[Publib] "community night" type programming

[Abigail Elder]

One popular event (in a bar, not library) is called "Ignite Portland".
Each person gets five minutes to talk about his or her chosen topic
(it's so popular that you have to apply in advance.) The speakers vary
wildly in their skill and expertise, but everyone is passionate.
Attendees like it because you don't know what to expect.  In some ways
it's overly hipster-ironic but I think it could be a great format for
libraries: http://www.igniteportland.com/

 

Another option can be turn the library over to a bunch of groups for a
day of information and activities. Multnomah County Library held a "Keep
Portland Weird" festival that included ukulele lessons, belly dancing,
robotics, plant societies, etc. The organizer, Alison Kastner, wrote
about the event in Public Libraries:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plapublications/publiclibraries/ma
rapr08.pdf

 

(I have no connection to either event, just enjoyed both as an
attendee.) 

-abigail/ tualatin public library

 

 

I know this is a pretty nebulous idea, but I'm hoping somebody's done
something like this before and can help me out.  We get phone calls from
people all the time who want to do programs at the library: "I was
abducted by aliens," "Get rich through tarot cards," "The history of
Canadian flower arranging," etc., etc. I'm reluctant to put the
Library's money and reputation behind programs like this. The bulk of
our programming and marketing budget has to go towards programs that are
guaranteed to draw high attendance and are put on by established and
reputable presenters.
 
But it's also frustrating every time we have to tell somebody "No." In
most cases, we're struggling to convince people we're worthwhile; here
are people who are already convinced, and we have to send them away.
What I'd like to set up is some kind of "Community Night", maybe once a
month, where anyone who wants to put on a program can do so using the
Library's space.  The Library, in turn, could promote the event as a
whole without having to promote (i.e. endorse) any particular program
individually.  In effect, we'd be marketing ourselves as a free venue
for the voices in our community--and since the other civic institutions
charge for facilities rental, we'd hopefully be filling an empty market
niche.
 
Has anyone implemented a program like this at their library? Are there
guidelines for what kind of programs are acceptable (e.g. educational
vs. religious/political)? How do you handle scheduling? Etc., etc.  Any
guidance would be much appreciated.
 
Thanks!
 
--
Ben Haines
Reference/Technology Librarian
Forest Park Public Library
bhaines at fppl.org
<http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib>  

 

 

 

 

Abigail Elder, Library Manager

Tualatin Public Library

18878 SW Martinazzi Avenue

Tualatin, Oregon 97062-7092

503.691.3066

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/attachments/20090806/28a65c66/attachment.htm