Programming for Dummies

Kelsie WadeChildren’s Librarian

Main Branch Library

Abilene, TXFebruary 29, 2016

Programming for Teens

So you have teens in your library… congrats! That’s the first step in accomplishing your goal.

Now comes the second (perhaps trickier) part… KEEPING them.

Which programs work? Which don’t?

Holiday Stocking Stuffers

Programming for Teens We will be looking at:

› Clubs and other events Anime club, writing club, book clubs, Lego club Movies and art contests

› What succeeds, what fails, and why

› How do you start a new program?

› What a standard program may look like

› Advertising?!

Lego Club

Remember being fourteen and awkward?

Collecting Commas

Creative writing club › Poems, short stories,

plays, novels, NaNoWriMo Started August 2013 Ages 10-17 Meets every Thursday

@ 4:30-5:30 Started with a core

group of 6 girls, now have 12-16

Includes sharing your work, completing writing prompts, collaborative writing› Have written: plays, short stories, micro stories, poems,

novels› Most popular: short stories & plays

Major projects:› December 2013, 30 minute play› April 2014, Poetry Slam › May 2015, three skits for Lib-Con› May 2016, three more skits

Collecting Commas

Collecting CommasTop left: Trope fishing during a meeting

Bottom left: Lib-Con 2015 skits

Top right: Bullies, Fairytales, and Awakenings Oh My! Original play, 2013

Bottom right: Poetry Slam, April 2014

Pros› Dedicated group› Amazing friendships form› Teen base › Easy & cheap program to set up

(paper, pens, etc.)› Creative, broadens writing scope,

learns from others Cons

› Will not appeal to every teen› Must have writing knowledge to lead

group› Can be tiring to meet every week› Age range too broad

12 - 17

Collecting Commas

Poetry Slam

Sample story roundThat night I saw…A fluffy unicorn.The unicorn loved everyone.Unfortunately, it’s mortal enemy, the dragon, had the exact

opposite feeling.And the dragon was set on finding it and changing its feeling.So he began his long trek to the magic forest where the creature

lived.But first, he needed a form of transportation, for the journey was

very long.Since no one had developed faster travel, he decided to take a

train.Unfortunately, they wouldn’t let him on the train.Unless he paid…In the currency of flip-flops.

Collecting Commas

Collecting Commas

So what does a normal program look like?…crazy

Started August 2015 Ages 8-18 Meets 2nd Wednesday of every month @ 4:00 Lasts for an hour Sometimes have themes, sometimes free build

Lego Club

Pros:› Great attendance

(40+ kids first meeting)

› Easy to set up› Runs itself› Encourages

imagination and engineering

Cons:› Expensive to start› May not have

regular dedicated attendees

› Draws in younger kids (okay for us)

Lego Club

Most popular age range: 8-14 More boys than girls Huge boom in social

interaction – meet lots of new people, kids work together

Lego Club

What is anime?› Style of Japanese film or TV› Aimed at children, teens, and

adults What is cosplay?

› The act of making and/or wearing costumes intended to mimic characters from movies, TV, video games, etc.

Anime Club

Amanda Sasser cosplaying Valka (How to Train Your Dragon 2)

Originally ran 2006-2011 Regular monthly attendance of 15-25 teens with

over 50 attending for special events› Cosplay contests, art contests, etc.

Ages 13-18 Anime provided by Funimation Entertainment Club canceled Dec 2011

Anime Club

Anime Club

Pics from original anime club 2006-2011

Restarted the club in May 2015 Average 14 attendees Meets the 1st Tuesday of every month @ 6:30 Ages 14-25 Watches three episodes of anime at a time

› Current anime shown: Fairy Tail and xxxHOLiC› xxxHOLiC in English, Fairy Tail in Japanese with English

subtitles› Use Movie Licensing USA

$75 per year for one branch

Anime Club

Pros› Anime is HUGE right now› Easy to manage and set up for› Cheap to run besides the

license› Dedicated group of attendees › May bring in the “quiet” kids

Cons› Age range may not work for

all venues› Anime license is limited› Most anime available is TV14

or TVMA› Anime has a bad reputation

Anime Club

Fairy Tail © Funimation

Anime Club

Pics from current anime club

Have attempted two different book clubs this past year

Both for ages 13-18, monthly meeting

One based on the Lone Star book list; other was a traditional

Both allowed participants to chose the books

Book Clubs

The Lone Star book club has since been cancelled South’s traditional book club recently restarted, still

small monthly numbers Why do book clubs not succeed in the public

library? What could we try to make them more successful?

Book Clubs

Teens getting serious about art

Open contests can encourage and motivate them

What do you need to start a contest?› Great advertising › Distinct timeline› Strong, diverse panel

of judges

Art Contests

Top: Lyric K.’s winning entry to Window Wrap-Up

Right: Teen paint night for Decorate Our Door

Utilize fangirls› Kids & teens draw what

they like Display their work

somewhere› Kids (and parents) love to

see their work Decorate Our Door &

Window Wrap-Up› Not as many entries as

expected› Paint nights› Permanent mark on

building

Art Contests

Decorate Our Door winner, Belle W.

Hosted once a month at Main and South; 3rd Tuesday @ 6:00 at Main, After Hours @ 6:00 on 3rd Friday at South

Films rated PG or PG-13 Newest releases with some

older classics Not as successful as originally

thought› Average numbers = 5-15

attendees› After Hours does better than

evening movie

Teen Movies

• Pros: New releases, sample bookmarks, posters, etc.

• Con: Advertising

Do crafts for teens work? Needs to appeal to them: nerdy, specific

(painting), or involve food

Crafts

Tween Time: Painting Party

What to expect› Younger participants› Lower numbers› Lots and lots and lots of food› More expensive supplies› More preparation› Teens want to be challenged

Crafts

Tween Time: Pizza Cookies

Keys to successful craft programs› Advertise thoroughly› High appeal› Creative, innovative,

or challenging› Know what your teens

want

Crafts

Top: Teen Time: DIY Masquerade Masks

Right: Teen Time: Doctor Who

Advertising Key to a successful program is strong advertising In-house advertising

› Flyers› Website› Word of mouth› Teen Scene

Outside advertising› TV› Radio› Newspapers› Social media

Individual flyers for programs vs bookmark with list of all programs

Advertising

Sample flyers

I want to start a new program…

You’re fired up, ready to get teens into your library, ready to try some new programs… now what?

Don’t be discouraged by numbers› May start out with only 3-

4 teen participants› Go after tweens/middle

schoolers

Teen Time: Cosmic Coasters

Tips and Tricks

Talk to parents too› Many of your targeted

audience may not have a driver’s license yet…

Encourage teens to bring their friends

And, most importantly… don’t forget that food

Minute to Win It

Many pros and cons to teen programming

Takes more time, effort, and money than children’s programs

Providing a safe, creative space can offer teens something they can’t get anywhere else

In conclusion… don’t forget that food!

ConclusionTween Time: Dreamcatchers