Library serves up festive activities with ‘Chills and Thrills’

This October, the library isn’t just a place to find a new book, it’s a hub of creativity, competition and community for students with the month-long “Chills and Thrills” event.

“October has always been an important month for libraries,” librarian Jami Chingren said. “Nationally, the month connects to the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) TeenTober initiative, which encourages libraries to engage teens through programming that supports learning beyond the classroom. Our ‘Chills and Thrills’ event grew out of those same goals but with a Gretna East twist.”

That twist? Offering a brand new activity each day, which includes crafts, games, movies, competitions and more.

“I paid close attention to what worked well in other high schools, then adapted those ideas to fit our students and our space,” Chingren said. “The goal was to offer a mix of activities that would appeal to different interests, some hands-on, some social, and some just for fun.”

Students wanting to participate in the festivities must be in good academic standing and send a Securly Pass to the media center during study hall.

While “Chills and Thrills” meets goals outlined by YALSA, ultimately, the inspiration came from the students themselves.

“Our library is already a busy, creative place,” Chingren said. “I wanted to build on that enthusiasm and create a month of programming that celebrates both sides of the library experience: the quiet love of reading and the joyful energy of shared creativity.”

It’s not just Chingren who made this event possible, but a team effort. Library TAs are a big part of planning and executing the festivities.

“I was able to provide feedback on the various events each day, so it’s nice having events that I know will be enjoyable,” junior Kayla Thorne said. “Some of the tasks required a bit more setup, but I like having a task, so I didn’t mind it.”

Though October is full of “chills” and “thrills,” the fun isn’t stopping there. Chingren hopes to keep creating events that keep students engaged all year round.

“I like to keep things fresh by changing the theme or focus each year,” she said. “Next year, I’m hoping to introduce a holiday-themed event that brings the same level of creativity and school spirit.”