Libraries can be more than books. Some kids just need a little direction to get the creative juices flowing. I've gleaned  the following from contributors to PUBYAC. See the archives, if you're a member, for LEGO PROGRAMS: 1-15-2010; 9-24-2007; 5-25-2007: 11-20-2006.  If you've held a program, let us know of YOUR success, or what you would advise for your colleagues. (There are other construction bricks out there, but everyone knows what you're referring to when we use the word Lego.)

The Lego Corporation has told me that it is not legal to use the word "Lego" in the name of the Club.  We bill ours as a "Construction Club" using Lego bricks.  That seemed to sooth the copyright issue. (PUBYAC 1-15-2009)

See also:  Jbrary Character Parties     

                    https://legolibrarian.com/

LEGOS in the Library:

• LEGO Contest
• LEGO “build days”—offered several times a year

Contest suggestions

• Pre-registration will be required to insure building space
• Original design structure maybe started at home but must be completed on site.
• Each participant will be given 30 minutes to finish their creation. 
• Size restrictions--Build in cardboard box tops and display with participant tent cards, or build in a taped off designated space. 
• Original Lego creations—NO KITS for the contest (Only use of DUPLO bricks and standard LEGO bricks permitted. No use of Technic LEGO bricks or LEGO Mindstorm Robots.)
• No sharing or borrowing of LEGO bricks.
• You may want to divide your competition into 3 award groups: Ages 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12. 
• Have some specific categories already set up, like tallest, best house, or most colorful… 
• Most kids used at least an hour—2 hours was just too long. 

Rewards:

• LEGO kits or sets.
• Certificates for EVERYBODY
• Have a People’s Choice among the balloting

Filler/Activity Games:

• Quick build from a bag of miscellaneous pieces
• Search for the LEGO in a dish pan filled with rice and LEGO pieces. Blindfold the child.

LEGO Estimation:

• Fill a jar with small pieces. The patron who is closest without going over wins a small bucket of LEGO bricks.

Describe and Duplicate:

• Partners are separated by a barrier or sitting back-to-back. One partner is given a completed LEGO structure, while the other partner is given all the necessary pieces to duplicate the original structure.  Partner #1 must verbally tell partner #2 how to construct the structure in question. (For added fun, this session may be timed.)

LEGO Tic-Tac-Toe:

• Using a base and LEGO bricks create your own tic-tac-toe game.

Group Masterpiece:

• Participants extract one piece or one handful of pieces from a bucket that is passed around the table. As the piece is extracted they are placed on a group project. You may want to talk about the masterpiece, even speculate what the masterpiece might be in the end.

Brick – tionary:

• Participants build an object while others are trying to guess what it is in a limited amount of time.

Twenty Questions:

• Participant builds a creative invention. Only 20 “yes,” and “no” questions can be asked of the builder. The object of the game is to get the object identified in under 20 questions.

Book Tie-In:

• Tie the building session to a specific book, ie THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT.

          Read aloud and then challenge the participants to build Jack’s house.

Challenge: 

• The Lego builders to make a bridge and then to construct a vehicle that could go over their bridge.  (PUBYAC 1-15-2009)

• Transportation
• Forts

Write About It:

• Have the kids either write something about their creation, or have them tell  about the creation and write what they say. This is one of the kids favorite parts of the program.

Caution:

• Have plenty of LEGO bricks! Have plenty of LEGO bricks! Have plenty of LEGO bricks!

                   OR

• Make sure you specify that kids bring their own.

Cleaning:

• wash them in mesh bags in either the laundry or dishwasher. (PUBYAC 10-25-2011)

For more Lego offerings, see: Construction Library Program