Thursday, September 21st
Topic: Adult Program Swap
Attendees:
Terri, Vestavia Hills
Bridget, Homewood
Brooke, Springville Road
Tamara, Irondale
Allison, Pinson
Noelle, Titusville
Julie, BPL
Lora, Vestavia Hills
Tywanna, FPW
Pam, Southside
Romellia, Titusville
Alisha, BPL
Olivia, North Avondale
Gelenda, Southside
Erika, Powderly
Madison, FPW
Fontaine, BPL Books by Mail
Tamiko, BPL
George, BPL
Nicole, Tarrant
View recording of meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/hPixoyPLxMvxn6aM72N7pENwcDBdIanCJtHkavXyUvPVcZLe74B9myNSDKu_SsU.K-VCtMAJeyvXrp6V
First of all, forgive me for joining the zoom room late. I was in another zoom room all alone! Evidently tech wants to humiliate me! For those of you that joined and couldn't stay, I apologize. We did end up having a decent discussion!
Homewood had a successful night bringing Tayari Jones, author of American Marriage, to their library. They did charge and it was an expensive program to do but it was a huge success! Homewood also had a lot of participation with September Reed's Fairy Gardens program. And who wouldn't want to go to Nic Cage Trivia Night?
Shout out to Fontaine for bringing Book by Mail to our attention. This is something we could do yearly and it would be free. Just email Fontaine and see how she can help your patrons get hooked on books by mail!
Hoover had a very successful art/craft supply swap over the course of three hours! We had the whole gamut of interested people from professional artists to crafters and teachers. It was labor intensive and a bit time consuming but well worth it. It's been requested to do another one really soon. Other libraries have housewares swap planned - I look forward to hearing how that goes. We will discuss "swaps" at the September 2024 meeting. I also had a fun time painting rocks with an inter-generational crowd off site at East 59 Cafe at Lee Branch.
In response to our talk of swaps, Rebecca talked about her Craftapalooza event - there were so much odds and ends left over from past craft events that she opened it up to everyone to create their own craft pieces using all the stuff. It's a great way to engage people and to clear out your storage area! Towards that end, here at Hoover, we ended up with tons of left over book ends so I've got a "design your own bookend" craft program coming up in January!!
Allison at Pinson was praising James Lowery as a low-cost speaker and I can concur. He is very knowledgeable on Birmingham railroad history and the Wetumpka impact crater - virtually anything you ask of him, he will be super prepared and interesting. His email is jlowery2@gmail.com. Allison also mentioned they the library is partnering with the local historical society so that meetings are held at the library, along with other possible events in the future. Last but not least, she shared that her 18+ yr old Anime club has been a huge success - they discuss and watch anime and the library has a Crunchy Role subscription that allows them to stream anime.
Along those same lines, Hoover has got a new "board game test group" that is open to developers and players interested in gaming. All ages come and get to play games that are being developed. So far, one meeting and more to come.
Tamara at Irondale is looking to do a DND program for base beginners. I wish her luck! I know it will be fun! They also plan to have Patti Callahan Henry come to the library which should be an excellent way to spend an evening.
Bridget mentioned that Homewood will be hosting another Mystery theater dinner on October 28th. That sounds amazing!
From Deidre Sims at Bessemer:
- 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.
- Marcus Washington @ aidb.org - Deaf and Blind program for adults - I am also considering a Movie Night - closed captioned with popcorn and soda for the Deaf and Blind patrons
- September Reed who has held numerous programs @ Homewood Public will being doing a Spa Day Craft @ Bessemer Public Library on Tuesday, September 26th (already full). Hope to have another one of the other programs for younger adults in Spring 2024.
- Dee also partnered with Live Well Alabama, Mr. Jim Phillips, and The Gatherings (mentoring, networking, outreach group).
- We had Operation Hope for a series of financial workshops and the patrons who attended loved it. We will be having more. Free!
- Also, the Career Center at Jeff State does presentations on job hunting resumes, cover letters, etc. Free!
- Joe Hobby - comedy writing (teen and adult); contact: 205-568-2559; jhobby2000@aol.com, blog: https://mylifeasahobby.blogspot.com/ Small fee.
- Jessica Watts/Houseplant Collective - houseplant care; contact: 256-283-5157; jessica@houseplantcollective.com; website: https://houseplantcollective.com/ Small fee.
- Dr. Andy Coleman/Urban Turtle Project - native turtles (great for all ages); contact: atcoleman80@gmail.com, website: https://www.urbanturtleproject.org/ Free!
- Mandy Trott - Astrology; contact: ecstaticastrology@gmail.com, website: https://www.ecstaticastrology.com/ Small fee.
- Nancy Barbara - Sign Language (also teaches at UAB); contact: 813-404-2640; carmeleyes@gmail.com. Small fee.
For more ideas: We don’t NAP, we program:
We don't NAP - We Program! (google.com)
We don't NAP - We Program! (google.com)
