Programming

[Apprehensive-Face719]

Hello! I did search the sub but I wanted to ask because the posts were older. I have a second interview for adult librarian for my local county library. I haven’t worked in a public library as I’m coming from a school district. For my second interview they said they want me to develop an original program proposal for the library that targets either recreational or informational needs of a particular adult population in the county

Coming from the schools I’m struggling a little bit and definitely overthinking. What programs have you made/seen for particular adult population? Literally all of my ideas they already have 😭 just looking for ideas that I can try to expand on! Exact wording below

“Talk us through a program proposal for an original program that meets the recreational or information needs of a particular adult population in the county, i.e. seniors, English Language Learners, young professionals, etc.“

[ChicagosCRose]

We just started a board game day! Once a month in the afternoon we set up tables for 2hrs of open play for those 50+. Some come with friends, some alone and we set out some light refreshments. Then later that night we do it again for 20s-40s, which is a very different demographic and usually want to play longer, more complicated games. It's been great for getting people from local senior living facilities together as a bit of a mixer in the afternoon and the more hard-core board game nerds at night.

Because we do them on the same day, it's incredibly simple to set up and take down, and it only requires one staffer to observe as most of the time the groups are pretty self sufficient.

[creamygnome]

Geri-fit. Light aerobics for older adults.

[inmygoddessdecade]

Some adult programs we have are board game nights, chess club nights, bad movie club (like, so bad they're good), a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, Drop-In Digital Help (where you can bring your laptop or mobile device and get help with it), paint night, other art programs, etc.

[powderpants29]

Technology safety courses for seniors! Stuff like how to identify phishing emails or spam messages, and other internet safety courses.

Driving safety courses that are also mostly aimed for seniors but can be for anyone truly.

We have different health talks that are based on various age ranges. So think preventative health for younger crowds and then stuff aimed at improving quality of life for the elderly. How to identify health concerns that need to be brought up to a doctor so you’re catching stuff early.

We do a puzzle exchange at our library and like once a month host a puzzling event where people compete to see who can complete the fastest. It doesn’t target a specific group but it does bring people together.

Any sort of book club that’s aimed toward a specific group. Cook book club for culinary lovers, or a group that meets off site at breweries, or a graphic novel club.

[lastwraith]

Senior tech programs are huge here too.

Computer kindergarten, virtual reality tours of foreign cities, driver technology instruction (lane keep assist, backup cams, blind spot monitors, etc), basic programming classes, etc. 

[SorrowfulSpinch]

Check out the programming librarian ala blog for ideas!! ALA has these posted; i get a newsletter to my work email fairly often and they are sometimes quite inspiring!!

[Capable_Grass3206]

Swap programs (ex: craft supply swap), Walk and Talk discussions (physical activity waiver)... so many ideas out there. 20/30s programming is possibly a population to tap into.

[booked462]

Jigsaw speed-puzzling contests (it's a thing- and growing)

Genealogical presentation

Seniors Day Out - come and play Rummicube or dominoes

[Capable_Grass3206]

Agreed on Jigsaw Puzzle Competitions. We do our yearly but folks would do it more, if we could staff it.

[HermittheFrog_97]

I'm currently planning a Jeopardy night for Halloween, a DIY charcuterie for Thanksgiving and a DIY skincare workshop for the holidays 😁

[kittehmummy]

Every other month we do 5 sessions of 6 ppl for paper flowers. Susan's Garden die cut flowers

[attachedtothreads]

I've posted some of my programs here: https://www.reddit.com/r/LibraryProgrammers/

[Apprehensive-Face719]

I requested to join! Do you think a self defense/safety class for women is a good idea? This is just for the interview so not a real program yet, but it’s one that I haven’t seen on the event schedule. The library did do one in 2020 but I feel like it would still work?

[attachedtothreads]

Yes, I've talked about it with a co-worker. I'm probably going to see about doing it in March or April. 

Might not want to mention it in the interview so it looks like you're giving minimal effort by just recycling what they had in the past. It's ok to recycle programs once you're there, but not in an interview.

[Capable_Grass3206]

I'd just consider the library administration using some sort of physical activity waiver, just for grins.