Update for adult programs:

Davina Bell, a LAIII at Central BPL is a certified Zumba instructor and wishes to let everyone know she is open to providing Zumba classes at your library!  She currently teaches Monday and Wednesday mornings at the Alabaster YMCA.  If you'd like to explore having her do something to go with this year's summer reading program, get in touch at debell@bham.lib.al.us.  Thanks, Davina for that information!

Clarification:
In the March 15 minutes, I mentioned BPL's Spinners Club.  Unbeknownst to me, this was a program started by Russell Lee at Central and the program won the November 2017 Innovative & Cool Award by the BPL Board of Trustees!  Russell is taking the show on the road to bring the Spinners Club to nine branches during the upcoming summer reading program.  This is a music-based program in which patrons will listen to pre-selected music recordings and then open the floor for brief discussions about them.  Russell hosts the program at BPL on a monthly basis.  Very cool, indeed!

March 2018: Adult Summer Reading

Thursday, March 15, 2018
Topic:  Adult Summer Reading & Mergent/Intellect Database

NEXT MEETING:  May 17, 2018 at Emmet O'Neil Library, TOPIC:  Online RA Tools & APLS will be in the house!

Attendees:
Shannon, Hoover
Deidre, Bessemer
Michelle, Irondale
Maura, Trussville
Ginny, Leeds
Debbie, Leeds
Jon, Avondale
Holley, EOM
Lisa, Gardendale
Jim, BPL Central
Leigh, North Birmingham

BookRiot's "3 Things I Learned from Running My Library's Adult Summer Reading Program"

Collaborative Summer Library Program:  2018 Adult Program:  Libraries ROCK!

Thank you to everyone who attended our first meeting for 2018.  I apologize for the weather-related cancellation of January's meeting.  Irondale Library hosted this meeting and we really appreciate their facilities and hospitality!

Above is a small attempt to gather some interesting ideas that might work for any size library to coincide with this year's adult summer reading theme:  Libraries ROCK!  All attendees agreed that this theme offers many opportunities for fun, engaging programs for adults.  As I run down what each library either plans to do or wants to do, I will provide as much information as I can so that other libraries may pursue doing similar programs!

If having musical acts in your library seems daunting, please plan to attend ALLA's convention in Florence and look for Joel Gamble and Amanda Westfall's program on booking artists at your library.  Not only will they ease your fears, they'll share some hard-learned tips for making it work.

It seems Trussville is the library with the most theme-related programming planned.  Since their re-opening is scheduled soon, they are going all out for summer reading.  Here are some examples:  UAB Jazz Quartet, music trivia, a musical movie presentation, Elvis impersonator, ballroom dance classes, drum circle and their book group has chosen a music-themed title.  They have also got a Hoop for Fitness demonstration scheduled (https://www.hoopforfitness.com/).  

Bessmer is getting into the act with an African Drum Solo performance for the finale of summer reading with other possibilities to come.  

At the downtown branch, Jim Murray detailed a cooperative effort with Octavia Kuransky to present programs aimed at entrepreneurs and new businesses.  The main focus is for artists, musicians, etc. to help teach the business side of succeeding in the Arts.  This will coincide with Innovation Week in July -- July 9th at 5:30 pm.  Avondale is doing this too but in April. Perhaps this can be something for other branches to present?

Irondale will be presenting Rejoicing Rhythms with Walker Wright (http://rejoicingrhythms.com/index.html).  This is collaborative drum circles for all ages.

Other ideas discussed within the group:  Jim Lacefield, author of Lost Worlds in Alabama Rocks, is a noted Alabama geologist that is also a great speaker.  Also recommended is Ken Wills and Dr. Larry Davenport, authors of Exploring Wild Alabama -- great speakers and wonderful resource. At McWane Center, Jun Ebersole is the best source for all things paleontology.  Jun is the Collections Manager at McWane (jebersole@mcwane.org).  Another great source for speakers is Sloss Furnaces educational/speakers bureau.  Contact Karen Utz at (205) 254-2281 or karen.utz@birminghamal.gov for more information.  North Birmingham is also planning a Monday morning "movie musical" program that sounds like a blast.

Other, less formed, ideas for programs might be to focus on "healing crystals" and have a speaker talk about that.  Or have a silent dance party at your location (there is actually a Birmingham company that does DJ'ing for silent parties at https://www.silentevents.com/!  Jon at Avondale said their monthly yoga programs are very popular (check out https://www.sweetomalabama.org/ for a one-stop-shop for yoga instructors in the Birmingham region).  There is also a Spinner's Club at Avondale that sounds fantastic.  Even just showing the documentary, Muscle Shoals, would be right in line with the theme!

Not all libraries are able to provide on-theme programs but have embraced the "reading" aspect of adult summer reading.  Now that most libraries are utilizing BeanStack to keep track of reading for children and adults, that has been made easier!  One thing that has not been pointed out is the built-in readers' advisory that comes with BeanStack.  As patrons enter book titles, other books are recommended based on previous titles.  Parents can really take advantage of this aspect.  The cost of BeanStack is based on your population.

Give-aways for adult prizes range from Alexa Smart Home Device, Bluetooth speakers, ITunes gift cards or anything else music-related!

MERGENT/INTELLECT database 

Victoria Poole from the company Mergent, presented their database offering, Intellect, which is similar to our current database ReferenceUSA.  The benefit of Intellect is that the company utilizes Dun & Bradstreet and Hoover's datastream.  There are a great many uses for this database in small, medium or larger branches business departments.  You can get key demographic data, business listings, residential listings, but uniquely:  consumer data.

Victoria will work with Jim Murray at the Central library for a system-wide trial of the database.    If purchased by the cooperative, all should take advantage of the free trial to get to know their offering.