In 2009, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ray Danyluk, communicated his support of Alberta Arts Days by challenging libraries to participate as activity hosts and organizers through local partnerships. Here are a few of the activities that were suggested in a newsletter from South-Central Alberta’s Marigold Library Network. The full article, which also provides some great promotional and media relations tips, can be downloaded here.

1) Shoot and Click @ Your Library:

Invite teens to take your/their digital or video camera on a walk around the library and capture some unique moments. Host a premiere party.

2) Cover Story @ Your Library:

Ask teens or other age groups to design a jacket of a book they’ve read, or one that they imagine. Have them choose the artwork and fonts, and write a “teaser” description and snippets of reviews.

3) Story Slam @ Your Library:

Gather local writers and story tellers (or aspiring writers). Throw out a theme and have them create a story on the spot. Encourage young writers to share their experiences.

4) I Remember When…@ Your Library:

Invite seniors to the library. Ask them to talk about “the good old days” or retell a story from way back when to children and teens. Consider recording them and/or writing down their stories and creating a book.

5) Glorious Texts @ Your Library:

Ask teens in the library to take an actual text or social media message they wrote and commit it to paper. Encourage them to decorate it as lavishly as a medieval manuscript, to make it a true work of literary art. Does it change their perception of what they wrote?