Have you heard of Screen Free Week? It's an annual event that encourages children, families and communities to spend less time in front of a TV or computer screen, and more time reading, creating, exploring and playing. The event has been around since the 1990s, and was know as "Turn off TV Week" but it has since grown to incorporate computers and handheld devices.

The event is sponsored by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC), and they've developed an organizer's kit to assist with planning. The kit is free, you just need to register and the link and password to download it will be emailed to you. To download the kit and learn more about Screen Free Week, visit: http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/actions/screenfreeweek2012.html for an overview, or the official website at: http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek (which can be a little glitchy).

If you're unsure about getting involved with the official event, perhaps there ways you can use being "unplugged" for a week to promote your library? It could be a good way to market programs that focus on group activities, like board games. HoJo's Teaching Adventures blog suggests doing a "Couch Potato Reading Contest," encouraging kids to cut back on the TV and video games, and more time reading.

Looking for more ideas? Education.com has 30 Great Activity Ideas for Screen Free Week, such as "Tell a Story in a Jar," making Smudge Monsters, and some free printables, such as Draw a Supehero! The CCFC also has compiled a list of 101 Screen Free Activities...while not are all applicable for libraries, you could put together a list of your top ten (be sure to include visiting the library!) and put it up in the library.

Need more craft or activity ideas? Visit our Pinterest boards at http://pinterest.com/peacelibrarysys.

I happened across this website: http://www.squidoo.com/library-program-ideas  - it offers a variety of ideas to get you thinking about what types of programs you can offer in your library for different age groups. Some are, of course, more easy or costly than others. Regardless, though, they get the mind going and might perhaps spark an idea for you that isn't on the list but would work well in your community.

As odd as the name is, the device is eye catching. The phablet combines the functionality of a cell phone with the larger size of a tablet. Samsung is the first to release a phablet and, judging by the reports of more than five million sold, it has been well received by consumers. 

Samsung's phablet, also known as the Galaxy Note, comes with a 5.3 inch display screen. In this world of 50 inch flat screen televisions, that may not sound all that impressive but when you compare it to the 3.5 inch display on an iPhone, that is significantly more viewing area. The Galaxy Note also boasts a stylus to make document, photo and media editing far easier. 

With added screen size comes added weight and bulk. Although still a slim build, the Galaxy Note is heavier than the iPhone and some have reported finding the phablet a little unwieldly for phone use. Others love the new phablet and adore the larger display and additional media features.

April is National Poetry Month - are you doing any poetry themed activities in your library? If not, there's still time! Below are a few suggestions to help you get started...

• Visit the official website for background information, such as this is the 14th annual Poetry month and Young Poet's Week runs from April 15 – 21, 2012 (visit http://www.youngpoets.ca for more info). There is also a poster you can download and print off to help get the word out.
  
• Display some poetry books - pick an era, a type of poetry (Haiku and/or limericks?), highlight Canadian poets. Be creative with signage!
• Invite a local poet to do a reading
• Host a "Poetry Slam" or do an open mic where people can just get up and share their poems.
• Be sure to incorporate poems into your storytime - it can be as simple as reading some Dr. Seuss!
• Have a poetry recital - again, just pick an era, a style of poetry or a particular poet or two
• Host a poetry writing workshop (for all ages) - don't worry if you can't write a poem, yourself - just be prepared to give some poetry writing prompts
  
• Promote Karen Bass, the Writer in Residence for the Peace region. She can offer encouragement and advice to budding poets (and authors)
• Have some poetry inspired activities or crafts, such as these from www.thecraftycrow.net or 100scopenotes.com's Book Spine Poems.
  

Looking for ideas on how you could better serve the growing number of seniors in your community? Try WebJunction's Older Adults & Seniors section. Among some of the things hey offer:  a great (and free) Powerpoint presention on space planning for seniors, a free customizable brochure for Homebound Services, a great list of suggestions for 20 Ways of Serving Older Adults, and more! The main page of the section will only show the most recent submissions, so be sure to click "documents" to see them all.