Supersize Your Programming (May 2019)
- 1. Supersize Your Programming! PRESENTED BY KATIE LAMANTIA AND EMILY VINCI MAY 13, 2019
- 3. Organization of Webinar Part I: Planning and Preparation Q & A Part II: Programming Q & A
- 4. How do we define large scale programming?
- 5. Value and Importance of Large Scale Programming
- 6. Have you or your library done a large scale library program? Please respond in the chat!
- 7. Goals and Outcomes • Highlighting the library as an active, engaging community space for everyone • Showcase facets and resources of your library that are not always apparent in day-to-day functions
- 8. Reaching a Broader Audience • Inviting people to both see and use the library in a different light • Value of community
- 10. Keep calm and carry on! Anyone can do this, no matter the budget, time, or staff. You just need to have an open mind and a willingness to learn.
- 11. Scope and Size Will your event take place throughout the library or will it be contained in one spot/room? Aside from your core planning team, who will staff the program? What is your budget? All of these questions will help you determine how big your event will be before you even pick the date. Talk to your management team! Get them on board and keep them in the loop.
- 12. Part I: Planning and Preparing Action Plan Importance of Your Large Scale Programming Team Organization and Pre-Planning Timing Day of Program
- 13. Action Plan • Research • Strategic planning • Budget • Present idea to management • Assemble a team or backup person • Timeline
- 14. Determine your Audience All ages vs. family programming Specific age group
- 15. Getting Your Management Team on Board Communicate to your manager first and get approval Think about how you’re going to evaluate and report back: • Qualitative comments • Statistics • Project Outcome
- 16. Teamwork FTW! Qualities of a great team • Adventurous • Imaginative • Flexible • Range of experiences or expertise ◦ programming and non-programming
- 17. Think Outside the Box Expand participation to staff outside of your team; they have great ideas and interests of value too! • include departments not normally involved in programming, for example circulation, branches, maintenance, etc. • discover hidden talents and interests • make staff happier and gain additional staff buy-in, thus increasing your ability to promote programs from within
- 18. Playing to Staff Strengths • Past experiences and enthusiasm = well rounded planning team • Different experiences, knowledge, and perspective are welcome and necessary • Cross-department collaboration
- 19. Time and Place Strategic date tie-ins with other events … (or not!) May the 4th Free Comic Book Day Harry Potter’s birthday Timing conflict with other local events school year community events weather conditions (if applicable) Location
- 20. Timing is Everything Hours of operation • all day event • few hours Things to consider • patron impact • staff time
- 21. Example
- 22. Example
- 23. Example
- 24. Timeline • The earlier you can start planning (relatively speaking) the better. We recommend 6-8 months in advance, especially for first-timers. • Brainstorming sessions • Keep in mind your target audience • Resources you have on hand • Staff resources and equipment • Performers and artists ◦ will likely need to be booked far in advance
- 25. Budgeting • Generally require higher budgeting, but not always Ex: Big Read grant Partnerships • Opportunities to involve members of the community Ex: Comic Con - Artist Alley, Maker Day – local artisans/crafters • Donations Ex: Comic Con – comics giveaways donated by publishers; groups like 501st
- 26. Marketing Lead up programming Grouping programs together Social media event
- 27. Partnerships Consider organizations in your community whose presence at your program increases its scope and reach.
- 28. Questions?
- 30. Project Planning Tips and Tricks ◦ Project leader ◦ Play to your coworker's strengths ◦ Rotate leadership roles ◦ Get all staff involved! ◦ Communication
- 31. Programming Template • Determine if programming idea can be turned into a large scale program • Set goals and outcomes • What age group(s) will you be planning for? • Is this a multi-day event? Where will the event(s) be held? How will services be impacted? • Determine approximate costs and present the idea to management
- 32. Programming Template (2) • Form your team! • Brainstorm ideas for the event and set monthly meetings • Set day/time/location • Plan and communicate program events to your department and manager • Call for volunteers, if needed
- 33. Week of Event Checklist Inform all staff about services impacted during event Give public desks a timeline of events Confirm performers and give info on logistics/checking in Test equipment Share cell #s with team members and/or charge walkie talkies
- 34. Day of Event Checklist Set up and confirm everything is in place Check in performers and help with their set up Confirm with team that everything is on track Enjoy the moment!
- 35. What type of programs makes a good large scale program? Educational Experiential Engaging Fun Social
- 36. Resources and Pop Culture
- 37. Large scale programs: take over the library!
- 38. Comic Con
- 39. COST: $ - $$$ PREP. TIME: VERY HIGH AGE GROUP: ALL AGES LENGTH OF PROGRAM: 4 HRS STAFFING: Background and Outcomes: ◦ Shows the library in a new light ◦ Relevant to current interests and current cultural trends ◦ Invites in new people ◦ Shows people how to use the library in a new way ◦ Social and cultural opportunities
- 40. Maker Day
- 41. COST: $$$ PREP. TIME: VERY HIGH AGE GROUP: ALL AGES LENGTH OF PROGRAM: 3 HRS STAFFING: Background and Outcomes: ◦ Shows the library as an active and engaging space ◦ The library as a place to make/create/do ◦ HoMaGo ◦ Emphasis on process vs. product ◦ Engages patrons of all ages
- 42. Fun Fair
- 43. COST: $$ PREP. TIME: MEDIUM-HIGH AGE GROUP: ALL AGES LENGTH OF PROGRAM: 2 HRS STAFFING: Background and Outcomes: ◦ Objectives of learning how to play and share ◦ Library TAB built life-sized games ◦ Staff in a dunk tank ◦ Engages patrons and staff of all ages
- 44. Culture Fest
- 45. Culture Fest Events 1-2 p.m. Mexican Dance Performance by Grupo Folklorico Quetzal in Workshop 1:30-2:15 p.m. Indonesian Shadow Puppetry by Mandala Arts in Rasmussen Room 2-3 p.m. Chinese Martial Arts Demonstration by Chicagoland Shaolin Kung Fu in kidsZone 2:30-3:30 p.m. African Storytelling by Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble in Fiction 3-4 p.m. Indian Dance Performance by Mandala Arts in Workshop 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ramadan Food Demonstration by Yvonne Maffei in Rasmussen Room 4-5 p.m. Storytelling and Dance by Trickster Art Gallery in kidsZone
- 46. Culture Fest Events (2) 1-4 P.M. Food for sale by Bombay Wraps in East Lawn 1-5 P.M. Tasty Travels Sensory Stations in Craft Room 1-5 P.M. Games from around in the world in Program Room 1-5 P.M. Multicultural crafts in Adult Classroom 1-5 P.M. Mosaics Across Cultures: Interactive Display in the Commons 1-5 P.M. See Your Name in Assyrian by Assyrian American Civic Club of Chicago in the Commons
- 47. COST: $$ PREP. TIME: HIGH AGE GROUP: ALL AGES LENGTH OF PROGRAM: 4 HRS STAFFING: Background and Outcomes: ◦ Celebrating the diversity of our community ◦ Encouraging discovery and ◦ Giving patrons the opportunity for new experiences
- 48. Teen Job Fair
- 49. COST: $ PREP. TIME: MEDIUM-HIGH AGE GROUP: TEENS LENGTH OF PROGRAM: 2HRS STAFFING: Background and Outcomes: ◦ Opportunity for teens to meet multiple local employers ◦ Teens learn important job seeking and financial literacy skills ◦ Library is a resource
- 51. COST: $$ PREP. TIME: MEDIUM-HIGH AGE GROUP: ALL AGES LENGTH OF PROGRAM: 1 HR/PROG. STAFFING: Background and Outcomes: ◦ Invite author/s to speak at library and local schools ◦ Collaboration and partnership with schools ◦ Encourages reading and use of the library ◦ Multi-program lead up and celebration of author's books ◦ Can be modified to suit each age range
- 52. Evaluating Your Event • Observe and interact with patrons • Evaluation Methods: • survey before/after • statistics are great, but so are qualitive comments • talk with staff both who are involved and co-workers • Follow up meeting
- 54. What is a popular program you already have done, and how can you supersize it? Please respond in the chat!
- 55. Questions?
- 56. Final Thoughts • You can do it! Have faith in yourself and your programs. • Everything does not have to top the last best and brightest program. • Not every program will be a hit, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Who knows – you might be surprised! • Every program is a learning experience for you and your patrons.
- 57. Contact us Katie LaMantia lamantiak@gmail.com Emily Vinci evinci@stdl.org
- 58. We’ll Be Back… • Building Great Programs for Patrons in their 20s and 30s: Monday, May 20
- 59. by Amy J. Alessio, Katie LaMantia, and Emily Vinci: A Year of Programming for Millennials and More Click here to buy from ALA Editions 50 + Fandom Programs: Planning Festivals and Events for Tweens, Teens and Adults Click here to buy from ALA Editions Pop Culture-Inspired Programs for Tweens, Teens, and Adults Click here to buy from ALA Editions
- 60. Thank you for attending!