Steal This Idea: Family Fort Night at the Library
The Location:

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
My local public library (Herrick DL).
The Event:

Family Fort Night.
The Plan:

For an hour after the library closes, families have run of the children’s section. After a whole group story time, kids and their grown-ups build forts out of whatever materials they bring (clips provided by the library).
Then:

Grab some books and read in that fort.
And:

Put your stuffed animal to bed in that fort.
Also:

S’mores were served.
It was a fun night, and I think it’s a program that would work in libraries everywhere.
Filed under: Articles
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
The Scourge of Upside Down Knitting Needles: 2025 Edition
Art, Science, and Adventure: ‘Leo Da Vinci’ | News
From Policy Ask to Public Voice: Five Layers of Writing to Advance School Library Policy
Redefining Classics: Making space for books that will stand the test of time, a guest post by Marcia Argueta Mickelson
POP! Betsy Bird is on The Yarn
ADVERTISEMENT







Fun idea, Travis; great family night program that wouldn’t take too much planning. I’d love to do some stargazing outside in summer too!