[Publib] Knitting Classes/Special Interest Classes at PublicLibraries

[Meghan Baranski]

My library offers a beginning knitting class once a year. About every
other month or so we do some sort of beginning craft workshop with the
idea that we'll give them the basic skills to get started and then show
them a list of websites, our collection and other resources (such as the
local needlework guild) to keep them going. The demand here has been
crazy, but because of limited staff time and other interests we simply
can't offer it more than once a year.

 

We have offered a solution of letting them come to the library as often
as they like and use the common library space if they want to meet, talk
and knit. However most of our patrons either don't want to coordinate
such a group or have joined other knitting groups in the area. 

 

Meghan L.F. Baranski

Adult Services Paraprofessional (and blogger extraordinaire!)

Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

 

Check out our blog @ http://papercuts.tscpl.org

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sarah Samson
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 9:34 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Knitting Classes/Special Interest Classes at
PublicLibraries

 

Hi Everyone,

 

A few weeks ago our library had a very successful Beginning Knitting
Class as a part of our Adult Summer Reading Program.  The class was held
in one of our meeting rooms, and we did not charge attendees to attend
the program.  One of my employees, a reference library assistant, taught
the class with some volunteers from the community assisting.  It was so
successful that the participants asked if we could start a monthly
knitting club at the library.  

My director has a few concerns, listed below.

 

1) Are there any libraries hosting special interest activities, with
staff involved on paid time, for activities such as quilt groups,
knitting clubs, art classes, etc., with no fee to the participants to
reimburse such costs? If so, is this a long-term arrangement or just
something that is done for 2-3 months to get the activity started? If
staff involvement is long term or permanent, and you have room rental
fees for groups, how do the fee-paying craft groups, etc. feel about not
being able to use the space on a regular basis without a fee?

 

2) If your goal has been to jump-start such groups, how have you been
able to graciously untangle staff involvement and related staff time and
have the groups develop independently?

 

3) If you actively use staff time, staff salaries, and meeting space to
facilitate special interest activities, where do you draw the line? If a
motorcycle maintenance group wanted to meet regularly, and no on one on
staff knows anything about motorcycles, do you find someone and pay them
to offer the class on a monthly basis, and then offer the class without
a fee? For how long?

 

4) If you sponsor long-term such craft and special interest activities
through library staffing, what happens when the staff members who had
such interest leave, become burned out, or change position? Do you stop
the program? Hire specialists?

 

If any of your libraries have any experience with this, your comments
would be very helpful.  

 

You can respond to me directly at ssamson at round-rock.tx.us and I will
summarize for the list.

 

Thanks so much,

 

Sarah Samson

Reference Services Manager

Round Rock Public Library

(512) 218-7018

 

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