[Publib] Adult program ideas for public libraries

[Nann Blaine Hilyard]

Sheila,


For a built-in audience, partner with a local organization for one of its regular meetings. For example, this April we will have the third antiques appraisal.  The women's guild of one of the churches is co-sponsoring it with us:  their 30 members (and many spouses) will attend, along with other people from the community, and we'll split the cost.    Other partners:  AAUW, League of Women Voters, the Garden Club, the Woman's Club.

We've had knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, quilting, and cooking programs.  Such programs may include a small fee for materials, but that's the only time we charge.

Your county extension office provides speakers on a range of topics:  gardening, financial management, de-cluttering.  "Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?" (transferring non-titled property) was created by the Extension in MN and has been picked up by many other states.

Your state humanities council may have a speakers bureau.  In Illinois they call it "Road Scholars."  The agency (library or whomever) pays $50 and the council pays the rest.  Topics in IL include folk songs, political history (lots on Lincoln), women's issues from suffrage to "gender roles as portrayed in cookbooks."

Your local college (four- or two-year) may have a speakers bureau.

The ALA Public Programs Office has a listserv.    Here is more info:
http://www.ala.org/ala/ppo/grantsandevents/findingoutabout.cfm


Nann
@the library in Zion, Illinois
Where this evening's program is "The Cycling Sisters on the Underground Railroad"-the sisters (who are 79 and 82)  will show their digital photos from this year's bicycling trip from Mobile, AL, to Ontario-last year they told us about their trip following the Oregon Trail








From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sheila Bissonnette
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 9:56 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Adult program ideas for public libraries

Good morning,

I'm looking for great suggestions for programs for adults.  I'm just curious what other libraries out there are finding successful with adult patrons.  We have good results with author visits, but I'm looking for ideas to promote our collections/services but yet be fun and a little bit different.  We are partnering with our local parks & recreation department in a winter walking program (in our basement) We just completed a construction project and I need to catch up on what libraries are doing for programs.  Any suggestions/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Also, is there a listserv out there that focuses on programs for adults/seniors in libraries?

Thanks in advance
Sheila

Sheila Bissonnette, MLIS
Library Director
Pere Marquette District Library
185 E 4th Street
Clare, MI  48617

Phone:  989-386-7576
Fax:      989-386-3576

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