Adult Programming

Our March Adult Programming Roundtable featured three librarians talking about their One Town One Book programs.They presented a good variety of ways this can be successfully done.

Falmouth is in the middle of Moby Dick this winter. Every year they include portions of the programming geared toward the different age groups in town.

Mansfield read Three Cups of Tea with the Director Janet Campbell working closely with a group of storyhour mothers to create the program and bring author Greg Mortenson to town. This was so successful they had to hold the program in the high school gym and even then it was a ticketed event becuse there were so many people who wanted to attend.

Ames Free Library in North Easton is planning a program in cooperation with the town recreation department on a book about getting children outside to appreciate nature.

Resources:

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/onebook/files/onebookguide.pdf www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/onebook/files/onebookguide.pdf

Some suggestions for organizing a One Town One Book Program

Think of groups you can collaborate with for programming. Suggested partners are book discussion groups both in the library and in the community, bookstores, depending on the book cultural institutions in town, schools, school librarians, town departments, restaurants and cafes.

Find resources for ideas:

Library of Congress Center for the Book www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/onebook

ALA  Public Programming Office http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/onebook/files/onebookguide.pdf

National endowment for the Arts Big read Program www.neabigread.org

Library Journal “One Great Idea”, September 1, 2009, vol.134, no. 14, isbn 0363-0277

Publishing houses like www.randomhouse.com/vintage/read/onebook.html#resources see www.earlyword.com/publishers for a list of publishing contacts.

Pick the Right Book

Some libraries lean toward classics, others use books of local interest, others still pick a book that is just under the public radar. This is where talking to other libraries about their programs can be really helpful.

Some libraries have a staff committee that selects the book and then works up the programming. Other libraries have a community-based selection committee while still others have a public voting process.

Whatever process you use ensure that you can build both programming and discussion around the book.

Encourage participation

Make multiple copies of the book available for borrowing during the program period.

Advertise the program both inside and outside the library in as many venues as possible.

Consider making reader buttons for staff and public participants that encourage questions and discussion of the book.

Programming

It’s a good idea to hold a number of book discussions at varied times and places before the “big event”, if you are planning one.

Keep the programming at a manageable level-one event a week has been recommended as a reasonable limit for some libraries.

If possible have other cultural organizations plan concurrent events on the topic.

If possible have an author visit.

Document Events

Be sure to have a photographer at your events-armed with a photo release form.

Consider audio or video recording big events in the series.

Ensure that an accurate count of participants in various programs is kept.

Conduct a final evaluation

Review you r publicity efforts to see what brought the most attention.

Evaluate types of programming and sites of programming to determine most successful programs and places to hold them.

Record what really worked well and what you would do differently nest time.

 Created by Cheryl bryan for roundtable 3/10

The SEMLS members’ adult programming roundtable will meet on Tuesday, March 9 from 10 to 12 at SEMLS. As usual, the roundtable will be opened up for a discussion of all kinds of adult programs that member libraries have been trying out over the past year and into this fall. This time we’ll have an in-depth discussion about successful One Town, One Book programs. Adrienne Latimer, Reference Librarian at the Falmouth Public Library, and Janet Campbell, Director of the Mansfield Public Library, will talk about the programs in their communities. The roundtable will be facilitated by Cheryl Bryan, SEMLS Assistant Administrator for Consulting and Continuing Education. [Directions to the SEMLS office]

Programming Librarian offers new features
The ALA Public Programs Office recently launched new features and a monthly e-newsletter for its website, ProgrammingLibrarian.org.  Designed for librarians who plan and present cultural programs and events, the site is both a resource center and a community of librarians committed to bringing increased access to literature, music, contemporary issues, art, history, poetry, scholars, writers, and musicians to their communities....

Click on the link to see the website.

Does anyone have multiple copies (about 100) of Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea" the YA version they are willing to loan to our local middle school? Is there a source for hooking up with libraries who have purchased multiple copies of town-wide reading books?

We just finished a successful "one book" project using Mark Salzman's The Soloist (not to be confused with the movie/book of the same name by Steve
Lopez.) The book deals with a former child prodigy who gets a musical block and can no longer concertize. During the book he begins teaching a gifted young Korean-American boy, goes on a murder trial of a Buddhist monk (this takes place in Calif.) and looks back at his life. Issues to talk about include raising gifted children, trials and juries, Buddhism, mental illness, and music. Almost everyone who read it said, "I wouldn't have picked it up but I really liked it." We have about 90 copies of the paperback book that we got from Westport CT and 2 copies of the audiocd, that could go to a library who would like to do this as a community wide read. I'd like to send out the entire set so some other town could read the book.

If you would like the set, email me and I'll send them in delivery.

Maggie Holmes
Adult Services
Richards Memorial Library
118 N. Washington St.
North Attleboro, MA 02760
508-699-0122
 

This month's discussion will focus on collaborative programming. Megan Allen, Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, will share her experiences in collaborating with a variety of other groups, including other city departments, non-profit service organizations, for-profit organizations and grassroots citizen groups.  She will tell us she has tried a little bit of everything and it pretty much all works! Be sure to bring your own experiences to share with the group along with information on any program that have been very successful for you in the past year.

Do any libraries collect sets of books for book discussions? If you do please reply to Madeline Miele Holt at MMieleHolt@easton.ma.us.

The ALA Public Programs Office is pleased to announce a new online resource to assist libraries of all types and sizes in creating cultural and community programs.  The Web site, ProgrammingLibrarian.org,  includes a resource library, live learning opportunities and a blog to keep librarians informed of upcoming opportunities and provide inspiration for new library programs. As the site continues to develop, users will find more resources, ideas, and opportunities to network with peers and programming experts.

The goal of ProgrammingLibrarian.org is to assist librarians in finding authoritative resources for cultural programming, train librarians in cultural programming techniques and involve library schools in examining the need for courses in cultural programming. In addition to finding ideas and resources, site users are welcome to contribute information and ideas from their own experiences in developing cultural programs for their communities. Live webinars will be held regularly to create not just a resource center, but a community of librarians committed to bringing increased access to literature, music, contemporary issues, art, history, poetry, scholars, writers and musicians to their communities.

Development of the site is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Service to the ALA Public Programs Office, which fosters cultural programming as an integral part of library service.  In keeping with that mission, ProgrammingLibrarian.org offers librarians timely and valuable information to support them in the creation of high-quality cultural programs for their communities.  

Does anyone have any good ideas for adult programs to go along with this yeaar's summer reading there?

Since this is constantly changing I thought people would be interested in this article from Info Today on the legal ramifications around pictures taken at your libraries.

 www.infotoday.com/mls/sep08/Carson.shtml