[Publib] Adult library programming

[Jennie J. Stoltz]

I agree, finding out what else is going on in the community is the first thing you should do.  In one community that I worked the church choirs met on Tuesday nights so that pretty much meant no adult programming on those evenings.

Also, sometimes it just takes trial and error - we've discovered that Wednesday evenings don't work for us here.

And as has been mentioned, you can't please everyone - at my previous Library I had a few people complain about the fact that I had a series of programs on Wednesday nights because it conflicted with the programs at the Zoo.  Sounds reasonable except that the zoo was a 30 minute+ drive away.  If I had to schedule my programs based on a 75 mile radius that would be rather problematic!

Jennie J. Stoltz
Director
Pewaukee Public Library
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
(262) 691-5670, ext. 20
(262) 691-5673 fax

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----- Original Message -----
From: Conrad Rader <conrad.rader at gmail.com>
Date: Monday, May 5, 2008 1:22 pm
Subject: Re: [Publib] Adult library programming
To: Patti Barsch <PBarsch at sjpl.lib.mo.us>
Cc: publib at webjunction.org


> This is one of those questions that is best resolved by a local look around
>  to see what else is going on.  I know that in my community, Thursday 
> night
>  is bad because all the church choirs rehearse that evening.  Due to our
>  proximity to Notre Dame in South Bend, we schedule around football home
>  games in the fall, as the area gets swamped.  I have tried every 
> which way
>  to attract people from the 'coffee club' at the local supermarket to 
> no
>  avail, so usually don't bother with Monday mornings.  Our best times 
> are
>  Wednesday evenings (after dinner) or Saturday afternoons.  Sometimes,
>  Saturday mornings are better, and then the weather changes 
> everything.  I
>  have tried programs in all kind of time slots, and have really given 
> up
>  trying to find the 'magic time'.  Your mileage may vary, however.  I
>  sometimes have good success by piggy-backing on other events by offering
>  something in the same vein.  Our town has an arts festival called 
> Arts in
>  Motion, so we contribute a program to that, and take advantage of the 
> wider
>  promotional opportunities.  I have also taken programs on the road to 
> where
>  people are rather than trying to get them to the library.  I do an annual
>  book discussion with a local women's group.  Promote, promote, 
> promote, and
>  keep trying different times and activities, until you reach the size 
> of
>  group you want to sustain, or give up.
>  
>  Conrad Rader
>  Adult Services Librarian
>  Niles District Library
>  Niles, MI
>  
>  On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 2:06 PM, Patti Barsch <PBarsch at sjpl.lib.mo.us> 
> wrote:
>  
>  >   Greetings All,
>  >
>  > I have recently been put in charge of adult programming at my public
>  > library. While trying to get events set up, I have run across a 
> question. I
>  > am trying to figure out what time of day to offer these programs. I 
> know
>  > certain audiences will have a preference. But is there a better 
> "all round"
>  > time to offer programs for adults to serve a larger population? If 
> anyone
>  > has any suggestions or input, I will gladly hear it.
>  >
>  >  These programs would include current issues as well as author visits.
>  >
>  >  Thanks so much for your time and thoughts,
>  >
>  > Patti
>  >
>  > pbarsch at sjpl.lib.mo.us
>  >
>  
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