1 Know your audience

The first rule of humor is to know your audience. What kind of humor do they appreciate? What topics are appropriate and relevant for them? What tone and style do they respond to? You can use your observation skills, your knowledge of your patrons' interests and needs, and your own experience to tailor your humor accordingly. For example, if you work with children, you can use jokes, puns, and silly stories that appeal to their curiosity and imagination. If you work with adults, you can use sarcasm, irony, and anecdotes that relate to their challenges and goals.

3 Be self-deprecating

The third rule of humor is to be self-deprecating. Self-deprecating humor is when you make fun of yourself or your own flaws, mistakes, or quirks. It's a great way to show your humility, your authenticity, and your confidence. It also helps you avoid offending or alienating your patrons, as you're not making fun of them or anyone else. You should be careful, however, not to be too harsh or negative on yourself, as that can backfire and make your patrons feel sorry for you or doubt your competence. You should also balance your self-deprecating humor with some positive or complimentary remarks about yourself or your library services.

4 Use visual aids

The fourth rule of humor is to use visual aids. Visual aids are anything that can enhance your humor with images, colors, shapes, or movements. They can be posters, signs, flyers, stickers, bookmarks, props, costumes, or anything else that can catch your patrons' attention and make them smile. You can use visual aids to decorate your library, to promote your programs and events, to display your collections and resources, or to express your personality and style. You can also use visual aids to interact with your patrons, such as by asking them to fill in a blank, to vote for an option, or to participate in a challenge.

5 Learn from others

The fifth rule of humor is to learn from others. Humor is a skill that can be improved with practice and feedback. You can learn from other librarians who use humor effectively in their library services, by observing them, by asking them for advice, or by joining their networks and communities. You can also learn from other sources of humor, such as books, movies, shows, podcasts, blogs, or social media, by reading, watching, listening, or following them. You can use these sources to inspire you, to entertain you, or to keep you updated on the latest trends and topics.

6 Have fun

The sixth and final rule of humor is to have fun. Humor is not only a tool, but also a joy. You should enjoy using humor in your library services, as it can make your work more fun, creative, and rewarding. You should also share your humor with your patrons, as it can make them happy, loyal, and satisfied. Humor can help you create a positive and lasting impression on your patrons, and a strong and supportive relationship with them. Humor can also help you cope with stress, challenges, and changes in your library environment.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?