Open Hearts, Open Arms

Reaching out to our Communities

Kathryn SeidelReference Librarian/InstructorBaton Rouge Community College

Many different paths

Outreach is…Many possible interpretations

“The ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) serves the Association by identifying and promoting library services that support equitable access to the knowledge and information stored in our libraries. OLOS focuses attention on services that are inclusive of traditionally underserved populations.”

For the purposes of this talk, programming that will bring the community into the library

Reading & Outreach Programming

Reaching out to the communities that libraries serve is an important part of the ALA.  These programs are focused on ways to reach the greatest number of potential users in each community. http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/outreach/index.cfm

Programming Librarian“Development of this site is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the American Library Association Public Programs Office to assist librarians in finding authoritative resources for cultural programming, train librarians in cultural programming techniques using a variety of online methods and involve library schools in examining the need for courses in cultural programming.”

www.programminglibrarian.org.

Programming Librarian’s guide to

implementing a program

Audience goals – Who will the program serve?

Collection goals – Is there an part of the collection being emphasized?

Program goals – What should the program accomplish?

Decade of Growth Open House

Passport to Learning Open House

Themed Open Houses

Book Talks

Author Book Talks

Community Author Book Talks

Faculty Book Talks

Author Book Talk Series

Bill Jones Mark E. Martin

George Rodrigue

Community Author Book Talks

Book Talk in the Library

On Wednesday, October 22, at 6pm, Louisiana author Deborah LeBlanc will be speaking in the Magnolia Library.  She will introduce several of her thriller novels: Morbid Curiosity, A House Divided, Grave Intent, Family Inheritance, and the newest title, Water Witch. 

Ms. LeBlanc will also share with students her insights on becoming a published author, and her very exciting LeBlanc Literacy Challenge.

Where: Second floor of the Magnolia Library

When: October 22 @ 6-8 pm.

Refreshments will follow.

For more about the Literacy Challenge, visit http://www.theleblancchallenge.com/

Faculty Author Book Talks

New in Fall 2009

Book Talk experiences

Participation varies

From 5 to 75-80 students, faculty, staff and community members

Promises

Participation is growing over time

Serves our goal of bringing people into the library

Pitfalls

No dedicated space

Participation is always an unknown

Need to review guidelines for selection

Conversation with the Artist

Local

Travelling shows

Clubs

Magnolia Library Book Club

BRCC Library Club

Magnolia Library

Book ClubOnce a month

Began in the evenings

Now Brown Bag and Books

Participation varies

Book selection varies

Library Club

Student organization

Terrebonne Parish school supply drive

Toys for Tots

Reading at pre-schools/ YMCA 11/2008

Visibility on campus

Outreach within the community:

Community ServiceStorytelling with Head Start

Neighborhood Senior Center

Louisiana Book Festival

EveryBody Reads

Keep Baton Rouge Beautiful

Annual Book Sale

Outreach with a twist

Establishes good will with the college community

Provides some income

People like to donate their books

Pitfalls – books that won’t sell

Hope to turn this into a community service project

BRCC Annual Book Sale, Spring 2009

A word about promotion

Daily electronic news

Directed emails – individually directed – everyone!

Posters, flyers, pushcards

School newspaper

Meetings with student government

The End

Always finish with a thank you note!

• It’s not only good form – anecdotal evidence suggests it creates repeat business!

Resources

www.programminglibrarian.org

http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/outreach/index.cfm

Langemack, Chapple. The Author Event Primer: How to Plan, Execute and Enjoy Author Events. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2007.

What avenues are you exploring?

What’s working?

What are the challenges?