Having a green screen provides so many fun opportunities for programs, outreach, or even drop-in pictures on your main floor.
Even with just a basic piece of green cloth and an app for your mobile device, you can create a fun, engaging experience for patrons. With chromakey software and apps for green screens, you can usually email and share images or even GIFs with your patrons, or go so far as to print out their funny pictures. Be sure to consider the space you’re using for the green screen, and if you have the time and money, maybe go all out with lights and a DSLR camera. You can recreate a photo booth experience right at the library!
Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
Outreach: Select a range of backgrounds and bring the green screen and a mobile device like an iPad to outreach events. Have anyone who stops by your table take a fun picture, and send them an email with their picture. You can also bring props to make it more engaging.
Family photos: Have patrons come to the library to take their family holiday photos! Curate a fun selection of backgrounds for families to choose, and email and/or print the pictures for patrons. If you want to print pictures, you might want to consider purchasing a good quality photo printer, and limit sizes to 4×6 for printing on the spot. Emailing the patrons will allow them to use the photos however they would like.
Summer Reading Clubs: Use your green screen for any of your Summer Reading Club programs and celebrations. Find thematic backgrounds and props, and have fun!
Travel the World Virtually: If you’ve brought virtual reality (VR) to your library, do a virtual travel program! Have your patrons explore the world using a VR headset, then encourage them to take a picture at a landmark from that country using the green screen. Simple, easy, and fun! There are so many ways to incorporate a green screen into your programs and outreach efforts.