Infopeople Webcast Series:

Promoting Reading in Your Community

Promoting Reading To Adults

Thurs., Oct. 23, 2003, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m

Presenter: Katie O’Dell [email protected]

Technical Housekeeping

 Use Chat window to ask questions or post to group  Click IM button to send a private message  For technical problems, send IM to

HorizonHelp

 Evaluation pops up during Q&A; please fill it out  Webcast is being archived; will be available on Infopeople’s website tomorrow

Today’s Webcast

 What is Reading Promotion?

 What are the three levels of Reading Promotion?

 How can we build community partnerships to increase promotion?

What is Reading Promotion?

 Encouragement and support of active reading for pleasure and information  Making resources available to adults in our communities and promoting those services to increase the popularity of reading

How Is It Different From Adult Literacy?

 Adult Literacy: the ability to read, write,

and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential

 Reading Promotion: supporting and

endorsing the act of reading for pleasure and information

Why It Matters for Your Library?

 Advertises readers’ advisory services  Expands readers’ resources  Encourages use of the library  Builds bonds in the community  Increases circulation

Level One Promotion

 Basic services or resources your library can provide at low or no cost  Booklists  Readers’ Advisory  Website resources  Merchandizing

Booklists

 Annotate!!!

 Genre, regional, nonfiction  Unique lists

Readers’ Advisory

 Identify strengths in reading knowledge of each staff member and post to your intranet  Use a small portion of each staff meeting to rotate booktalks to increase readers’ advisory knowledge  Promote staff reading knowledge through “staff picks” display, promotional stickers or buttons  Submissions to library newsletters and community newspapers

Web Site Resources

 Devote a page for reading promotion  Online current booklists  Book discussion information  Form for patrons to submit their own reviews

Merchandising

 Create simple standards  Design an effective browsing experience  Rotate responsibility  Stock frequently  Props can get in the way  Spread the work out

Level Two Promotion

 Involves more resources in terms of staff time and or budget  Takes some coordination  Can benefit greatly from skilled use of volunteers   Book Discussion Group Writers’ Critique Groups  Book Promotion Services  Staff and Volunteer Training

Book Discussion Groups

 Library & Book Groups= Perfect Fit!

 Run by Staff or Trained Volunteers  For a New Group: Poll Community  Group Members by Interest  Consider a Virtual Book Group

Writers’ Critique Groups

 Writers’ groups & libraries= perfect fit  Meeting room space  Monthly program featuring local authors, poets, essayists  Volunteer or guild member as point person

Book Promotion Services

 Programs, displays, and/or handouts that highlight the latest and greatest  Holiday gift giving booktalk program  New books section  Staff picks

Staff and Volunteer Training

 Minimum of one readers’ advisory training opportunity per year  bring in expert  attend conferences  staff created  Extend training opportunity to volunteers who run book groups or create displays

Level Three Promotion

  Joins the talents of your library staff with more complicated planning and partnerships Can make a high impact with your community and build very strong relationships between patrons, the love of reading, and the public library.

 Author readings or lectures     Community Group Reading Reading Promotions Literary Awards Community Partnerships

Author Readings or Lectures

 Local authors  Nationally known authors  Book tours  Lecture

Community Group Reading

 Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library started “

What if All of Seattle Read the Same Book?”

 California &

The Grapes of Wrath

 Build off state pick  Create unique community pick  Partner with community agencies  MANY resources on Web to help

Reading Promotions

 Author features on Web site  author spotlight  book discussion groups  update frequently  Adult summer reading club  most recognizable library programs  donations for free coffee or discounts at local book stores  adults can track reading and feel closer connection to the library

Literary Awards

 Create on your own or with partnering agency  Local author  Staff favorite  Community pick  Voting box vs. Qualified judges  Press release, conference, ceremony  Library as THE source for reading resources

Community Partnerships

 Combining resources and audience to create something bigger and better  Partnerships for reading promotion for adults      community education or neighborhood groups community philanthropic organizations businesses other government agencies parent and teacher associations

Potential Projects?



Level One Promotion

:  stock materials at adult education sites 

Level Two Promotion:

 work with writers’ group to start monthly spotlight 

Level Three Promotion

:  organize book discussion groups at local businesses, schools, or other government agencies

Handouts

 Class outline  Web resources for readers’ advisory  Print resources for readers’ advisory  Web resources for book discussion groups and programming  Print resources for book discussion groups and programming

How to Contact Katie O’Dell [email protected]

Questions and Answers