Boredom Busters Bitez Publication
Client:Bucks County Free Library
Design: Editorial Design, Illustration, & Content Creation
Boredom Busters Bitez was created when the Bucks County Free Library needed to close its doors due to the COVID–19 pandemic. Although all in–branch programming stopped, Boredom Buster Bitez provided activities and challenges to children throughout the county. Three issues were released every week for six weeks while the library created a plan to offer daily online programs.
Each issue focused on a central theme to educate, inspire, and help children create while under stay–at–home orders. Each issue could be accessed through the library’s website and could be printed at home or downloaded onto a tablet.
Reaching an Online Audience
Most materials created by the library were also printed by the library. When the library closed at the beginning of the pandemic, we were unsure of how to get these into patron’s hands, especially young children who might not have direct access to a computer. We promoted these materials via social media, email, and directly on the library’s website.
They could be downloaded easily, printed out at home, or completed on a tablet. After the first few editions were published the library reopened remote services, and patrons could come and pick up a printed copy of any edition they wanted.
Distraction from the World
Working with the Children’s Services department, we brainstormed topics and activities that would encourage children's imaginations and allow them to temporarily escape from the stress and woes of the pandemic.
Mixing simple, close-ended activities that could be completed in minutes with longer, open-ended activities gave children a sense of accomplishment and creativity.
Keeping Things Relevant
We met remotely as a team each week to discuss which topics we’d cover. We focused on a range of topics that were familiar to children while also branching out with information and content that was new to them.
After each edition, we saw an increase in books and other materials relating to the subjects of that edition. We explored topics that were both universal and niche to encourage children to reach out and discover more info.