At CMLE, we so enjoy all our different types of libraries, archives, and other members! Seeing all the work you are doing is so inspiring; and we want to return the favor by helping you to find some of the great programming going on around the profession.
Each week we will share an interesting program we find. It may inspire you to do exactly the same thing; or to try something related; or just to try out some different programming ideas.
We are big fans of the idea of Hygge! (Check out our book suggestion on The Little Book of Hygge here.) This is a very neat program by Lauren Sanchez, Adult Programs Coordinator, Groton Public Library. (You can find her entire article from the Programming Librarian here.)
“The point of the program was to warm up with hot chocolate and meet the Luina Greine Farm alpacas of Groton. The program held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. This was the kick-off event for our community read of “The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living” by Meik Wiking.
Luina Greine Farm came and set up a pen and brought two of their friendliest alpacas for free. We allowed them to set up a table with some of their products to sell. Just inside the entryway of the library we set up three slow cookers full of hot chocolate with marshmallows, peppermint and whipped cream. We had a line out the door for the hot chocolate.
If weather permitted, there was going to be sledding, but that didn’t happen because it was warm that day. The sledding would’ve topped it off, but regardless, it was such a fun day.
Extra staff had to come in with their slow cookers, and a few of my family members came to volunteer, giving out hot chocolate when it got busy.
We didn’t have the sledding activity, so we set up a craft in the children’s room because we felt like there should be a third element to the program.
This was seriously one of the easiest programs to put together, logistically speaking. Making the hot chocolate was one of the more challenging aspects.
We had 150 participants in the end. We had a lot of positive feedback; it was much loved. It made the front of the local newspaper, and people really enjoyed seeing the alpacas. Lots of people sent us photos of kids petting the alpacas.