[Publib] RE: Info on Library Presentations Needed

[Theyer, Hillary]

We do any and all of the below, with the only regularly scheduled stuff being our book discussion groups.  Author visits are very popular, especially local authors, and lectures/demonstrations such as how to use a digital camera or selling on eBay have packed the house.  We have done book discussions for special occasions, such as last year's Pirate Month (actually 6 weeks) where we hosted the author of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Pirates, watched movies, hosted magic shows, did pirate crafts, and hosted discussions of Treasure Island.  We did an extensive book and movie list for that whole month of programs.

In terms of taking the show on the road we have had individual librarians get invited to groups to do booktalks - a local woman's club, for example, hosted us several times to discuss a genre or a theme in literature.  We are always open to such an invitation.  We brought dance books and DVDs to a local dance, to promote that the library can help with all aspects of life and living.  One of our librarians was invited to read Twas the Night Before Christmas at the historical society and museum.  We brought a list of kids books on healthy living to our YMCA healthy kids day.  We prepared booklists on Internet safety for parents and elder abuse for our PDs community safety day, though we didn't do a presentation.  We prepared a list of books on rescue dogs and picture books on heroic dogs for our outreach at the LA County K-9 law enforcement show, where we had a booth with dog stickers and dog puppets.

Adult storytelling is the only thing on your list that I can truly say hasn't really worked well here.  We have tried, and a small group has been very appreciative, but it doesn't draw like an author does.

Basically, if I get an invitation I do my best to fill it.  A team of willing people, a willingness to experiment with outreach, and some useful tools such as rolling carts and portable projectors make it possible.  We will go anywhere once if we at all can, though we have received some invitations at the last minute and had to turn them down as we couldn't free the staff from the library.  then if the opportunity doesn't work out we begin to get picky.  I do feel that the library should be everywhere though, so I try to make that happen.

Hillary Theyer
Torrance PL (CA)


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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:58:16 -0800
From: "ROBIN BEERBOWER" <rbeerbower at cityofsalem.net>
Subject: [Publib] Info on Library Presentations Needed
To: <publib at webjunction.org>
Message-ID: <49305B69020000AF00007589 at gwgwia.cityofsalem.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

I sent this a few days ago but I don't think it ever appeared on the list.

I posted this to Fiction_L a couple of weeks ago so please excuse the cross-posting.

I  am in need of information on what kinds of presentations for adults your library offers to draw patrons into the library.  Following are a few questions.  Please feel free to direct me to a website or send me a personal email with attachments.  I am mainly interested in book-related programs excluding anything "book groupish".

1)  Does your library offer presentations by staff members, e.g. booktalk and/or regular programs that highlight special collections, new books?  How about adult storytelling?  If so, please give a brief description of the program and how often it is offered.  How many usually attend any of these programs?  How do any of these presentations promote your library and services?

2)  Does your library offer programs featuring special appearances by authors?  Are they generally local, statewide, or nationally known?  Who does the organizing of these programs and how is the attendance?

3)  Do you offer any other guest speaker programs that highlight books?

4)  Do you go out into the community with any of the above programs?

Thanks in advance!

Robin

Robin Beerbower
Outreach Services
Salem Public Library
PO Box 14810 (97309)
585 Liberty SE (97301)
Salem, OR
503-588-6089





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