Promotion and Programming: What they Didn't Teach in Library School

On a listserv I'm a part of, a young adult librarian named Rebecca Denham asked other librarians to guest blog posts for her, and she posted mine =D


Now, I was kind of under the gun to finish it (as I was already at the library a half hour longer than I was supposed to be, and because I had spaced that I was supposed to write a blog post because of how many program I had that week), so she thankfully edited what I said into a nice post.

So, this is what I sent over to her, and you can click Lunanshee's Lunacy, to see how she adapted it to her blog :)

Promotion & Programming: How do we keep this crazy ball rolling?

For those that have been paying attention to these guest posts, you might have noticed that mine came out a little bit late. Ironically, I got caught in the tidal wave of programs this week, and completely spaced that I was the guest blogger. My bad!

Now before I start giving my ideas, please know that I have absolutely no answers for you. I click on pretty much anything that has promotion and programming ideas in the title or tags. But, even though I get some ideas from these posts, it still doesn’t solve the quintessential problem; how do I ensure that my programs are vibrant, engaging, and growing? 

Short answer: I believe that each library, each program librarian, and each individual program will have a very different answer to that quintessential problem, so just keep working on that perfect combination, and then keep mixing so it stays awesome. 

Program Ideas

Narrow it down

Sometimes I’m overwhelmed with the sheer amount of programs that I have to plan. How am I going to fill a weekly hour-long program?!?! Try a rotating schedule of program types.

For older elementary and middle schoolers my rotation has looked like video/board games, science experiments, cooking, and crafts. 

For high school, it’s bounced from Next-Gen Advisory Team (our Teen Advisory Board) to TeenBookWorms (our book group) to movie nights to literacy special events like a Zombie Prom and Hunger Games Party. 

Try something new or steal it from someone else

What did you like as a kid? See if it would work for your group. Notice that Angry Birds is huge right now? Do Life-Size Angry Birds. Notice that you have absolutely no ideas? Go steal some from a Pinterest board or a Google search and adapt them for your students.

Ask your peeps

It’s completely true that most people don’t know what they want until they see it. But, asking for input and letting your participants choose from a couple different options has worked for me. If they’re excited about it, they’re more than likely to come, right?

Program Promotion 

Don’t be discouraged 

Why is it that when you have enough time to do really good promotion (if you have the time) sometimes they show up and sometimes they don’t. What’s the trick here? I think its doing your job to the utmost and not being so concerned with the outcomes. There are bosses and boards that want amazing programs, high program attendance, and consistency. But, ultimately it’s up to your participants to come to a program.

Blast it all over

Everyone tells us that about 10% of the people you tell about a program will actually show up. If that’s the case, get your promotion onto social media, school newsletters, school newspapers, school video announcements, homeschool newsletters, email lists, text alerts, Foursquare, local business windows and bulletin boards, and obviously all over your library. 

Connect through outreach

But, while you’re doing all of that, don’t forget about connecting with people one on one. I can’t count the times that a program is saved from obscurity because one teacher got excited about it.

So, if you’re a school librarian talk to your public librarian, and if you’re a public librarian talk to your school librarian. Visit the PTAs at the schools. Say yes when a school asks you to read The Lorax at their next assembly. Visit that classroom with your science experiments, and keep following up with the After School group that likes you. Talk to that friend that has a son or daughter that could be coming to your fabulous program. See if a Youth Group will let you mention your programs during their game night.

You are the brand!

I’ve heard that libraries do absolutely nothing; librarians do. This blog post has been a little long-winded and babbly, but if it all boils down to something, your programs are awesome because you’re awesome. You are the brand that makes these programs work! So keep working, keep trying, and keep connecting.

About Nick Madsen

Nick Madsen is the Young Adult Librarian at the Community Library Network at Hayden. When he isn’t filling-in for a storytime, blowing things up, working on his MLIS (hopefully finishing this Fall) or chatting about everything or nothing after a program, you will most likely find him hanging out with family and friends, playing ultimate frisbee or basketball, ballroom dancing, or helping at his church. You can find him on Facebook as Nick Madsen or at Next-Gen Adults of the Community Library Network, on Twitter as @CLN4NextGen, or his library blog at cln4nextgen.blogspot.com.