[Publib] Church Meeting Rooms as PL Program Sites.

[James Casey]

How can programs be offered to communities without a program room available in the Library facilities?



When I was director of Pickaway County District Public Library (Circleville, Ohio) during 1984-92, we had only one 8,000 square foot library facility, no program room and no branch facilities serving a county of 500 square miles.  Local demand outside of Circleville was for pre-school story times.  Mothers with small kids couldn't cart all of their kids down to Circleville 10 or 12 miles away very easily and they wanted someplace local (nearby) where programs could be given.



We didn't have money for branches, but I did talk to local clergy and get them to open up their church school facilities to local communities.  Since there was no activity in the Churches on weekdays, it didn't seem to be a problem.  Every one of the 8 or 9 small villages in the County had at least one church and usually two or three.  Trailer Parks generally had an all purpose recreational facility that we could use.  I received an LSTA (or LSCA) grant to invent a "Story Time on Wheels" program where the story time staff would travel in their van to about 2 sites per day (a rotation of about 16 sites every two weeks) and delivered program services through these "borrowed facilities".   Of course, I had to enter into agreements with local churches, get keys, permissions, etc. and publicize the program.  The vans also brought books "ordered" by folks in the local communities as a delivery service.  From what I can tell, that program I began in 1991 is still in existence in 2008 and several of the people I hired are still there.



If you can use "borrowed" facilities for kid programs, why not for adults?  Church school facilities may have much of what you need.



James B. Casey -- My own views

Director of Oak Lawn Public Library

ALA Council Member



-----Original Message-----

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Thompson, Jessica E Ms CIV USA IMCOM

Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:45 AM

To: publib at webjunction.org

Subject: [Publib] Adult programs with no program room (UNCLASSIFIED)



Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED

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I'm looking for ideas for programs for adults ages 18-100 that can be done without a program room. I work at an army library and we do not have a program room. Therefore coming up with programs is difficult. I have a small conference room, but it is often booked for meetings. Our population varies from military that are stationed here anywhere from 1 month to several years, retired military, military families, and civilian employees. I've already started a book discussion club that meets once a month.



Jessica Thompson

Reference Librarian

Woodworth Library

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED

Caveats: NONE





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