life for the community.
This can mean many things, so Baby Blossom and I started off by ordering some books through the Minuteman Library Network about programming in libraries.
![Librarian's Guide to Passive Programming: Easy and Affordable Activities for All Ages [Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71FlAHg0xXL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg)
After reading these books, we picked which programs were easy to start off with and implement quickly. This included creating a more inclusive coloring area with coloring books and activities for all ages.
We've also started printing off word puzzles for patrons to use or take home. Right now, we have crosswords, sudoku, pictograms, and word scrambles!
We also helped pick a new community jigsaw puzzle to display.
Passive programming is a constantly changing part of the library, so there could be something new each week. In fact, we've recently started a Monday Drop-In Series at the Branch that has a different theme each Monday afternoon. Check out the website here to see our upcoming themes!
Let us know if you have any ideas for passive programs that you'd like to see at the library by emailing Kristen! We can't wait to share our next adventure with you soon!
You may be wondering why a Strategic Plan is important (because we did too). So let's start with what Strategic Planning is: "Strategic planning is a process in which an organization's leaders define their vision for the future and identify their organization's goals and objectives. The process includes establishing the sequence in which those goals should be realized so that the organization can reach its stated vision" (TechTarget, March 2022). This is important because "Businesses need direction and organizational goals to work toward. Strategic planning offers that type of guidance. Essentially, a strategic plan is a roadmap to get to business goals. Without such guidance, there is no way to tell whether a business is on track to reach its goals" (TechTarget, March 2022).
This leads to the question of what is passive programming. Passive programming "encompasses a variety of types of programs that allow patrons to participate with minimal to no staff direction. It’s typically an activity that runs itself and patrons can participate in spontaneously. Passive programming can help promote the collection, and related programs and services. Although there is little staff direction involved, it does involve staff planning and monitoring" (Pikes Peak Library District, July 2022).
Westwood Public Library
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