TOPIC: Adult Program Swap
Attendees:
Shannon, Hoover
Melanie, Leeds
Ramona, Leeds
Leslie, Avondale
Holley, EOM
Michelle, Irondale
Lynn, BPL Central
Maura, Trussville
Sunni, Gardendale
Deidre, Bessemer
Programming for cognitively impaired or "on the spectrum":
- Trussville, along with many other branches, have a successful sensory storytime.
- Pelham & Homewood are partnering with Kulture City to certify the library - Pelham also offers noise cancelling headphones that can be used in the library or can be checked out.
- Trussville has brought drum circles and worked with Independence Place.
- Other places to consider partnering with: Exceptional Foundation, Glenwood (at Liberty Park), Kulture City and Independence Place. Irondale's Studio By The Tracks works with adults needing special attention.
Programminglibrarian.org and Programming Librarian Interest Group (Facebook) are must-sees for those interested in adult programming. Lots of ideas, tips, slideshows, etc. Recently they highlighted Dollar Tree crafts for Halloween! By the way, you can buy from Dollar Tree in BULK online - get a much cheaper rate! Along those lines, Oriental Trading Company's parent company Fun Express - if you are ordering over $200 (total) you can get a much cheaper rate if you go directly through Fun Express. Along the same lines, Michelle bought pop sockets (for the back of your cell phone) cheap at $.04/piece from DHGate - adult craft decorating them!
Maura pointed out that if your community is involved with any type of festival or city-wide celebration, you must make your library's presence known. In Leeds, the John Henry Festival was brought back and the library had games and a booth. Sometimes there are accompanying grants to go along with these events. Check with your city's Redevelopment Committee to see if there are any community grants open to you. Maura also mentioned the Trussville Historical Board did a historical program with the museum that garnered record attendance. Timing is sometimes the KEY to making community events a success at the library.
Leslie told us about Avondale's Downton Abbey programs, preceding the release of the movie. They also have a monthly British TV discussion group that is successful. They also have a monthly adult craft group that is very popular. Sand art was especially fun - Leslie bought sticky mandalas from Oriental Trading - the mandalas have removable patches that leave the page sticky for your sand.
We started discussing libraries that have alcohol at their programming. Emmet O'Neal regularly has alcohol with no trouble. Homewood has a very successful after hours alcohol program and Hoover has begun their own "Top Shelf" after hours program. Melanie talked about the beginning of "Tales and Ales" which was initially off-site at Rails & Ales on Sunday but has moved to the library during off hours. These programs reach a different audience and seem very popular. Tales and Ales now has a steady 10-15 in attendance with BYOB after starting with as many as 50+. Central has functions, fundraisers and the like, that have alcohol such as their "Read Between the Wines". Some libraries are prohibited from having any type of alcohol on the premises. If this is something a library wants to consider, it might be beneficial to adopt some kind of policy.
Talking about Crafting: Hoover has very popular "Glue Gun Gang" which Deni schedules for at least three times a month (same craft, different times/days - daytime, nighttime and weekend). Leeds has a Harry Potter focused craft group called "Dumbledore's Army". Other libraries are going strong with crafting groups for adults! Some libraries are finding it necessary to charge a minimal fee in order to pay for materials. Standard is to charge $5 per participant. This also aids in guaranteeing attendance.
Leeds was lucky enough to receive grant money to do several themed nonfiction programs. One that will happen in 2020 will be called "Current Events Cafe" and will tackle tough topics such as Fake News, Online Security, Mental Health Issues, etc. Another series called "Let's Get To Work" will be a formal certification process for those wanting to improve their chances at receiving a job -- Resume Writing, Professionalism in the Interview, Mock Interviews, etc. with an end result being having Melanie be a professional reference (requires attendance at all sessions). The last nonfiction series will be a cookbook group called "Read Them and Eat." After exploring cookbooks, potluck dishes will be shared within the group. Let's all wish her luck on these exciting programs!!
Pinson had the archivist at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Jason Kirby, come do a program about the Gardens - very popular.
Many libraries have had success doing Mystery Plays at the library. Some have scripts that make the patrons a part of the play while others just have the action onstage with players. Emmet O'Neal last year bought "Murder at the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party" that went along with everyone wearing ugly sweaters. I have available upon request "The Ravenwood Masquerade Murder" and "A Magical Murder at Toadwart Inn" scripts. Hoover, in October, will be doing an Oriental Express-type murder mystery called "Last Stop Murder" - there are additional audio files and instructions available, if needed.
Gardendale has had success with their adult storytime called the Social Cafe. People just want some reason to connect and be involved in something. Each meeting is informal and just social such as trivia, potluck, etc. Each month, a group donates breakfast to the group.
Michelle at Irondale has made contact with a great GED prep person -- he is a college professor and really does a great prep program, Chris Rice. He can also do SAT prep. Michelle also works with the Habitat for Humanity's REstore to obtain materials They provided the materials for the very popular String Art program. Also worth noting, Home Depot gives out material grants too. They are called Community Impact Grants.
Michele also mentioned that her program with Astronaut Larry DeLucas was extremely popular and would make a great speaker for others. She also had a percussionist Walker Wright - he brings plenty of drums for everyone and has such a positive presence!
Deidre has recommended in the past, but here it fits, Laura N. Hill Communications Editor for the Encyclopedia of Alabama -- they have a wealth of information to share for a program. Phone 334.844.4008.
Holley talked about a successful program bringing Verna Gates, author,journalist, founder of Fresh Air Family and champion liar, to talk about her newest book 100 Things to do in Birmingham Before You Die. She is very entertaining and personable and library-friendly!
Here are two purportedly free sites for murder mystery games recommended by Programming Librarian Interest Group:
Murder Mystery Games
Murder Mystery Break Out Rooms
If you are interested in furthering the theme of ALABAMA in your library, try the PBS Film, The Bankheads of Alabama. "For nearly a century, three generations of the Bankhead family from north Alabama distinguished themselves in American government and culture. They were politicians that rose to prominence in Washington, and personalities that commanded the international stage." Speaker: Robert Briscoe, Executive Producer, Center for Public Television and Radio.
If you want to do a craft or have a botanical talk, try contacting Kelly Woods, owner of Grace Gardens. Holley has used her successfully for programs before. Holley has done several movie + craft events showing a cult favorite or a movie everyone is familiar with along with a fun craft to be done during the showing. Fun for everyone! (You might also consider contacting the folks at Sidewalk Film Festival for program ideas!)
Lastly, Kelly Laney from Springville Road was unable to attend the meeting but it should be said she is doing some fabulous work over there! She went before the AWESOME Foundation of Birmingham at Carrigan's Public House to present her idea for BRAIN JAM.
Here, she discusses the premise: "The program I went to Carrigan's about was Brain Jam. Basically the deal is that there are two areas of the brain where new neurons can be grown: the dentate lygus and the hippocampus. This is contrary to everything I learned in my bio/psych classes for my undergrad, but that was also a looooong time ago. If older people eat nutritious meals and exercise, those two things together cause the formation of a protein called BDNF--brain derived neurotropic factor. The BDNF is what causes the neurogenesis. The problem is that if the brain is not stimulated by learning something really challenging, the new cells just die. If the brain is stimulated, the new neurons integrate into the brain and actually cause it to grow. There's a good deal of evidence to support that it delays cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer's.
I've attached the fact sheet from the Alzheimer's Association that is sobering in the extreme. We're the 3rd highest state in the US in Alzheimer's diagnosis, and it's increased 187% since 2000. This new research gives us a way to fight back. Two of the best things to learn are how to play a musical instrument and how to speak a foreign language. Brain Jam teaches basic music theory, as well as how to play simple instruments. While I didn't get the Awesome Foundation grant, I did scrape up enough programming funds to get 8 ukuleles, and I caught a sale on some kazoos and harmonicas. This month we've started beginning ukulele instruction with someone who actually knows how to play, as well as a musician's jam once a month. I blatantly steal the information Tami Dalton teaches to repeat and augment Brain Jam info, then we get together and play at the Jam. This dovetails nicely with the weekly nutrition class (Body Changers) and the twice-a-week Bend and Stretch sessions (based on the National Institute on Aging's Go4Life program). I'm adding Cane-Fu once a month to teach martial arts, balance, and confidence--again taught by someone who knows what they're doing."
Great work, Kelly! Thanks for sharing and giving all of us something to think about! By the way, the group at Springville Road also utilize Mango Languages to enhance the elasticity of the brain.
In doing research for this meeting, I came across some programming ideas through Programming Librarian.
Michele also mentioned that her program with Astronaut Larry DeLucas was extremely popular and would make a great speaker for others. She also had a percussionist Walker Wright - he brings plenty of drums for everyone and has such a positive presence!
Deidre has recommended in the past, but here it fits, Laura N. Hill Communications Editor for the Encyclopedia of Alabama -- they have a wealth of information to share for a program. Phone 334.844.4008.
Holley talked about a successful program bringing Verna Gates, author,journalist, founder of Fresh Air Family and champion liar, to talk about her newest book 100 Things to do in Birmingham Before You Die. She is very entertaining and personable and library-friendly!
Here are two purportedly free sites for murder mystery games recommended by Programming Librarian Interest Group:
Murder Mystery Games
Murder Mystery Break Out Rooms
If you are interested in furthering the theme of ALABAMA in your library, try the PBS Film, The Bankheads of Alabama. "For nearly a century, three generations of the Bankhead family from north Alabama distinguished themselves in American government and culture. They were politicians that rose to prominence in Washington, and personalities that commanded the international stage." Speaker: Robert Briscoe, Executive Producer, Center for Public Television and Radio.
If you want to do a craft or have a botanical talk, try contacting Kelly Woods, owner of Grace Gardens. Holley has used her successfully for programs before. Holley has done several movie + craft events showing a cult favorite or a movie everyone is familiar with along with a fun craft to be done during the showing. Fun for everyone! (You might also consider contacting the folks at Sidewalk Film Festival for program ideas!)
Lastly, Kelly Laney from Springville Road was unable to attend the meeting but it should be said she is doing some fabulous work over there! She went before the AWESOME Foundation of Birmingham at Carrigan's Public House to present her idea for BRAIN JAM.
Here, she discusses the premise: "The program I went to Carrigan's about was Brain Jam. Basically the deal is that there are two areas of the brain where new neurons can be grown: the dentate lygus and the hippocampus. This is contrary to everything I learned in my bio/psych classes for my undergrad, but that was also a looooong time ago. If older people eat nutritious meals and exercise, those two things together cause the formation of a protein called BDNF--brain derived neurotropic factor. The BDNF is what causes the neurogenesis. The problem is that if the brain is not stimulated by learning something really challenging, the new cells just die. If the brain is stimulated, the new neurons integrate into the brain and actually cause it to grow. There's a good deal of evidence to support that it delays cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer's.
I've attached the fact sheet from the Alzheimer's Association that is sobering in the extreme. We're the 3rd highest state in the US in Alzheimer's diagnosis, and it's increased 187% since 2000. This new research gives us a way to fight back. Two of the best things to learn are how to play a musical instrument and how to speak a foreign language. Brain Jam teaches basic music theory, as well as how to play simple instruments. While I didn't get the Awesome Foundation grant, I did scrape up enough programming funds to get 8 ukuleles, and I caught a sale on some kazoos and harmonicas. This month we've started beginning ukulele instruction with someone who actually knows how to play, as well as a musician's jam once a month. I blatantly steal the information Tami Dalton teaches to repeat and augment Brain Jam info, then we get together and play at the Jam. This dovetails nicely with the weekly nutrition class (Body Changers) and the twice-a-week Bend and Stretch sessions (based on the National Institute on Aging's Go4Life program). I'm adding Cane-Fu once a month to teach martial arts, balance, and confidence--again taught by someone who knows what they're doing."
Great work, Kelly! Thanks for sharing and giving all of us something to think about! By the way, the group at Springville Road also utilize Mango Languages to enhance the elasticity of the brain.
In doing research for this meeting, I came across some programming ideas through Programming Librarian.
- Rethinking Craft Time
- Creating a Cat Cafe
- Coming to America Stories
- "Crafter Dark"
- Books & Bites
- Halloween for Adults
- Program Speed Dating
- Programming Jamboree!
- Click here for many more ideas!
