The Titanic Dinner invites guests to select real Titanic passenger tickets from a blind draw. Guests sit with their selected class (1st, 2nd or 3rd), and have dinner while watching a history lesson from a historical impersonator.
At the end of the dinner, patrons discover the fates of their selected passengers and whether or not they were survivors of the sinking.
The Madison Public Library Naturalist-in-Residence encouraged our community to explore, learn and reflect upon the natural world through accessible nature-based experiences guided by a local naturalist.
Inspiration Place is an adult craft series that met exclusively on Zoom from May 2020 to January 2022 and averaged 15 attendees per session. April 2022 was the first time a hybrid option was offered, allowing patrons the choice of attending on Zoom or in-person. Out of the 20 registered, 3 attended in-person and 17 virtually.
Meet a trained librarian in person or online using Zoom for a one-on-one mock citizenship interview similar to the one given to become a U.S. citizen.
A trained librarian will act as an immigration officer and conduct mock interviews with participants. Interviews simulate the naturalization interview that takes place at a USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) office and includes the following: English Speaking test using the N-400, Reading Test, Writing Test, Civics Test.
Inspired by a make your own ancient perfume station at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Skincare of the Ancient World was a program in which I taught patrons how to create their own skincare using the oils and spices that Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans would have used.
This hands-on program combines self-care, sustainability and history to teach patrons how they can use everyday, natural ingredients to create inexpensive, yet effective, skincare products found in ancient times.
March is Women's History Month! Looking for some unique program ideas? Here are eight to get you started on your programming plans for the month.
The 2020 presidential election brought into sharp focus the public's unease with the accuracy of polls. From underestimating sizable differences, to overstating levels of support, the role of public opinion polls in our democracy goes far beyond simply predicting the outcome of a race.
In this webinar, three librarians will share their expertise on programming for adults to engage community members with subjects that tackle what is means to be human. You will also learn about an anti-oppressive framework for facilitation that encourages us to see the humanity of community as we create virtual programming during the pandemic.
Learning Objectives:
Harry Potter-themed events for adults do really well at our library. Previously we have had Harry Potter Trivia Nights, DIY Harry Potter Crafts and a Harry Potter Escape Room.
We wanted to continue this magical tradition with a new type of program, and Harry Potter Bingo was the winner. Our goal for this program was for adults to view the library as a place to connect and engage with other community members.
Adult patrons can be a tough crowd. At my library, parents will come along to kids’ events, and a few might show up to our Coloring & Coffee program, but in general, it has been difficult to find a program that is truly a hit with adults. Until trivia night, that is!
I've heard it said that if you're not failing, you're not trying. Well, when it came to our Community Conversations program, we certainly tried.
Luckily, I’ve also been reading a lot about Failing Forward, a theory that encourages you to make the most of your mistakes by learning from them.
Does your library host a chess program? This game is one of the quintessential activities that transcends age, culture, class, and even language. Once you open your doors to chess players, you may be surprised at how many diverse people will arrive eager to play. It's an excellent fit for a library hoping to establish itself as a place open to everyone.
Join us for a webinar with Altoona (Iowa) Public Library to learn how smaller libraries can provide after-hours programming from start to finish for adults, while utilizing limited funds, staffing and space. This session will also share how to prepare for the "what-ifs," including permission/liability forms.
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:
Corning Public Library serves a town of 1,500 in southwest Iowa. There's not a lot in Corning; we are the largest town in our county, the nearest city is a 90-minute drive away.
The library is especially important in communities like ours, as we provide programming that both entertains and inspires. Hosting an Amazing Race program allowed us to entertain our patrons while showing them that they don’t have to travel to find interesting things to do with their friends and families.
Failure happens. But, as Neil Gaiman says “If you’re making mistakes, it means you’re out there doing something.”
We were out there doing something. We were hard at work planning our Boomers and Beyond: Aging Well on the Peninsula program series. We had been talking about Boomers boomers BOOMERS BoOmMeRs until we were blue in the face. We had our offsite locations lined up, and we had phenomenal partners coordinating with us. What could go wrong?
In fall 2017, ALA and the Center for News Literacy (CNL) at Stony Brook University embarked on Media Literacy at Your Library, a prototype project that sought to address the critical need in the field for adult media literacy education, with a focus on news literacy.
In the Pom-Pom Animals class, a child and parent/guardian learned to make pom-poms with a maker tool. Then they shaped and decorated the pom-pom to look like an animal or monster. Participants decorated the pom-poms with markers, felt shapes and googly eyes.
As long as they are not selling anything or focusing only on promoting themselves, local businesses can be excellent partners for library programs that promote health and wellness.
Escape/puzzle rooms are a popular way to incorporate gamification into your library. These interactive live adventure games appeal to all ages and abilities, and provide people with a chance to be a part of a story and their community as they problem solve.
You could hire a company to run your escape room, but the cost — plus the proprietary nature of their product — means that many libraries can only offer an escape room once, if at all. It's time to DIY!
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.
