What could get you interested in a library's program?

[Akje]

D’oh! I feel stupid now; this is Camp NaNo month. Is your library doing anything special for NaNo? NaNoWriMo has stuff for libraries, and they encourage ML’s to use local libraries for Write-Ins and whatnot. Maybe that would attract people…? ¯\_(ﭢ)_/¯

[CoffeebyNight]

Thiiis. Offer the place as a writer’s refuge for NaNo. Hell, you could even have a monthly writers retreat. If you sell snacks and hot drinks, you could even make a bit of money to help fund the more extravagent stuff.

[AMMeyers]

@alenatenjo

Right, okay. People are just more likely to come on a weekend because they don’t have school and work and stuff (unless they work weekends) so advertising weekend things usually goes well

Agreed! But our library can only be open certain hours and very few people work throughout Saturdays. Like on normal weekdays, there’s a total of like 13-18 people working, and then on Saturdays, only 5-6 work. People from other departments take desk shifts if they’re not busy, but due to it being summer, some of them are pretty busy with other things. Plus, most full-time staff work once every three Saturdays (it’s a crazy work schedule lol) so there’s only 1-2 (sometimes 3) full-timers/supervisors on the weekend and not all of them deal with programs. So it’s a bit rough when it comes to weekend activities.

@anon39043209

I also want to think that writing in a bookstore or simply being in a bookstore to write creatively or study, is more appealing than being in the library. It is a cozy and aesthetic atmosphere where there’s some nice music and a place to get coffee and/or tea, maybe even a snack.

Exactly why I yearn to have my own bookstore lol although I’m wondering if instead of diving head-first into an actual building that costs over 100K to start, I could start small with a bookshop on wheels (bookmobile is what they’re technically called) where I invest in a big van or truck and renovate it to look like a tiny, used bookstore. I’ve heard that some started such a business for only 5-10K which is still a lot of money that I don’t have, but if I save for a few years, it could become something more of a business.

@anon39043209

At the library, there’s silence, can’t even eat inside, and depending on the reading material and overall library, it is harder to find that book you want. Going to the library is that last resort thing for most people.

Mine is actually not that strict.

We allow food and drinks, except near computers because of spills and damages. And for food, we allow food within reason like not to make a mess. If you’re leaving trash everywhere or food gets on the ground, it’s a no from us. We recently had people spill a bunch of stuff on the carpet that the maintenance crew couldn’t get out so there was a massive stain… but they still okayed food and stuff as long as you’re responsible. In fact, not long after, there was a lady that brought in a whole thing of Chinese food and ate.

As for the silent part, we do allow people to talk at normal volumes and during programs, you can also talk louder or make some noise. The only thing we don’t allow is people yelling or screaming or laughing too loudly when it’s quiet and when it starts disrupting people. Like, there’s this kid that often comes in to play video games on the gaming computers and he’s always loud. He’ll cuss at his computer or yell at his friends if he loses or something, and if you can hear him from across the building, we will tell him to be quieter. We’ve had a lot of people complain about him, and we’ve actually had to ban him for the day because he was constantly yelling. But most people will talk at normal volumes and we don’t care. Sometimes us employees are a little loud.

And as for the whole “not having the book” thing, our collection is limited due to money and space, but we encourage people to ask for inter-library loans or a purchase request. It really helps us understand what they actually want.

@anon39043209

Another thing could be that, libraries are a haven for much older crowd that the younger people don’t like. In your library, which age groups go there more than others unless there is something happening there?

Depends on the day and hour. Throughout most mornings and sometimes afternoons, most of the people upstairs are 30+. Around 2pm, we’ll start getting teens hanging out at the computers or picking up comics and manga books. Some will read or play on their phones.

Downstairs in the children’s department, around 10-11am is kind of busy sometimes, specifically with moms bringing their toddlers to play together. And then it picks back up again around 2-3pm, similar to the teen times.

@anon39043209

Most people want that cozy aesthetic vibe that the bookstores and coffee shop have, that libraries will probably never have.

I’ve actually been to really good libraries that are very cozy and aesthetic, but it’s just hard to find them. I’ve mostly found these libraries in big cities, one of them I remember being in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. But there’s probably better ones.

@copyedit

you can also use the questionairre as an opportunity to see if people know about your resources and programs

• have you heard of x, y, z program
• are you aware of 1, 2, 3, service the library offers
• how do you normally learn about new things happening at the library?

That actually makes me think of something I can do on social media…

@copyedit

we have esl book bag thingies here where people can get like a little kit full of stuff to practice english, and just return them when they’re done.

That sounds so coool!!

We’ve had a few people ask us about specific things like language classes or tutors, but we don’t have the ability, unfortunately. There used to be English classes that were held in our meeting room, but it was through Catholic Charities and they had specific rules for being a part of it (like, you had to be a refugee or be new to town or something).

@CoffeebyNight

VIDEOS of book recs. Share the cover, maybe have a staff member read a small snippet aloud. You could even do this every single week on a designated day.

We’ve done videos and pictures of book recommendations on TikTok and Instagram, and while the TikTok ones are great, the Instagram ones not so great. But maybe we can try to post some TikToks to Instagram?

One of our TikToks.

@CoffeebyNight

Do some behind the scenes stuff. Videos of what you guys get up to in a regular day. May not be the most exciting thing in the world, but try and be a friendly face in the local community that people can recognise.

I’ve wanted to do something like this but it’s been hard to actually do it…

@CoffeebyNight

Got any rich history in your area? Has the library been part of it? This goes hand in hand with the whole “making the library a place worth visiting” for tourists, tbh, but local history buffs may not know everything about the place and how integral libraries are for a community

We do actually. The history of the town was actually the “cowboy gangster” town where the main settlers were into gambling, shootings, and prostitution lol it’s interesting history, and it reels in the country tourists, but most people tend to be much older.

@CoffeebyNight

Got any local authors?? Shout them out! Celebrate them! Host local write-ins for NaNoWriMo (MLs are ALWAYS looking for places to crash during these, bonus points if you can somehow wiggle an overnight thing). Get writers involved. If you can hack it somehow, have local authors giving signings, talks etc. You know, really valuable stuff to give back to the WHOLE community

There’s a couple “local authors” (people with published books) but they’re mostly older people or write westerns, which doesn’t always draw a crowd.

But we have been trying to add more author/writing related events like write-ins, author panels, writing workshops, and more, but again, not many come… which is really sad.

@anon39043209

I guess people manage to ruin something with them in regards to bringing food into their facility or maybe they just prefer a clean atmosphere.

I can understand people ruining things for others. Like, we had one guy take five video games to check out and never brought them back. A few months later, he had a yard sale and tried selling them. We found out and took them back, banned him, and my director changed the policy of items to check out where you could only check out two video games instead of five.

@anon39043209

If my memory best serves me, last I remember is that they have a system where if you use a library card for one location, that it can work for other locations as well. So, a library card in my hometown will work for another different library in my hometown elsewhere.

In terms of libraries outside your town, nope, wouldn’t work like that.

I’ve actually never heard of that… Thats so cool if that’s still true today. But I would assume if it’s only for specific branches within one area.

@Akje

D’oh! I feel stupid now; this is Camp NaNo month. Is your library doing anything special for NaNo? NaNoWriMo has stuff for libraries, and they encourage ML’s to use local libraries for Write-Ins and whatnot. Maybe that would attract people…? ¯_(ﭢ)_/¯

We’re hosting a workshop and some other stuff including a weekly write-in, which I’m excited about. I also did NaNoWriMo as my book display of the month in the teen section to hopefully gain some more people. We did NaNoWriMo last year in November, but only one person came on top of me, my colleague, and sometimes our other staff member. But I’m wondering if it was just because November is a really busy month for people so maybe now that it’s summer and maybe not super crazy, people may come?

We also have a summer reading program where you can win prizes and use your reading log to be entered in a drawing to win a bigger prize, and as part of the program, if you come to any events, you automatically add an hour to your reading log. So I’m kind of hoping this helps people come in to do stuff lol

[alenatenjo]

@AMMeyers

So it’s a bit rough when it comes to weekend activities.

Maybe file it away under “ideas for the future” or something like that

[Churro]

Honestly? A book and pizza [and soda] night every month. We discuss our favorite books [have a vote, most popular books] and we dicuss them, and read some of the book.

[NotARussianBot]

Are you seriously considering my underground chinchinchorin idea?

[CoffeebyNight]

@AMMeyers

But maybe we can try to post some TikToks to Instagram?

Sounds like a plan. IG likes you to use ALL features of the platform. Last year they liked you having a designated day for Reels, unsure if that still exists, though. And obviously don’t have the TikTok logo/username on the post, that’ll kill reach (IG/FB can detect it)

Your TikToks looks nice! Some really fun ideas. The only thing I’d say is they’re all a little same-y (aside from the book crimes one, that was GREAT!!!) and promoting the same handful of books (or at least it feels like it). Take a look at what AUTHORS are doing to promote their books, or what other booktok accounts are doing. There’s a lot of great ideas out there that you can nyoink.

@AMMeyers

I’ve wanted to do something like this but it’s been hard to actually do it…

It is. But you can simplify it for yourself. First bit of the video is a fun “hello!” and you walk into the library, super fun cut, maybe with some colour, then you can walk around and perhaps even point at your colleagues as they’re doing XYZ. Quick cut to a colleague sorting a shelf, quick cut to someone doing some… returns? IDK, I haven’t been to a library in years :') Just make em fun!

@AMMeyers

But we have been trying to add more author/writing related events like write-ins, author panels, writing workshops, and more, but again, not many come… which is really sad.

This is the issue, isn’t it? You start something, nobody comes, and you feel defeated. I get that with my design biz. I try and throw a fun event, one or two people turn up and feel like I never wanna do it again. This is where persistence is important, unfortunately.

Think of it as a journey for your customer base, and why they’d come. You have to nail every part of the journey to get people involved. Might not work, it might pop off. I, personally, like to do a mindmap for the customer journey. Think about the Who (would be interested), Why (they would be), What (they need) etc.

Here is a link regarding “See Think Do Care” which is a fancy marketing name for one of the ways you can think about the customer journey. See Think Do Care: A Digital Framework | Articles | PushON

[JojoDahlia]

In other words a bookclub

[AMMeyers]

@Churro

Honestly? A book and pizza [and soda] night every month. We discuss our favorite books [have a vote, most popular books] and we dicuss them, and read some of the book.

I’ve given that option to my boss, but she wasn’t too keen on it unfortunately. I told her that we should have treats and maybe some prizes for it, to get people excited, and she kind of shrugged off the idea due to cost and the fact that she wanted a normal book club. When one of my colleagues and I did the teen book club, we mostly just had water and juice. Since we only had one person take a book, we decided not to make popcorn so it didn’t go to waste. Kind of stinks.

@NotARussianBot

Are you seriously considering my underground chinchinchorin idea?

Lol perhaps xD

@CoffeebyNight

Your TikToks looks nice! Some really fun ideas. The only thing I’d say is they’re all a little same-y (aside from the book crimes one, that was GREAT!!!) and promoting the same handful of books (or at least it feels like it). Take a look at what AUTHORS are doing to promote their books, or what other booktok accounts are doing. There’s a lot of great ideas out there that you can nyoink.

We only get an hour to create an idea and film, and unfortunately, it’s mostly just me and one other person—no one really wants to help or at least be in the video. I have plenty of cool ideas, but some of them require a little bit more help or planning, and I do have some new videos coming hopefully later this week, one of them being a “bookish red flag.” xD But the nice part of being in charge of TikTok and making content is that I get to spend time watching videos and getting inspired by said videos. That’s where my list of ideas come from. xD

@CoffeebyNight

It is. But you can simplify it for yourself. First bit of the video is a fun “hello!” and you walk into the library, super fun cut, maybe with some colour, then you can walk around and perhaps even point at your colleagues as they’re doing XYZ. Quick cut to a colleague sorting a shelf, quick cut to someone doing some… returns? IDK, I haven’t been to a library in years :') Just make em fun!

[Churro]

@JojoDahlia

In other words a bookclub

With an incentive.

@AMMeyers

I’ve given that option to my boss, but she wasn’t too keen on it unfortunately. I told her that we should have treats and maybe some prizes for it, to get people excited, and she kind of shrugged off the idea due to cost and the fact that she wanted a normal book club.

Wow, not even a dollar store prize?

@AMMeyers

When one of my colleagues and I did the teen book club, we mostly just had water and juice. Since we only had one person take a book, we decided not to make popcorn so it didn’t go to waste. Kind of stinks.

I would have made sure that it didn’t go to waste. Jokes aside, that’s kinda sad.

[AMMeyers]

@Churro

Wow, not even a dollar store prize?

Yeah… she didn’t want prizes (in general) to be associated with a bookclub as we tend to give out prizes for other things as well.

@Churro

I would have made sure that it didn’t go to waste. Jokes aside, that’s kinda sad.

Lol same.

If there’s extra popcorn, the staff gets to eat it, but we didn’t want to make a mess over no one coming lol

[AMMeyers]

OH MY GOSH. THIS THREAD COULDN’T HAVE BEEN THE MOST PERFECT TIMING EVER!!

I JUST GOT PROMOTED TO BEING A TEEN PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR WHICH MEANS I GET TO CREATE PROGRAMS FOR TEENS!

sorry for the caps, but I’m excited lol

[alcoholandcaffeine]

Woop woop! You manifested it Congratulations!!

Also, to remain on topic - have you considered catering options? Or some sort of budget-friendly events that include free food? Nothing gets people going like free food or drinks lol.

I didn’t get to read through, so not sure if someone has mentioned, but maybe you can partner with local businesses to offer freebies at library events in return for advertisement of said business/brand?

Or a thing I’ve seen in a bookstore once I think, staff were promoting books with their own reviews of them. Maybe you can do that for library-goers. Submit a review of their favourite book to get featured on the library shelf, as book of the week/month something.

[AMMeyers]

@alcoholandcaffeine

Woop woop! You manifested it Congratulations!!

Thank youu!

@alcoholandcaffeine

Also, to remain on topic - have you considered catering options? Or some sort of budget-friendly events that include free food? Nothing gets people going like free food or drinks lol.

Lol don’t I know it.

We’ve done some for some events, which of course, will go well, but usually it’s just snacks like cupcakes and candy and stuff.

But it is an option.

@alcoholandcaffeine

but maybe you can partner with local businesses to offer freebies at library events in return for advertisement of said business/brand?

We have, sort of, done that. We’ve partnered with the local museum in the past and I believe our local water park. We’ve also had booths at big festivals (during last bit of July and early August, they have a week long celebration of various events in town to celebrate the town’s establishment, and these events consist of car racings, car shows, rodeos, parades, concerts, and more) as well as other events. These businesses and areas have asked us to show up and be a part of the group which has been really cool.

I also know they’ll go to schools and talk about events and other things to bring people in, and we’ll also do school tours and stuff.

@alcoholandcaffeine

Or a thing I’ve seen in a bookstore once I think, staff were promoting books with their own reviews of them. Maybe you can do that for library-goers. Submit a review of their favourite book to get featured on the library shelf, as book of the week/month something.

THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!!

Especially since we’re wanting to change up the YA section and add displays on the side of the bookshelves, and I think it’d be pretty cool to do something like that!

With my displays, I’ve tried to think of ways for people to get engaged and it sometimes works, so hopefully we could do something like this.

[alcoholandcaffeine]

@AMMeyers

We’ve done some for some events, which of course, will go well, but usually it’s just snacks like cupcakes and candy and stuff.

Something else I thought of - maybe you could invite a food truck or ice cream truck to park outside the library if that’s possible? If people come to get food, they might be inclined to check out the library while they wait

@AMMeyers

THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!!

Ding ding ding we have a winner! I think that would be cool to have as bragging rights tbf.

Wishing you the best of luck!!!

[J.L.O]

@alcoholandcaffeine

Something else I thought of - maybe you could invite a food truck or ice cream truck to park outside the library if that’s possible? If people come to get food, they might be inclined to check out the library while they wait

We have traveling snownball stands down here. One of them sits outside a dance school (my kid’s).

[alcoholandcaffeine]

What is a snowball stand?

[J.L.O]

Shaved ice in cups with flavored sugar water. Outside our area its more often crushe dice, and Im idsappiinted.

[AMMeyers]

@J.L.O

We have traveling snownball stands down here

@alcoholandcaffeine

What is a snowball stand?

@J.L.O

Shaved ice in cups with flavored sugar water.

Ahhh.

I also had wondered what a snowball stand is, because I literally thought of a stand filled with actual snowballs.

But that makes a little bit more sense. xD

It’s a different name of the snow cone, though I had looked it up and they’re kind of the same thing, only that snow cones are a bit more crunchy as it’s just crushed ice, and snowballs are finely thin ice. You learn something new every day.

[NotARussianBot]

What do you think of Italian Ice?