Adult Program Swap 2025!!

ASRT Meeting Minutes
Monday, September 15, 2025
Topic: Adult Program Swap!

Attendees:
Ellen, Avondale
Molly, Titusville
Kiera, Titusville
Rebecca, Trussville
Reba, Titusville
Ashley, Gardendale
Romellia, Titusville
Laura, Springville Road
Lynn, West End
Leslie, Homewood
Sarah, Center Point
Christian, Trussville
Mary, Homewood
Holly, Homewood
Shannon, Hoover

NEXT MEETING: Monday, November 17, 10 am @ Birmingham Public Library downtown - Digital resources & tour 

Link to full video meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/A4uUtVvNd97-fp9jP7SQ7KbtyCik2Hxi5QOO3KpmHyzuBA-G4MalFCHSvjYsdVbT.TgJ1c45nuON1e6Wu?startTime=1757948347000
(1.22.27)

Link to OneDrive Documents mentioned: Shannon ASRT program swap ideas.docx

Don't hesitate to approach people/patrons/friends about the opportunity to either teach a class, lead a discussion or prepare something more formal at your library! Lots of patrons have interesting hobbies and can bring them to your patrons - and Mary reminded us that our coworkers are also a valuable resource too.

Shawn shared about her ongoing group "Having the Prime of Our Lives" and her efforts to develop interesting programs for them. In February, she did a "BiblioBash" 

• book match game, 
• classic book titles (mix & match), 
• made book page roses, 
• custom bookmarks,
• goodie bags with personalized stuff to leave with. 

This is a group that she sends information as to what she's planning. Another variation done by Holly at Homewood was an event they called "That's Lit!" where they had 

• guessing games for book covers, 
• "judging" a book by the cover, 
• book trivia, 
• book garland out of book pages. 

Here at Hoover, (our) Holly did a Book Tasting - it was fashioned like a high-class meal introducing people to new books, new genres, etc. (more on the handout on OneDrive).

Mary from Homewood did a book themed event for kids "Beyond the Book" that focused on food mentioned in books, serving the kids inexpensive items - this could be adapted for teens or adults - or plan something for parents to introduce them to children's book titles.

I mentioned my wish to have a Senior Prom for elders with music, dancing, perhaps lessons in line dancing or something. This could be done after hours or during the day (you know us elders like it early!!) 360 degree camera, photo backdrop, etc. Another library had a pre-school prom too!! Titusville did a senior prom!! It was very labor intensive but worth it. Reba caters to her VIPs and went all out - she had LIVE music! Another variation is to do a prom for your homeschool groups. Titusville also had a Senior Pageant with 5 participants and it was very well received but did require lots of work. Great community building and lots of fun - their platform was "brains and beauty"! They did interviews, performances, etc. A smaller library could take this idea and make it work for them.

Shawn saw something online called "Taste the Movie" where you show a movie and provide a taste as the movie moves along to match. For example if you showed Matilda, you could serve chocolate bonbons, cake, etc. An adult variety might use a movie like "Like Water for Chocolate" and serve all kinds of chocolate.

Speaking of movies, my favorite thing to plan is Movie + Craft - we've done four events where we show a movie and participants watch and do a craft while watching. It is labor intensive but worth it. Check Swank.com if your library has an active subscription - this database tells you which movies are allowed to be shown in public libraries and also gives programming ideas paired with movies too. You can browse "Ideas" for more information - even if you don't have a subscription. Tenth anniversary of Hamilton anyone??? December is 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birthday, so get ready for some fun Regency program ideas!!

Mary has transitioned to the Circ dept at Homewood and is now doing adult programming. One fun thing she is doing is highlighting their Library of Things (LOT) through programming. For instance, they are having the Homewood ACE Hardware come talk about home repairs, etc. (high impact/low cost home improvement) and she will also feature Library of Things items that are available to the public. Other items in LOT might lend themselves well to finding people to do a program and promote this collection.

Laura at SR mentioned Sarah Neely from Smart Living Skills - she does adult programming on home organization (sarah@smartlivingskills.com, 205-504-6670).

Discussed possibly finding a female auto mechanic that could develop programs showing teens/adults the basics of car repair - breaking some stereotypes and making these things more accessible (what we can still do on our cars without a mechanic like changing tires, checking oil, etc.!) Both Homewood and Hoover have had very successful bicycle repair & maintenance programs using Redemptive Cycles (Hoover even did a bike collection drive for them too!) 

Discussed options for bringing yoga to the library - some yoga schools require community service and it might work to bring them in to teach at the library. This might be a free/low cost option as well. (I have at least three names and contacts for yoga on my handout. Frannie James Yoga does my chair yoga lessons at Hoover and at other libraries.)

Develop relationships with professionals and warm them up to the idea of bringing their work/personal passion to your library - people love to share they just have never thought to do it in a public forum. Works great for community building - they will post on their socials and promote it themselves. Also develop relationships with nonprofits...

Center Pt library recently partnered with Grace Klein to bring a one-day drive-through food pantry. It was a lot of work but very successful. This was a first time thing for a library around here but working with GK, it was a success - an awesome way to serve the community.

Speaking of nonprofits, Reba mentioned that they have a monthly program working with Bundles of Hope to give books to the kids each month. The kids now come to the library ready to check out books. She said, "become an advocate for what your population needs." Very true! Making a meaningful impact is what programming in our community is all about.

Hoover is adding weekly "sound baths" with Dr. Lindsey Smith of SynapticHarbor.com in January of 2026. Dr. Smith has worked with several local libraries to do these programs and she pairs them with "mini" brain lectures. She provides all the supplies. We are registering up to 20 people for each weekly session. Each session is $75. They have been well attended and a different kind of program! (She also does a lot of promotion herself through her site and social media.)

Lynn worked with United Ability to make bird feeders with cheerios and pipe cleaners. Ellen shared some of her favorite arts & crafts items like "bookish stained glass" - lots of great in-library crafts which are always a staple and very popular no matter the size of the library. Speaking of crafts, Trussville has had several successful Craft Supply Swaps which I then did at Hoover to great fanfare. Swaps seem to be all the rage. Some, like a clothing swap, might be very labor and space intensive, but O'Neal library does that well. Others, like a craft supply swap, just need time to organize and collect. Coat swaps, art swap, puzzle or game swaps - all can work at your library. (Trussville's swap gives vouchers to anyone donating so they can come to the supply swap early to get first pickings!) Hoover tried an ornament swap around the holidays but it was ill timed with a very popular children's program and didn't have great attendance but it's still a great idea.

There is a new store called the Craft Room opening on W. Oxmoor in Homewood that will be a "community hub for sustainable creativity" providing a cozy cafe with secondhand crafting. Might be worth checking out if you plan programs and need supplies on the cheap! Their email is hello@thecraftroom.co (just .co not com). 

Holly shared a bunch of great ideas: 

• mason jar crafts, 
• marbled flower pots, 
• magnets, 
• card making, 
• pumpkin painting, 
• jute rope wreath making, 
• sun catchers,
• DIY mugs,
• Pinterest will give you tons of ideas
• or ProgrammingLibrarian.org

Hoover had a very successful program with the Volunteer Lawyers Assn in Birmingham. They've been to several area libraries and hope to do more. If your library is interested, contact Megan Cheek at mcheek@volunteerlawyersbham.org. This is free civil legal advice or referrals for your community.

Trussville had September Reed come in to do yarn pumpkins which can be an easy but nice looking craft. Her contact information is below. She does all kind of programming in area libraries and is easy to work with.

UAB Lung Health Center does a great program on Anti-Vaping that would interest parents, and hopefully, teens. Ours wasn't well attended but the information is needed in the community. Crystal Stevens was a great presenter, ctstephens@uabmc.edu.

Hoover has invited Vallean Jackson, the author of a self-healing through journaling book. She's been great to work with and has already been at a couple of libraries. Hoover is tying it to the new year/new you along with vision boards which are very, very popular January program. authorvalleanj@gmail.com

Hoover did a great Paint Your Partner program combined with after-hours cocktails - some very serious fun was had! Several couples used the opportunity as a date night (and some misguided souls thought they were actually going to paint ON their partner, goodness!)

For the winter, a library could do Warm Up Wednesdays and offer hot beverages perhaps with a community talk or a brain teaser. A local coffee shop might want to get in on helping with something like this.

Don't forget the intergenerational ideas too: in January, they have International Lego Day which might be a great way to get families involved. There is a Yellowhammer LUG (Local Users Group), yellowhammerlug@gmail.com, (850.803.9888) - Melissa Chanslor, Builder-in-Chief (President) - they have done exhibitions of their setups and they are quite a spectacle! Perhaps a Lego swap to coincide?

At Hoover, we are doing a Sourdough Clinic where I have a friend/chef leading the discussion on upkeep for sourdough starter plus recipes and everything. It will be a chance to highlight our cookbook collection too. Plus, everyone will leave with the dry ingredients for starter in a mason jar! I found this idea on Programming Librarian (here's the article).

Center Point has been doing a Spice of the Month club, as well as Avondale library. Seems to be very, very popular with patrons. Staff takes time to bag up bulk quantities, recipes are included along with maybe the history of the spice. Not sure if it would work for a bigger library but this is such a wonderful idea! Could maybe work with teas or something similar too. Patrons wait to see what is posted on Facebook about the upcoming spice and come to pick them up.

We had a short discussion about the explosion of Mahjong and the need for teachers. If anyone knows teachers, please share contacts. O'Neal has a teacher that introduces the concepts but not outright classes. Hoover is having lessons for a lucky 8 people using volunteers from the community to teach. Seems to be very popular right now!

Ideas were solicited for Christmas programs, perhaps a Wrap & Yap? People could hang out together and wrap gifts. Hoover does provide a table where we provide wrapping paper and accessories if patrons want to wrap them on site. Others plan cookie swaps. At Hoover, I teamed up with the Youth department on a Yule Book Flood, officially called Jolabokaflod. It's based on the Icelandic tradition of giving books to loved ones the night before Christmas. We planned it as a "cozy" event with cozy crafts and activities. I took over the library plaza area and set up three couches with comfy blankets and pillows and a big screen tv tuned into a roaring fire. I also provided hot beverages and cookies and two adult crafts. It was a huge success - so I'm doing it again this year just for the adults! We also included what was essentially a "blind date with a book" element to the event too that proved to be popular.

Shawn shared her plans for Holiday Hoppers - the idea is to hop around the globe and explore different cultures - there are new foods and traditions from other countries. There is usually an icebreaker activity with, like, the 12 Days of Christmas, along with rebus puzzles and it ends with "global bites" catered by KFC (because that is a huge tradition at Christmas time in Japan!) and wassail, churros, gingerbread and more. They also get to learn about the different cultures and customs! What a great idea!!!

How many of you are using AI to generate ideas or program titles? I will be from now on!!!

Shawn was seeking more ideas for her senior group, planning ahead. Anything specific to seniors like fraud avoidance, dealing with grief and depression, help with finances, all have been successful but it's hard to get the group to give input for what to do next! Also a good angle would be to have tech classes specifically tailored for seniors too. Perhaps something on self-defense or disaster preparedness would work. And don't forget the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service - it's not just agricultural programs either. Homewood had something called "Masters of Memory" that was very well attended - about strengthening your memory for all ages.

Alabamahistory.net (Alabama Humanities Alliance) has lots of program ideas for bringing history topics to the public and their funding was cut but their lecture series is back up and running. One library had a speaker come talk about the Tuskegee Airmen and that was popular. (Dr. Lisa Bradden, I believe.) 

More ideas:

• Jan Mattingly "The Science Lady", Dynamic Education Adventures, science programs for teens or adults
• Ivy Brook Apiary - will bring bees and honey / contact: ivybrookaplary@outlook.com also on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/ivybrrokaplary.  Looking to book them in Spring/Summer 2024
• Live Well Alabama - AL Extension Service - lots of ideas for bringing them to the library.
• Dr. Andy Coleman @ Urban Turtle Project, atcoleman80@gmail.com - great for all ages.
• Mandy Trott, Astrologer, contact: ecstaticastrology@gmail.com, works with libraries.
• Jessica Watts from Houseplant Collective, 256-283-5157, jessica@houseplantcollective.com
• Joe Hobby, comedy writer and storyteller (adults and teens) contact: 205-568-2559, mylifeasahobby.blogspot.com
• September Reed, artist, (recent program creating yarn pumpkins) zentangle & henna programs at various libraries, www.whimmmsy.com

Topic: Adult Passive Engagement

ASRT Meeting Minutes

Thursday, July 17 via Zoom

Topic: Adult Passive Engagement

Attendees:

Shannon, Hoover
Tamara, Irondale
Ellen, Avondale
Sarah, Center Point
Romellia, Titusville
Olivia, North Avondale
Lynn, West End
Daniel, BPL
Erika, Powderley
Tara, Vestavia Hills
Ashley Bertram
Royce, BPL

Our next meeting is Monday, September 15th at the Hoover Library for our Annual Adult Program Swap! 10 am at the Hoover Library or we will also try to include a Zoom element! Bring your ideas to share, your contacts to share, and your open mind! 

View the full video (in case I missed an important nugget of info!) 50.02m 

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/UeB0sL50muVVm7jD4-kfeK4u2WIQmLarq0Khv3ceJEHcK_AXnXmsTaeTQZaHplqa.rBFmILQl7L0ZoocW 

Ideas from around the web: 

  

  

  

 

  

  

Welcome to Sarah who has been hired at Center Point Library as the new Adult Services librarian! We hope to provide you with some helpful hints and tips for moving forward in your role. 

Today's meeting is to discuss a variety of passive ways to engage adults without breaking the bank or taking too much of our time. We can take a lot of ideas used from Youth librarians because they are always thinking up great ways to keep kids active and distracted. Hey, that should be the tagline for this: Active and Distracted!

The Avondale library already does many things on a regular basis such as take-and-makes and in-house activities. Our Teen Department at Hoover has also utilize "Stick Together" posters (first picture above) that I think adults could enjoy as well. These are black and white outlines with blank squares - then patrons fill in the colored stickers to form a picture. Check them out. We also have a very active Puzzle Exchange at Hoover and I know several libraries are doing that. Tamara noted that they had regularly a puzzle out on a table for patrons to assembly at their leisure but invariably a child walks over and destroys the whole thing. Frustrating! I suggested perhaps getting a taller, maybe bistro, table for puzzles so they are higher up and possibly inaccessible to kids but good for adults. An active ongoing puzzle is a great idea though.

I have tried once at Hoover to create a wall size crossword puzzle that stuck on the wall (during summer reading kickoff) and within 1 hour it had been defaced by teens. I guess that is the gamble we have to face!  

Sarah told us more about Center Points ongoing "Spice of the Month" takeaway. They buy bulk spices, then make the individual packets to give out with perhaps a history of the spice along with a recipe. This is an awesome idea! It could also be a way to highlight certain cookbooks in your collection. The idea might not work for a busier library but feasible for smaller audiences. Make up some, then when they are gone, that's it. We also tried to think of other things that could be done in this manner: chai, tea, perhaps coffee -- all with recipes & history. You could even utilize QR codes to direct people to more information. 

I read about a library that did "Warm Up Wednesdays" where they (specifically during the winter months) had coffee and tea for patrons to make - perhaps some chill activities could be paired with these warm up mornings. Might not work if your library already has a coffee service or cafe. We did a program last December that was astonishingly successful for Jolabokaflod, Yule Book Flood, which is an Icelandic tradition during Christmastime. What we did for the adults was create a cozy sofa area with Squishmallow pillows and blankets and a big TV showing a roaring fire. Off to the side we had a full hot beverage station for tea or coffee or hot cocoa with all the trimmings. People came through all day on a Saturday and we got fantastic reviews for it! (I also had a passive Christmas craft set up in a meeting room.)

Tara talked about their Tiny Books - they keep a number of the reject books and they also have a book cutter (more savage than your average paper cutter!) to cut pages. She creates take and makes for patrons that have instructions and book covers. Link to Take and Makes via Sharepoint. These are extremely cute and popular. Here's a Christmas take and make she created in Canva for a tiny book ornament.

Libraries got good at Take and Makes during the pandemic but the daily grind might have made some of us lag on being creative in this way.  Lynn shared with us a webinar called "The Candy Corn Question: Passive Programming That Pulls People In" where more of this is discussed. Thanks for sharing this, Lynn!

Don't forget that there are several helpful books in the county's collection that can be useful to kickstart ideas. Two from Hoover are The Passive Programming Playbook: 101 Ways to Get Library Customers Off the Sidelines by Paula Willey and Andria Amaral and Librarian's Guide to Passive Programming by Emily Wichman.

Ellen from Avondale shared lots of their ongoing ideas and their philosophy of getting folks engaged. She took us on a visual tour of some items they have out. They utilize a lot of free things and copying on regular paper - to make things easier and cheaper. She also said they take advantage of sales to buy things in bulk for future ideas or take and make kits. For instance, they bought these cute watercolor painting bookmark kits (like this on Amazon) when they were cheap - once they are gone they are gone! Avondale also shares pictures of their Grab-and-Go kits on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AvondaleBranchLibrary/

Here are some items Ellen shared - pictures of the adult activity kits:

And here are examples of the constellation luminaries and book page roses:

 

She showed us a gorgeous constellation luminary - she printed the constellation on the printer and patrons prick tiny holes and put a tiny light inside. Very cute and if you add a QR code you could teach them about the stars! She also had some great summer fans that patrons could assemble too. They also had book page roses kits - complete with a QR code to a video on how to make them. Very smart!

Avondale adult activity kits - this month theme is artists. (They've been putting them out on a different theme almost a year now.) They put together a packet that contains a variety of activities ranging from crosswords, word search, coloring sheets, also utilizing QR codes to link to things like the Craftsy app or how-to videos or additional resources at the library on the month's theme. I've fully credited Avondale and their staff for my version I have in process for an activity kit that will go on our Bookmobile and with our adult outreach team, hopefully celebrating Jane Austen's 250th birthday in December!! When I asked Ellen if they would start fresh once the year was over, she suggested they might keep the theme for the month but change up the information within the packet - for example in September of 2024 the theme was Agatha Christie but maybe they could do "Cozy Mysteries" this year. You never want this kind of thing to become a burden so keeping it fun and fresh can be something to look forward to.

Print out your own Origami paper designs and include folding instructions! Easy & cheap. Community/temporary art projects might also be something to look into for adults or possibly inter-generational. (Like Yayoi Kusama dot art!)  Or hang black paper up and give patrons sidewalk chalk to create a mural. Perhaps have a box with rocks for patrons to paint and create a rock snake outside the library. Ellen has also created tiny art kits, then asked for posts on social media and a show inside the library - what fun! They had about 30 submissions up in the atrium.

Tara mentioned, not passive programming but still very cool, Vestavia Hills had artist-in-residence this summer with a partnership with the Arts Council. They had weekly artist demonstrations talking about their process - these have been well attended.

Links found on passive programming:

https://cslkits.cvlsites.org/let-em-be-passive-programs-for-adults/

 

https://www.slj.com/story/DIY-to-the-rescue-10-librarian-tested-passive-programs

 

https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/Nothing-Passive-About-It-Self-Directed-Programming

 

https://youtu.be/o-eg4O87KWc?si=o4g_dOmT3jmIoHa1

 

https://ideas.demco.com/blog/6-easy-engaging-ideas-passive-programming/

 

What about passive programming via social media? I hadn't thought of that before but it could engage those not in our building!!!

 

Our next meeting is Monday, September 15th at the Hoover Library for our Annual Adult Program Swap! 10 am at the Hoover Library or we will also try to include a Zoom element! Bring your ideas to share, your contacts to share, and your open mind!

 

 

 

 

ASRT Mtg Minutes
Topic: Outreach

Attendees:

Alison, Pinson
Rachel, Botanical Gardens
Jacqueline, BPL
Adrian, BPL
Joanne, Gardendale
Kiera, Titusville
Tamara, Irondale
Terri, Vestavia Hills
Erika, Powderley
Katie, Springville Rd
Holley, O'Neal
Holly, Homewood
Melanie, Hoover
Jennifer, BPL
Molly, BPL
Weston, BPL
Shannon, Hoover

To view the entire 54 minute zoom meeting: https://shorturl.at/sYZ1b

Our next meeting: Wednesday, May 14th @ WYLAM Library, 10 am. TOPIC: Censorship

Shannon started us off by describing how Hoover has revamped its structure to create a "community services" dept that handles outreach. Steve is in charge of the Bookmobile and it is making the rounds to let the community see and enjoy the new service. We have a request form (https://www.hooverlibrary.org/community-outreach) people can use to request outreach services online - it is going to schools, parks, senior centers and other small areas. For many years, Pam did outreach to senior living facilities by bringing her "Books to You" program, she was able to visit Hoover facilities once every 2 months. These are programs developed by Pam that showcase materials from the collection highlighting a certain topic. In the past, she struggled to go to all 10 facilities in our area just once a year. Now we visit everyone at least once a month with the Books to You programs!  Pam is still doing her tours, with added visits and Traci is working with Memory Care and Assisted Living facilities. She is doing similar programs but with an added craft. It is wonderful to be able to increase these visits.Our Book Club at the Hoover Senior Center, the Page Turners, has been meeting since 2008. We average about 16 people each month and still have members that joined at the very first session. We also speak to community groups and represent the library at Hoover events. Contact Pam Bainter at pam.bainter@hooverlibrary.org if you have other questions.

Another thing is that Katie Jane at Hoover does a monthly offsite book club aimed at parents which introduces new kids books. It seems to be popular and going strong. They meet at Baba Java Coffee in Hoover.

From Weston @ BPL via email:
At Central, Outreach does:

-Bookmobile at Central Transit station downtown. We get to park in one of the bus slots. (Very popular!)

-Karaoke for Seniors. We have a portable Karaoke machine (Moukey Karaoke) that we bring with us on the bookmobile.

-Paints and Poems. We read one or two poems at a time to seniors then have them paint what they are feeling, thinking, remembering when listening to the poem. Doesn't always work out as some seniors are a bit too literally, but fun nevertheless. 

-International Jazz Day is April 30^th this year. We are looking to book local Jazz musicians to play the small mini park between Linn-Henley and the courthouse during the lunch hour. 

-We went to Kami-Con and tabled. Kami-Con is a anime/manga centered convention. We interacted with close to 700 folks over the course of the weekend. We have a button maker and made custom buttons just for this event. I was able to design them using this site. https://designer.buttonmakers.net/desktop/index.php

-We are still waiting to hear back from Iron City Comic-Con about tabling there as well.

 

Tamara at Irondale: was asked to do smart phone program for seniors. Divided between iPhone and Android, she prepared a specific program but found most questions were targeted on gmail - so she plans to revamp that. She got the idea for Conversation Cafe at PLA, geared towards memory care patients, it would be simple games and activities on a theme. She went to a great deal of effort to plan a "British" theme with a tea party and took that on the road to a senior facility not even in Irondale but it did not travel well. 

Katie from SR mentioned that their computer outreach was popular but not very well attended. Low numbers meant they could focus on individual instruction but easy to derail too. Identity theft issues were most often requested. Could the computer techs help with that type of outreach?

 

Libraries are often asked to speak at groups throughout the city on various topics. I've done several at the Hoover Country Club. Terry has a gardening group and Rotary Club coming up in April.

 

Terry at VH does a book group with Town Village Retirement that has been going on for many years. They meet once a month with an average attendance of 12 to 15. Some come and don't say a word but they are getting fed and enjoying themselves! They also develop a relationship with them and they show up at the library for other things.

 

Alison at Pinson doesn't really have a book club but their local coffee shop does have a book club and a staff member will attend each month. They bring the books to the meeting and lets them check them out at the coffee shop. Between 8-10 people attend regularly and now they come to the library! They create bookmarks and other ways to promote the coffee shop book club. Pinson doesn't have senior centers or senior living facilities but they are looking for other ways to get out into the community. Alison does a few festivals and events and when the library is there, she is sure to bring dog treats because that hooks the owners!

 

Any time we can put together a cheap/easy takeaway craft to hand out at events or festivals, parents LOVE them. It's a way to connect parents with new activities and you could always put it with a library calendar so they know to come by the library for more information.

 

Kiera at Titusville is working with Invisible Histories in June (Invisible Histories locates, collects, researches, and creates community-based, educational programming around LGBTQ history in the Deep South. Invisible Histories believes archiving is resistance to oppression and history leads to liberation. In our work, we center joy and community while never erasing the painful and complicated experiences of our folks. We WILL save our stories, one box at a time.) They will be doing a program on archiving personal items. They have several different talks and can come to your library to do them (for FREE). BPL has come to Hoover to do a Genealogy program too. Perhaps develop a traveling Genealogy program for your area.

 

Fontaine with Books-By-Mail can come to your library or your senior facilities to introduce people to what they do and who qualifies. This a very valuable program for the seniors in your area. BPL also has Bestsellers Club that anyone, no matter where you live in the county, can register for and get bestsellers sent to patrons at your library. 

Holley mentioned that she participates in the Bham Aids Outreach (BAO) book club and they regularly ask her to help them get more obscure books through ILL downtown - another service that is invaluable. She's done presentations to the group on using ILL and Books-by-Mail and other library services. Take it on the road! Tamara also reminds everyone that BPL Southern History will send a staff member to join you on outreach missions. BPL joined them at their senior center and a staff member of Irondale added to the discussion by explaining what local archives are held at Irondale.

 

Nontraditional outreach includes BPL having a booth at KamiKon this year! Their booth was next to VH. Services can be highlighted at a booth like this. They had flyers, stickers, keychains, bookmarks, little stuff that doesn't cost too much. AND CANDY! VH did a giveaway and trivia at their booth. Raffles are hugely popular. I put together a "Readers Giveaway" that includes ARCs, blank notebooks, bookmarks, stickers, cups, etc. This is so popular and adults love them. Slips of paper with their name and email/cell are put in a basket but why not use this to our advantage? I often ask, on the slip of paper, "Would you like your email added to our Adult Event newsletter?" That way you can cross promote services.

 

Avondale library creates "Adult Activity Kits" that are given out in the library. Each has a different topic (example: Agatha Christie) that has a recipe, crossword, word search, adult coloring sheet, custom designed bookmarks printed on cardstock all put together by printing on a 11 X 17 sheet of paper that folds into a folder to hold everything. One of the best features is that they utilize QR codes to link patrons to further information on the internet - a QR code to PBS Agatha Christie films, a bibliography of her works, documentary link, videos on Hoopla, official website. They went to a lot of trouble collecting all this information - they even included a teabag! My idea is to create these for senior outreach events too. It will inform and delight everyone! (The other example I had from Avondale was "Ghost Stories" and the folder included a list of "spooky podcasts" and links to all kinds of stuff online.

 

Joann at Gardendale said that they have had a booth at the local Magnolia Festival and they prepare all year long by collecting books to give out (around 400 books each year!) They definitely see an uptick in attendance after the festival. With this one great opportunity to reach out, they are able to plan all year and people look forward to the library being there. 

Something else new at Hoover is that our Parks & Rec dept came to us to collaborate with programming. Youth department is doing several "Storytimes in the Park" for kids (Our bookmobile will be there too) and we've planned a bigger event on April 5th (Spring Into Nature!) at a newer people/dog park that is located right on the river (Loch Haven Park). We're having Nature Journaling for kids and I invited a Samford biologist to come teach adults how to use the iNaturalist app, which catalogs places and nature (trees, bugs, flowers, you name it) along with where you found it. Another reason to collaborate is that they have quite a nice budget that we can tap into to make the event great.

 

VH also partners with their Arts Council to do programming (Can you say "COLOR YOUR WORLD" summer reading theme??) Perhaps smaller libraries might take advantage of this. Perhaps summer kickoff can take advantage of that partnership. Alison says she knows from experience that partnering with other city organizations makes the mayor and city council VERY happy! Another advantage is that other agencies or groups might have different ways of reaching the community or can pay for advertising that the library doesn't have.

 

Kiera also told us about the Birmingham Museum of Art CULTURE CASES that are available for checkout! (Taken from the website:

Take your students on a trip around the world with the Birmingham Museum of Art’s Culture Case program! Both physical and digital Culture Cases include objects from diverse regions, customs, and periods to create fun and exciting hands-on arts and culture learning experiences. They’re great for classrooms, libraries, after school programs, and more!

Global Art Culture Cases are actual suitcases that are available for free checkout and provide a tactile experience for students. Each case contains objects from different cultures around the world, all connected by a shared theme. These cases contain educator facilitation packets with quick guides to objects, questions for the class, and links to additional resources—all designed to enhance classroom engagement.

Virtual Culture Cases are digital cases that can be accessed online. Each virtual case is focused on a region of the world and provides additional digital resources like videos, coloring sheets, and lesson plans connected to the Alabama Course of Study Standards.)

Art objects from different countries, etc. and they would love to come help do outreach to seniors. That is awesome!!!

Wednesday, May 14th @ WYLAM Library 10 am. TOPIC: Censorship