Topic: Adult Program Swap
Next Meeting: November 16, Hoover Library, Topic: Book Groups!
Attendees:
Melanie, Leeds
Maura, Trussville
Debbie, Leeds
Amanda, EOM
Michelle, Irondale
Allison, Pinson
Lindsey, Trussville
Teasa, Trussville
We went around the circle talking about successful programs and possible ideas for programs. Some were free and some came at a minimal cost. In order to keep them all straight, I'm going to mention everything here *and* input all the ideas into the Google Docs spreadsheet entitled "Adult Services Roundtable Programming Resource" that is kept on the right side margin of this blog. If anyone has questions about the ideas, contact either myself or the librarian mentioned in the post. I will do my best to include contact information in the spreadsheet.
*Please NOTE: if you weren't able to come to the meeting, please add whatever program ideas to the spreadsheet yourself for everyone to enjoy and use.
Irondale has been doing some really great adult programs lately. Michelle spoke on some of her steady favorites. "Goal setting that works" and/or "What makes a top performer" were presented by Julie Gardner from Southwestern Consulting. Julie can work with your library and will provide a list of FREE programs they can provide.
Local author, Glenn Wills, has published two books: Forgotten Alabama and More Forgotten Alabama. He has proven to be a great crowd-pleaser by bringing his beautiful photos and speaking on old/lost Alabama. Speaking of local authors, Michelle has devised a very casual local authors lunch spot on Fridays that have proved relatively popular. She has invited local children's author Kim Crawford and the ever-popular Steven Russell, UAB doctor who's successful thrillers are in many libraries. Notable: Kim Crawford evidently also does "laughter yoga" -- I think that would be an awesome program for all ages!
Michelle also partnered with Retreat Day Spa in Irondale. Molly Flora from that spa did a wonderful essential oils talk and even allowed everyone to mix up their own fragrance. This may not work for all libraries, but contact a local spa and see if someone there can do a program on such things as skin care, relaxation techniques, foot massage -- anything that might overlap with their spa specialties. Some locations might even be willing to provide on-site services to gain free advertising...
Debbie spoke for the Leeds Library on some fun/exciting programs they have presented there. First up, Joy O'Neal from the Red Barn who talks about her nonprofit that serves children and adults with physical, emotional, cognitive disabilities providing therapy with horses. Debbie also praised the Seasoned Performers, a Birmingham institution that works out of the Red Mountain Theater Company. These performers can do seasonal readings or full-on plays at a very reasonable cost. Most recently, they have performed the original work "Galleria Girls" -- what could be more fun!
Debbie also suggested contacting Hand-In-Paw for presentations and the Birmingham Audubon Society -- they are always ready to get the word out about their nonprofits and possibly learn new skills.
Debbie's husband, Robin McDonald, is also a local author and graphic designer who is available for programs. His books, Heart of a Small Town and Visions of the Black Belt, make for great discussion in any library! Other local authors who make for great speakers: Kenneth Wills, author of Exploring wild Alabama : a guide to the state's publicly accessible natural areas, Thomas Spencer, author of Five-Star trails : Birmingham : your guide to the most beautiful trails, Dr. R. Scot Duncan from BSC, Southern wonder : Alabama's surprising biodiversity and Beth Maynor and Bill Finch's Longleaf, far as the eye can see : a new vision of North America's richest forest.
Speaking of volunteer organizations in our community: we discussed that it might be fun for a library to have a "volunteer expo" of sorts to give local nonprofits a platform to engage and possibly garner new volunteers in the community. It would be relatively easy to provide a table for a variety of groups in order for them to get the word out.
Music programs are also very popular in any library; for instance, the Birmingham Opera, Birmingham Music Club and Symphony Volunteer Council are all music-related organizations with outreach programs.
Another speaker suggestion was for LouAnn Jacobs from Birmingham-Southern College. She specializes in children's reading and speaks on allowing children to read more naturally instead of sticking to the given AR schedule.
Allison from Pinson shared her successful Murder Mystery dinner theater. Through the mymysteryparty.com, scripts and more can be ordered for as low as $40 and *can be shared*. So far, Pinson owns "Ravenwood Masquerade Murder Mystery" and Irondale owns "Gouls and Witches". The packages come with everything you might need. Sounds very fun & exciting!
Does anyone do any life-sized board games? Several libraries have their own games that would be adaptable for adults to play, like Jenga or Scrabble. If your library has the game, please make a note in the comments field. Emmet O'Neal does have a mini-golf set that can be loaned out to area libraries (talk to Amanda Westfall.)
Another popular program bringing emerging adults together is programs that feature "Mocktails" -- drinks that leave out the alcohol). They are fun to mix up and provide recipes for participants. Speaking of emerging adults, Amanda at Emmet O'Neal brings her knowledge from "Standing Room Only" programs aimed at younger adults. They've done weaving workshops -- for a small fee, you get a small loom and kitchen twine. Participants are taught about natural dying for the twine and let loose to do something creative. Amanda bought online for $5/loom and charged a small entrance fee to recoup the losses. Her next stellar project is "The Great Brookie Bake Off" -- with this she will be investing in at least 10 Easy Bake Ovens and participants will conduct cooking based on the popular TV show. Good luck. Amanda! Another popular program series for younger adults are "Tribute" nights such as '80s Music with Karaoke videos and microphones. More of her great ideas are outlined on her handout:
Lindsay and Maura from Trussville shared several ideas that could translate into great programs. Many libraries do use AARP for programs, but a recent program on Identity Theft really became much needed by most patrons. Another idea they have is to create a "Handyman's Night" -- based on the ideas of repaircafe.org and fixitclinic.com. One theme could be lamps and everyone comes with a broken lamp and there are people there to help make the repair (another idea: bicycle repair) Lindsay also mentioned contacting the local police for some safety program ideas.
Also, the idea of a book share might go well with some light snacks -- perhaps everyone brings their favorite passage, poem, etc. and has a one-minute share with the group.
Don't forget our own library crowd pleasers like Jim Baggett at Central who is happy to do a program on researching your house's history and other archives-related topics.
Tracy James from Chic Made Simple: As a protege of Tim Gunn from Project Runway, Tracy gives great fashion advice for all shapes, sizes and budgets out there.
Another great program Hoover had during the Ladies Day Out event this year was a Body-Positivity 101 session with Mary-Berkley Gaines, founder of Beautiful Bodies of Birmingham. She has very topical sessions for teens and adults on learning to accept yourself.
Lastly, we also had a very popular "Women as Entrepreneurs" session with speakers from the Athena Collective, founders Whitney Chen Wright and Nicole Carpenter. They have started their own initiative to inform/educate women on what is vital in entrepreneurship -- and they are very eager to get the word out. (If you read these two resumes' you will be very impressed. These ladies were excellent role models!)
And, to end these minutes:
Stolen from the Internet!!! Adult Programming Ideas: Make them your own!
1)
Programs Easily Adapted for Any Theme
(Almost!)
› Writing Contests: flash, themed, poetry,
skit, song lyrics (Prize is publication)
› Tasters: inexpensive foods on a theme like
chocolate, history, demonstrations
› Crafts: button making, origami, coloring,
photos and frames, bookmarks
› Local history: feature speakers, library
collections, photos
› Social Media and Relevant Apps/Sites
2)
More Easily Adapted Programs
› Charitable Drives: food for fines, pet food,
costumes, prom gowns
› Photo or Video contests: in the library or
community, reading, promoting a service, book trailers, family history
› Art: fairs, themed contest, scrapbooking,
digital, try new medium fair, feature local artists or museums
› Music: local performers, all ages, learn to
download from library site, listen on new tech, variety shows, karaoke
› Money & Health: local services, library
resources, information fairs, improvement techniques
3)
Fitness Fair
› Interactive Wii Games
› Pedometers: Step It Up Library Scavenger Hunt
› Demonstrations from Park District: 20 minute
intervals
› Health representative taking biometrics
› Smoothie Making
› De-Stress Meditation
› Massage Station
› Demonstration of fitness apps
4)
Chinese New Year
› Video of Dragon Dance
› Music, cookies
› http://www.minimalisti.com/decoration
/new-year/12/chinese-new-year-crafts- for-kids.html
› Zodiac chart to color
› Red Envelope Craft:
› Fortune type slips in cookies or on bookmarks
stuck in books advertising the program.
› Language learning materials
5)
Superbowl: Snacks by Decades
› 1930s/40s: Velveeta, brownies
› 1950’s: Mini Burger Bar, Chex Mix
› 1960’s: Bugles, Pringles, Mini frank kabobs
› 1970’s: fondue, cheese balls, Grape jelly/chili
dip
› 1980’s: Cream Cheese/pepper jelly
› 1990’s: cupcakes
6) February:
Black History Month
› Genealogy programs
› Underground Railroad sites
› Musicians
› Display of Inventions Vote on favorite
authors by genre
7)
Movie party and trivia
› Gourmet Popcorn
› After Hours Oscar Night Party
› Short Movie Festival
› (Sidewalk Film Festival) showings (my
suggestion!)
8)
Self Defense and Safety
› Police Department
› Scams towards seniors
› Making your house safe
› Safety Online
› Self Defense
› Special class for seniors
9)
Basketball Fest
› Nostalgic movies
› Video game tournament for adults of NBA2K16
› Trivia games
› Match player to town
› Mascots
› Game trivia
› Make dream team for prize drawings
10) April:
National Library Week Swaps and Other Simple Celebrations
› Info Fair by departments
› Departments make something to auction
›Tours: Live or Virtual
› Flea Market and Craft Fair
› Comic Swap
› Authors with publishing workshop
›\Learn Something New – punch cards for
watching videos
› T/F: Library Common Sense
11) Money
Smart Resources Demonstration
› Budget Contest Budgeting and Investing Apps
› Coupon Clipping
12) Library
Virtual 5K (and other Healthy Gadgets)
› Staff post how much they walk on desk
throughout the week
› Patrons post photo of themselves walking in
the library or throughout the month for a prize
› Walk a 5K and screen shot Map My Walk or
other evidence. Enter with $10 towards Friends, inexpensive medals
› Live walking 5K around library.
› Steps scavenger hunt or Geocaching within
library
› Movies & Coloring
› Costume cosplay for adults
› Trivia or Timeline
› Books
› Parody movie contest
› Fan fiction contest
› Origami
› Yoda Soda
› Rebel Legion
14) Easy
Adult Crafts (time to clean out the closet)
› Recipe Scrapbooking
› Paint and Book Cover Night
› Apron Decoration
› Painting /coloring: photo frames, tote bags,
t-shirts, notebook covers
› Tye-Dye socks
› Beaded bookmarks
› Bookmark design contest
› Cards for charity, gifts
› 3D printed keychains
15) World
of Flavors Tasting and Exchange
› Restaurants with tasting (require registration)
› Get treats from local stores – even cookies!
› Patrons bring copies of recipes
› History of area with samples of foods,
recipes
› Holiday themed
16) Car
Show + Safety
› Hooking media up
› Emergency kits
› Shopping through library sites
› What to look for in used cars
17) September:
Fall Into Something New
› Style and Fashions: scarves, jewelry making,
hairstyles
› Sushi demonstration, or other no-cook healthy
choices
› Resume Refresh, Social Media review
› Travel tips: local favorites, upcoming museum
exhibits
› New and readalikes for popular books &
media
› Download and Go: technology demonstrations
› House Refresh: speakers on painting tips,
woodworking
› Park District: new sports classes
18) Nostalgic
Halloween Party and Blood Drive
› Vintage horror movie or 80’s monsters:
Freddie, Chucky, Jason
› Halloween cartoons
› Duct tape or toliet paper costumes – mini
contests
› Finish the scary story contest or flash scary
fiction 1000 words
› Storytelling 101 – outside
19) Diwali
› Ethnic markets – décor and food
› Local music or dance programs
› Henna painting
› How to drape a sari demonstration
› Decorate a Diya – prepare with base coat (http://www.wikihow.com/Decorate-a-Diya)
20) November:
Veterans Thank You Open House
› Create a Card Party
› Online Photo Montage
› Collect Photos, Memorabilia
› Veterans Benefits, Spouses
› Steps for Success – Getting Started
› Demonstrations of how to login in lobby
› Write-Ins – allow time after writing programs
› Celebration event in January – next steps?
› Interactive display of local word counts
› Tweeting author quotes
› Display of books on writing, biographies
› Visit https://nanowrimo.org/
22) November:
Knitting for Charity
› Have this program in visible area to invite
more
› Host throughout the month
› Staff or guest teacher’s simple stitches
› Collect squares for Warm Up America
› Better students will make small blankets for
animal shelters
› Drop in event to knot polar fleece blankets
for local shelters
23) December:
Make and Take
› Fill glass balls with glitter, garland,
shredded paper
› Print photos, decorate frames
24) Night
Star Gazing
› Telescope at certain place, certain times
› Partnership with college, expert
› Patrons can record who can see what (use free iphone app “Star
Tracker Lite”)
› Getting started in stargazing
› Astrology 101: What’s in store for you next year?
25) Holiday
Library Open House: Virtual and Live
› Marketing features Invitation to special
event
› Music, local high school groups
› Set hours: Free, fast and fun for all ages
› Demonstrations of timesaving tips or
activities in each department
› Peaceful place to sit and read if desired
› Local food vendor
› Virtual: virtual tour, resources for easing
year end stress, holiday traditional stories
Shout out to Amy Alessio
amyalessio@sbcglobal.net
View Slideshow of Amy’s presentation
at
