[Publib] Re: Adult program ideas for public libraries

[Anita Barney]

We've had a few very successful series in Brookfield.  We did cooking 
(Chinese cooking, chocolates, and holiday entertaining); gardening 
(container gardening, garden ecology/organic gardening, gardening in 
deer country (hugely popular!), and growing & cooking Chinese 
vegetables), and birding (Project FeederWatch, wild bird ID, 
birdscaping to attract wildlife, and live birds of prey 
-http://www.flickr.com/photos/brookfieldlibrary/523858585/).  The 
local education foundation paid half the $1,000 cost of the birding series.

I'm working with the senior center on a series to start in March 
titled The Next Fifty Years:  Financial and Life Planning for 
seniors, baby boomers, and those who care about them.  Maybe the 
title needs a little work??  Topics will include Internet safety & 
avoiding scams and frauds; Home modification/improvements and 
contractor abuse, prepaid funeral expenses (these two sessions taught 
by an Assistant Attorney General); normal aging changes & what to 
expect as we age; Legal issues, power of attorney, living wills; and 
long term care insurance.  All speakers are coming at no charge to us.

We did an author panel with three local Sisters in Crime authors that 
had an audience of about 40, which is pretty good for us for that 
kind of program on a Sunday afternoon.  The fee  was reasonable 
(sorry, I don't remember), and the authors sold quite a few books - 
and each donated one or two to the library.

A huge success:  Ghost hunter Lorraine Warren.  We filled our 
150-seat meeting room and turned away people at the door.



Anita R. Barney
Library Director
The Brookfield Library
182 Whisconier Road
Brookfield, CT  06804
203-775-6241  /  Fax 203-740-7723