The Passive Programming Playbook: 101 Ways to Get Library Customers off the Sidelines
Ebook
Ebooks are designed for reading and have few connections to your library.
Overview
This book offers 101 passive programming ideas that are extendable, adaptable, customizable, and above all, stealable-so your passive programming never runs dry.
Passive programming is a cheap, quick, fun way to make all library customers feel like part of the community. It can support reading initiatives, foster family engagement, encourage visit frequency, and coax interaction out of library lurkers-while barely making a dent in your programming budget. Passive programming can be targeted at children, teens, adults, or seniors; used to augment existing programs; and executed in places where staff-led programming can’t reach. It can be light-footed, spontaneous, and easily deployed to reflect and respond to current news, media, library events, and even the weather. But even passive programming pros run out of ideas sometimes, and when that happens, they want a fresh, funny source of inspiration.
This book offers 101 passive programming ideas that are extendable, adaptable, customizable, and above all, stealable-so your passive programming never runs dry.
Make programming less intimidating
Get the most bang for your buck from whatever resources you have available
Make diverse customers feel welcome and seen
Encourage repeat/regular library visits
Boost your programming statistics
Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART I: RULES, EQUIPMENT, AND KEEPING SCORE
Chapter 1-Step Up Your Game: Why You Need Passive Programming in Your Library
Chapter 2-The Gear You Need = The Gear You Have
Chapter 3-Bring Your A Game: Best Practices
Chapter 4-Covering All the Bases: Passive Program Templates
Chapter 5-Run Up the Score and Win Fans: Stats and Sharing
PART II: LET THE GAMES BEGIN: 101+ PASSIVE PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Chapter 6-Game Plans: A Week of Wonder
Chapter 7-You Make the Call: Themes and Ideas to Try Any Time of Year
Chapter 8-If You Build It, They Will Come: Special Spaces for Passive Programs
Chapter 9-The Whole Nine Yards: A Year of Inspiration
Chapter 10-Outside the Lines: The World Beyond Your Library
Chapter 11-Passive Programming for Panicky Times
Appendix: Resources
Bibliography
Index
Packed with great ideas that require little money or staff time, this volume will appeal broadly to library program planners, particularly those on tight budgets and those who want to expand patron participation.
Both public and school librarians can get inspired by these fun ideas; teen library councils could also have a great time designing and implementing these passive programs.
- Title: The Passive Programming Playbook: 101 Ways to Get Library Customers off the Sidelines
- Authors: P. Willey, Andria L. Amaral
- Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 240
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBN: 9798216126980
- Resource ID: LLS:9798216126980
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T15:42:02Z
Paula Willey is book selector and partnership advisor at First Book, a nonprofit online bookstore. She has written about children's literature and family engagement for publications such as School Library Journal, the Baltimore Sun, Booklist, VOYA, and Baltimore's Child.
Andria L. Amaral plans and develops public library programs and collections and services for students in grades 6–12. She serves on the board of the YALLFest young adult literature festival.