Adult Programming Presentation Details Below!

The information below is intended to be a springboard for brainstorming. I have listed topics and possible program ideas based on my own past experience and from other libraries in the Jefferson County Library Cooperative. Links have been added where possible.
Enjoy!

Katie Moellering
Emmet O'Neal Library
Mountain Brook, AL



Adult Programming: Basics & Beyond

Basics:
• Book Groups
o General (all read same book)
o Genre (choose one genre or topic and discuss different titles)
o Specific (Great Books, Classics, Prize Winners, Mysteries, etc)
o Specific Subject (mysteries, gardening, sci-fi, etc)
o Scholars’ Series (with or without travel and/or stipend)


• Author Events & Signings
o Southern Voices
o Alabama Bound
o Murder In the Magic City
o Local Authors
o Fundraisers (BIG name authors!)


• Summer Reading for Adults
o Register @ children’s signup day
o Register @ adult desk throughout the summer
o Prizes weekly
o One large prize
o Fun programs and/or activities throughout the summer

• Big Read!


Beyond:
• Business
o Resume Writing Workshops
 Including job skills, interview skills, cover letters, etc.
o Collaboration with Chamber of Commerce
 How to open a business in your city
 Continuing Ed. Programs for business owners
o Database Training on Business Databases
o Finance/Bookkeeping for a small business


• Humanties (Art, Literature, Languages)
o Brown Bag
o Bad Art Night
o Trivia Night (trivia teams compete for prizes or money)
o Art Openings
o Adult Spelling Bee!
o Language Roundtable/Exhange
o Pop culture – vampires!
o Film Festivals
 Horror Movie Marathon
 Christmas Movie Double Feature
 Food Movement Films
 Romance Film Festival
 Jane Austen Film Festival
o Writing/Writer’s Groups
o Poetry Slam/Open Mic Night
o Book Preview Programs
o Paperback book swap and book-talk
o Crafts
 How to programs on knitting, crochet, sewing basics, cardmaking, scrapbooking, jewelry making, home décor, etc.
 Altered Book Workshop (to make journals/scrapbooks/photo albums/calendar/planner etc.)
o Genealogy program
 How to use online services
 Local holdings
 How to get started
 Advanced topics


Science:
• Gardening
o Master Gardener’s Program
o Organic Gardening
o Cooperative Extension Agents (Sallie Lee)
• Stargazing with local astronomy professor or expert
• Weather
• Birding (Audobon Society Speaker / Neighborhood Bird Watch)
• Conservation & Ecology
o Building Green/Remodeling Green


Personal & Home Economics:
• Personal Finance
o Budgeting
o Paying off debt
o Saving
o Investing
o Buying a home or rental property
o Timeshares (see travel planning)
• Home Economics
o Home Organization
o Chicken Keeping 
o Scheduling tips & resources
o Biggest Loser
o Yoga
o Travel Planning (Foreign Travel, Local Destinations, DisneyWorld!)
o Afternoon Tea (could be Literature based)
o On Becoming A Vegetarian
o Eating/Cooking/Buying Local and/or Organic
o Using your camera (digital or traditional) and online storage of photos
• Cooking
o Cookie Swap
o Pizza Tasting (blind tasting with award)
o International Food Day
o Slow Food Movement

Publicity:
• Eventkeeper
• The Birmingham News
• Over the Mountain Journal
• Black & White
• Birmingham Weekly
• Portico
• Thicket
• Alabama Home & Garden
• Alabama Gardener
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Blog
• Activeculture
• Posters
• Flyers
• Calendar
• Local Businesses
• Email
• Bibliographies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Resources:

Alabama Humanities Foundation

Adult Services Roundtable Blog

Library Success Stories/Best Practices for Adult Programming

American Library Association’s Public Programs Office (with grant opportunities)

The Programming Librarian

Adult Reading Incentive Programs On A Shoestring Budget