Program Ideas

• Mission Critical: Your Programming Duffel Bag - 18 complete programming plans with information about time needed, partners/audience and cost.

• Military/Veteran Events (updated July 2020)

• Community Conversations with Veterans (California Center for the Book) is a partnership between California Center for the Book and Veterans Connect @ the Library. The initiative offers California libraries the opportunity to connect more closely with veterans and their families, while also helping veterans and their families connect to the community and resources. In 2020, California Center for the Book is supporting 18 Community Conversations with Veterans initiatives at 20 library locations across California. Library staff members are creating community partnerships and engage veterans, their families, and the community. The Community Conversations with Veterans Toolkit is a robust list of 30 programming partners and resources.

• Intro and Primer: Library Welcome Home Program (PPTX format)
• Library of Congress Veteran History Interview Program for CA Libraries (PPTX format)
• Stand Down Programming for Libraries (PPTX format)
• War Comes Home - Launched in 2014, the War Comes Home initiative was launched to help veterans strengthen connections to their communities, and vice versa, and increase awareness and understanding of the impacts of war. Programs included interviews with veterans, statewide read of Vietnam War veteran and scholar, Karl Marlantes’ What It Is Like To go To War and author tour, thematic public conversations and much more.
• War Comes Home: Host Site Training - This archived webinar discusses War Comes Home, the Legacy, a beautiful and powerful exhibit designed to generate community dialog about the impact of returning home from war among Veterans, family, friends, and all visitors to your library. It also contains practical advice about scheduling programs featuring Veteran issues. San Leandro Public Library and Camarillo Public Library generously share what works and what does not work. Webinar recording no longer available, Powerpoint slides linked on page.
• War Ink - War Ink emerged out of a need to recognize veterans' service and sacrifices and to bridge the divide between the veterans and civilian communities. This is both exhibit and forum, using tattoos as a springboard for California veterans to share their stories.