Go Beyond the Book for National Non-Fiction Day
National Non-Fiction Day offers an ideal opportunity to showcase the power of real stories — through film, books and interactive experiences. Below, we’ve rounded up creative programming ideas that go beyond the traditional to engage patrons with dynamic, story-driven learning.
Host a Curiosity Challenge
Set up a library-wide challenge that encourages patrons to learn new facts from books, documentaries or exhibits. Use trivia prompts, scavenger hunts or bingo-style activity cards. End the event with a screening of a surprising or unconventional documentary.
Real Stories, Real Voices Panel
Partner with local experts, journalists, educators or historians to discuss key themes or events from a documentary or based-on-a-true-story film. You could offer up context before the screening, then follow it up with a Q&A post-showing.
Science in Action Lab
Create a discovery zone inspired by science-themed films. Add simple experiments, building challenges or STEM-based games to engage families in hands-on fun.
True Story Art Wall
Celebrate real lives and events through creativity! Invite patrons of all ages to illustrate or collage their favorite non-fiction topics, people or historical moments. Display the artwork in a community “True Story Art Wall” to inspire others. Pair the showcase with a film based on a true story to explore how real-life experiences can fuel artistic expression – on the screen and beyond.
Interactive Film + Activity Pairing
Pick a movie that reflects a timely or thought-provoking non-fiction theme and follow it with a themed activity – like writing kindness letters after a screening of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” or planting seeds after “The Biggest Little Farm*”
*Single Event License Required