Teddy Bear Adoptions

Problem:

Our Library celebrated "A Very Bear-y Holiday" with a tree covered in teddy bears (both purchased and donated) and numbering nearly 100 stuffed, cute, lovable bears.  After this, they were stowed in boxes and packed in the attic ... for six years.  Every time we went to get any decorations, the result would be a cascade of teddy bears starved for affection.

Like this, but with terrifying amounts of cuteness.

Solution:

These poor bears were not going anywhere and no one had any idea as to how we could put them to use.  Suggestions ranged from a Teddy Bear Picnic (display/event) to recycling them (Nooooo!).  I finally landed on a Teddy Bear Adoption Center, coinciding with National Adoption Awareness Month in November.  This had an incredibly easy set-up with a huge reward.

Setup:

First, we sorted the teddies.  Some, sadly, did not make the six years without developing a mildew smell or had gotten some amount of damage.  These were recycled *sniff* but it was for the best.  The rest, however, were given the royal treatment to ready them for their new adoptive homes which included tying an "Certificate of Adoption" around their neck and setting them out on our display.

Look at those precious faces!

The adoption process was also simple.  We told kids they just needed to:

1. Select a bear.
2. Fill out the "Certificate of Adoption" (their name, the date, the bear's name, and their signature).
3.  Bring the bear to the Children's Desk for the Official Stamp (star-shaped paper punch).

We always "Oh"ed and "Ah"ed over the bears, of course!

Result:

As we near the end of the month, we've adopted over 70 bears (leaving us with just 11 to find homes for) to eager kids ready to take on the responsibility of parenthood (to a stuffed animal).  Caregivers loved the idea almost as much as the kids!  (Only a few tired parents were heard telling their kids "I think you have enough stuffed animals at home," but everything worked out in the end.)

This was a passive program that was well worth the effort of designing a sign and some teddy Adoption Certificates.  While few libraries may find themselves in a similar situation, it's still good to know that an easy solution is usually hiding somewhere in the attic.