Discussion Questions

Targeting the Ages: Programming that Hits the Mark

Questions

1. Of all the things that library staff consider when planning a program, which of these three do you think is the most important:

Advance planning
Budget Staff
Enthusiasm

Why do you this is the most important? Does the audience the program is being planned for, or type of library it will take place in, factor into which is most important?

2. Many new methods are available to libraries to market/promote library programs using Web 2.0 technologies. Which of the following do you feel is most effective:

Blogging (example): http://www.genre-x.com/
Social Network (i.e. Facebook) (example): http://tinyurl.com/bmh5dk
Microblogging (i.e. Twitter) (example): http://twitter.com/KCPubLibrary/

Why do you think this is the most effective?

3. Take one of the following two programs from the "Targeting the Ages: Programming that Hits the Mark" workbook and adapt it for your library:

Program Name: genre X

Sponsoring Library: Oak Park Public Library

Genre X is a book discussion group geared toward those in their twenties that offers intellectual stimulation as well as the opportunity for social networking. Recognizing that the library was not the most desirable location for their target demographic to meet in this fashion, organizers elected to hold their monthly meetings at a local Irish pub. While the book discussion group is a tried and true program for libraries of all types, tailoring the location and atmosphere to meet the needs of the target audience makes genre X a standout program.

Program Name: Night of Writing Dangerously

Sponsoring Library: Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library

For any patron who has ever said, "One day, I'd like to write a novel," this program is for them. November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). NaNoWriMo is a worldwide event where everyday people strive to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel in 30 days. Night of Writing Dangerously is an official NaNoWriMo sponsored event. During this event writers gather at a specific location and you write for twelve hours straight. For those who find an overnight program to be a bit daunting, this event can be modified. Rather than have one big writing session you could sponsor several shorter writing sessions.

Why did you select this program for your library? What changes/modifications would you make to this program to tailor it to your library's community?

4. Program planners take inspiration from a variety of things. Take for example the Speed Book Sharing program sponsored by the St. Charles Public Library. Part of the St. Charles Public Library's innovative TnT: Twenties and Thirties series of programs, Speed Book Sharing puts a library spin on speed dating. Participants are invited to bring something they've enjoyed reading to quickly share in brief one-on-one conversations. For this task create your own program inspired by something around you.

What inspired you idea? Was it a book, a pre-existing program, or something else? How did you adapt your inspiration into a library program?

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