[Publib] Adult Programming Favorites - compiled list

[s.tornow]

Thank you, Mary Beth, for collating all this.  Wonderful ideas and I really appreciate being allowed to steal!

Sally Tornow
New Milford Public Library, CT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mary Beth Conlee 
  To: publib at webjunction.org 
  Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 3:44 PM
  Subject: [Publib] Adult Programming Favorites - compiled list


  Thanks to all who responded to my request.  Some great, creative,
  inexpensive ideas await you below.
  --Mary Beth Conlee
  Burlington Public Library, WA


  Adult Programming Favorites
  PubLib, June 2008
  ------------------
  "2nd Saturday" series, including:
  Genealogy Workshop
  Chinese Cooking--We paid an expert and she demonstrated and then
  everyone got a taste.
  Flower arranging--The local garden club, also very popular
  Antique Car Club--This Saturday, show in the parking lot, and then
  lecture.
  Local History from the local Historical Society
  Amateur Radio Club--local club
  Orange Crate Labels--collecting and history, local collector
  Art Show--local painting group
  (in the future)  GeoCaching
  -------------------
  Beginning Computer Skills for Seniors
  ------------------
  We have a local paranormal group and they have done two programs for us,
  the last one drew 115 people.  A local neuropsychologist did a program
  on keeping your brain tuned up and it drew about 100 people.  A program
  on Bigfoot drew about 80 people.
  -------------------
  At our library we have 3 monthly programs that we all enjoy.  The book
  club - it's a little different because we read a book, talk about it,
  then talk about the culture and taste some food from that culture.  The
  adults have a craft time once a month.  The art club also meets once a
  month.  
  --------------------
  We can't afford most travelling exhibits or the insurance or space.  We
  have been doing this work around.  We do photo exhibits.  We pick a
  theme and put a call out to the community.  
   
  The photos brought in are scanned and returned.  We then print the image
  and mount it on mats.  We laminate the images so they look more like a
  photo.  We have a laminator, so it is cheaper than the photo paper for
  us.  We then write our own descriptions and information to hang with the
  images.  
   
   We have spotlighted local Black history with our photos.  We scanned
  WWII photos and letters to coincide with Ken Burn's War last fall.  Old
  local postcards make a great exhibit too.
  --------------------
  Several years ago we had a local book-lover/collector come and talk
  about the history of books, how they are made, what clues you can use to
  find out how old a book is--and, best of all, he appraised books that
  people brought in!  He would tell them if a book had monetary value, or
  was simply "a nice reading copy".  (He worded it so gently--he was
  great!)

  Perhaps the most enthusiastically received program we have had was the
  de-cluttering program we hosted earlier this spring.  Again, the speaker
  was terrific--and we all took home practical tips for getting our lives
  in order.  Although this wasn't our best attended program, the folks who
  came REALLY loved it!
  ------------------
  One of the most rewarding I ever did was "Cambodian Court and Folk
  Dance". 
  Our city was a refugee resettlement area for Cambodians fleeing the
  Khmer Rouge government.  Working with the local resettlement director (
  a former Secretary of State in Cambodia) we presented the dance troupe
  he had helped create as a means of keeping the refugees in touch with
  their heritage. 
  Over 300 people attended.  Cambodians, sponsoring famalies and general
  public enjoyed a unique presentation, the refugees felt a sense of
  acceptance by being part of a library program.  It was also a lot of fun
  and gave the library contacts who helped us better serve this segment of
  the community.  
  -------------
  I did a wildly successful soy candle making program for pretty much all
  ages.  I promo'd it for Mother's Day which worked well, but I am sure
  that it wouldn't have mattered when I had it.  Easy, inexpensive, and
  extremely rewarding.  My presenter was a candle maker in my area, but it
  is relatively easy to find candle makers in any area.  She collects
  interesting jars, spends money on high quality scents, ribbons and
  decorative items, and really does a great job.  It cost me $10 per
  attendee.  They took home the candle they created, and the best part was
  that the kids' candles looked as good as the adults'.  
  --------------------
  I'm a fan of Antiques Roadshow on PBS. One of our libraries did a
  similar program (not using the name of the show) by asking a couple of
  antiques dealers in their town to come one evening & give verbal
  appraisals to folks who brought in a few objects.
  --------------------
  Get a passport (far, far more than we could register--Canadian border a
  couple of hours away
  Knitting instruction
  Bridge instruction
  Walking tours of the older streets, conducted by the Town Historian
  ----------------
  We recently had a geocaching class.  Geocachers love to share so it was
  not hard to find an instructor.  We all had a great time.
  ---------------------
  I have a gentleman who comes in and teaches the finer points of Texas
  Hold 'em poker, a certified hypnotist who does a session on hypnosis, a
  wedding planner who gives tips on planning weddings and parties, a
  professional organizer who gives advice regarding home and office
  organization, a home beer brewer who'll talk about his hobby and how to
  get started, a real estate agent who will talk about what first-time
  home buyers need to know, a travel agent who will discuss places to go
  and see in our state as well as how to choose and book a cruise, members
  of the local photo guild who show examples of their work and explain how
  to take better pictures, etc. We've also done a few craft programs, such
  as hand-made books and simple beading. We also have an umbrella license
  to show feature films; we do pay for this. 

  We didn't pay anyone to speak at any of these programs. My favorite
  place to look for ideas and possible speakers is our local community
  college's catalog of continuing education classes.
  ---------------
  Mehndi, hairstyles, cooking, computer classes - like blogging,
  gardening, chocolate making, knitting, etc. have been successful here.
  --------------------
   




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