2023-12-12 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 15, Issue 7

Featured Story

Community Relevance and Family Place Libraries

Here’s the description for my session at the 2023 Idaho Library Association Annual Conference!

“Take your public library to the next level by adding a Family Place Space that will transform your library services and create a supportive environment for families that is sure to increase your community relevance! Eagle Public Library opened the first certified Family Place Library in Idaho during the Spring of 2023 to great public excitement. In doing so, they have more than doubled their door count and have created enthusiastic stakeholders and library board members. Find out more about this exciting opportunity to engage your community, support early childhood development, and enhance your library services!”

I am super excited for this opportunity to share my library’s transformational journey and my experiences with Family Place Libraries. If you’d like more information please get in touch so I can explain in further detail the ways you can turn your library into a Family Place Library.

By Ann Veloso

Fail Forward

We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.

Embracing Failure in Library Programming

Failure is a natural part of the learning process and contributes to growth and innovation. Professional growth I’ve experienced this year has involved facets of library programming. We started with classes to help patrons use our equipment and services while we were looking for other programs that could be partner sponsored and led. Initial workshops had poor attendance, particularly a digital literacy series funded through a grant by digitallearn.org.

Assessing library programs involves examining how effectively they accomplish objectives and fulfill the requirements of the community, providing potential insights for future enhancements and changes. Participant feedback plays a vital role in refining the program. The absence of participation feedback also serves as valuable data.

Strengthening community partnerships, utilizing social media, and posting to community calendars are methods we’ve been using to ensure programs reach the intended audience. We are on our way to hitting our stride, and having much better attendance than earlier in the year.

By Mariah Farmer
 

Crush Corner

Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!

Double Crush!

As the Adult Services Consultant at the Idaho Commission for Libraries, I’m always on the lookout for new programming ideas to share with adult services folks. Here are a couple that have caught my eye over the last few months. 
 
T.B. Scott Free Library in Merrill, WI held a Puzzle Competition for adults! From the event’s page: “Adults of all ages are welcome to participate in our adult puzzle competition. Refreshments will be provided. Each team should consist of two people. If you would like to compete but don’t have a partner, the library will help you team up with someone. Each team will be presented with the same puzzle. The teams will have three hours to complete the 750-piece puzzle. Prizes will be awarded to the three teams with the most connected pieces.” I like how this event creates a community around a shared interest via gamification, and wouldn’t require a huge budget to do.  

Curry Public Library District in Gold Beach, OR is hosting a Tiny Art Show. The library passed out tiny canvases in September and gave participants a month to complete their tiny artworks. The completed pieces will then be on display for one month. Artworks were accepted from all ages and artistic levels, with the community voting on their favorites in different age groups. You could also spin it and have people vote for their favorites in different mediums or subjects. 

By Deana Brown

SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at https://libraries.idaho.gov/splat/ 

SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-253624-OLS-23). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.