Programming is the ultimate time balancing act. How do you do it all? If you’re like me, it’s a mix of very carefully planning and plunging wildly headfirst into your to-do list. Both require a level of organization that you have to consistently keep up with. Bullet journaling is my personal pie-in-the-sky of organization; however, I find it requires too much of a time commitment to do it exactly how I'd like to.
A lot of the 2018 PLA Conference for me was sharpening the tools I have in my toolbox to ensure I am standing on a firm foundation when designing and implementing programming. Can I speak to how the programs I am doing align with the mission of my library? How do I know that I am actually doing what my community wants? There is a lot of information I am still digesting and sorting through, but below are the top three lessons that I am working on putting into practice.
Released in 2011, "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline took the literary world by storm with its multiple gateways of accessibility.
You’ve spent months planning and putting in the hard work to ensure you’re delivering a quality program for your community. Don’t stop there! Adding a few steps to your to-do list will increase your program's reach and impact.
Are you new to programming for adults and not sure where to start? Do you want a refresher to reignite your passion for programming? Spend some time learning from your colleagues with these free webinars.
A food drive with a twist, Winter Festival of Gifts (WFoG) has become a beloved annual tradition at Mount Prospect Public Library (MPPL) as a means to creatively give back to the community, while at the same time highlighting staff talent. The giveaway takes place at a special December luncheon during work hours. The prizes are handed out to the winners at the luncheon, or placed by their desk if they are unable to attend. Diane Davis, pioneer of the program, took time to share the ins and outs of this celebration of giving.
A surprising amount of graphic design goes into a programming librarian's job, from creating signage for upcoming programs to repackaging photos you took at an event. Navigating these tasks is easier when you have plenty of free tools at your disposal.
There are a lot of great free photo editor tools available, but it can be hard to find one site or program that will do everything you need. Below, I outline three different tools that have helped me with display signage, web content creation and photo repackaging.
The elusive Facebook event. Who sees it? Do people actually use Facebook events anymore? Is it worth your time?
Determining whether your event is reaching your target demographic and getting people into your door can be a bit of a mystery. The good news is it's a low-cost mystery.
A lot of work goes into putting together a successful booktalk program — from developing a theme, to paying attention to book trends, to ensuring you're providing diverse options for all readers. The last thing you might want to do is add any extra work, but a few finishing touches will go a long way.
Here are a few ways you can create a memorable program while further immersing your adult patrons into their love of books.
