Planning for Programming

1. Planning for Programming

2. Know Your Service Area Community Library Department

3. MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

4. Mission, Vision and Values Our Mission Monroe County Public Library enriches individual lives and strengthens our community by offering equitable access to information and opportunities for literacy, learning, and enjoyment. Our Vision We aspire to be a dynamic library, essential to thoughtful, productive community life, and always meeting our community’s evolving needs. Our Values Accessibility Freedom of expression Inclusiveness Integrity Lifelong learning Respect Service Adopted by the Board of Trustees - November 19, 2008

5. Committee Workflow

6. Whydo we program? • Free access • Programs encourage people to think and talk about ethics and ideas • Open and safe forum • Supports formal learning: Harmony, Project School, Prep School, Daycares, Hear Start, IU, IVY Tech, Home Schoolers • Develop literacy • Cultural Opportunities • Print Motivation/ interest in reading • Connection to library materials • Connection to library services • Connection to the institution and the librarians • Nourishment for the spirit • Recreation • Recognizing interests of kids, trends • Make/demonstrate relevance of library • Support Community – identify needs- respond to needs • “To provide information, illuminate experiences, beliefs, and values” • To stimulate connections • Recreation • Diversity • Support lifelong learning, • Library as a gathering place • Community building forum • Foster interest and enjoyment of reading • Train, establish, educate, • Develop professional resources and activities

7. Who is our audience? • Children 0-12 - state library stats will not allow us to count YA volunteers as • Attendees: Infants through 6th graders • Patrons and potential patrons • Families/Parents/ extended family • Educators/future educators-IU students • Caregivers • School communities-school tours • IU students • Broader medical community • Volunteers and service learners • Staff/internal patrons

8. What makes a program? • Storytimes • Infant/toddler and parent circle times • Cultural events • School tours Research tours and Bibliographic instruction • Instructional: How to – intro to humanities • Multimedia film and video programs • DIY – crafts/cookery • Parenting • Festivals - Lunar New Year • Events: multicultural, social consciousness, MLK, Seuspicious Behavior • Literary, music, and performing arts • Science: tricks, animals, preschool • Web instruction • Every Child Ready to Read workshops, tutoring and homework help, • Performers, animals, authors, music/arts programs

9. Where do we program? • During times of limited resources programs have been mainly in building for statistics, promoting knowledge of and positive associations with the library. When resources are plentiful, more robust outreach; even programming at other venues like BCT and local parks • In House: Children’s Dept . program room and Learn and Play Space • Auditorium and other meeting rooms • Atrium • Around exterior of building: sidewalks and fountain area • Off site: Schools, Head Start, parent groups, Banneker Center; parks, daycares, YMCA, SRSC, churches, IU • Where don’t we program?

10. When do we program? • Time identified as best for audience • Mainly, but not limited to library’s open hours • Programs that occur outside stated hours include: • SRSC Friday – evenings • Parks and Rec – Festival of Ghost stories in the Park • Family Day with Healthy Families • County Fair • BABS baby fair • Author performances/receptions • Lock-ins • Teen after hours programming • BKM service • Wintertelling • Afterschool • Weekends • 5 and under – daytime • Weeknights • Workshops and meetings offsite like SRSC on Friday nights • 24/7

11. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft Mission: The Monroe County Public Library offers programs that create connections among the community and the library’s resources to enrich lives and provide opportunities for literacy, learning, and enjoyment.

12. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft Definition: A program is a library sponsored event in which library staff is involved in the planning and implementation, regardless of locale or time commitment.

13. Guidelines: • Library programs shall be free of charge and non-commercial in nature. (exceptions may be made for visiting authors)

14. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft • The Monroe County Public Library focuses its programming efforts in areas uniquely suited to libraries.

15. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft • The Library avoids duplicating services offered elsewhere in the community.

16. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft • Programs may be educational, informational, or for entertainment with intent to create an engaging library experience.

17. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft • Library program audiences include library patrons, potential library patrons, teachers, students, families, caregivers, non-profit organizations, and the Bloomington/Monroe County community at large. Library programs are considered a core service and designed to support the overall mission of the library.

18. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft • Program partnerships with community organizations or corporate sponsorship of programs will be considered if the program serves to enhance the library’s image in the community and benefits both parties.

19. Programming Mission and Guidelines - Draft • The library has limited time, resources, and personnel to support programs. Program coordinators reserve the right to refuse offers and requests for programs that do not fit with the library’s needs and schedule.

20. Flowchart