I work for a library in a small town. What kinds of things would draw more people to the library??

Answer 1

In a small town, you're probably best having events so that the library becomes a social centre of the town. You could have events that will draw different people in... For kids, themed night on popular books - Harry Potter, Goosebumps books (for Halloween), etc - and encourage people to get into the spirit of things by dressing up. Have someone read from a book to encourage interest in the books. For adults, you could have themed nights too - have a policeman come and talk about crime investigations on a Crime night, a serviceman to raise interest in military books, a historian to talk about a famous person or event from history. You could put up a noticeboard where people post their reviews of books they've read, so that others may be tempted to try a new author. A quiz night where you're given a list of questions that people are unlikely to know off the top of their head, an have a race to see who can find the correct answers fastest. Just use your imagination! :)

Answer 2

Place an ad requesting books and volunteer workers for a book sale. The money could be raised for special services the library will provide to the community, or it could be raised for a cause that is important to the town. Does your library have a "Friends of the Library" committee? Ours does. For more information visit: http://www.co.chesterfield.va.us/humanservices/libraries/friends.asp

Answer 3

Advertise rotating displays: ie:

Local history: show pictures and articles of local history and interest. (kids have homework assignments)

Photography: show mags, and books of types of photgraphy
and indicate where the photography books are kept.

How does a car (motorcycle) (truck) work - display items of interest and point out where the books are.

you get the idea - keep changing the display and letting people know where more info on the subject is.

Genelogy is another big draw - maybe sponsor a group interested in this and offer them bookshelf space to work up local family trees. They could meet once a week or so and work over a few tables doing the project.

For little kids story time and circle games always work. For older kids meeting friends and looking for dates has always been the draw the library. (sorry for older kids the internet has faster info retreival)

Answer 4

How about a book club, one for adults and one for kids, where they come in once a month and discuss the books they have read. The schedule should be set months in advance...

My library had a Friends of the Library Committee. We had speakers come in and give book reviews. Like a local politician would read a book by a national politician and review it in front of the audience.

Do you have computers hooked up to the internet? That draws people in, sometimes unruly masses, but they are people! Then you could give seminars like "how to do the research for a term paper" or "how to research geneology on the computer".

Answer 5

Well, in the case of the Library I work in, one of the thigs we've done to draw more people is increase our technology. We have more computers, wireless connections, and technically savvy staff.

We also provide monthly video game events, which helps draw teens to the Library.

Answer 6

i worked in a library at a university level and i know what kept people out -- i was often called "the nice one" as most library employees at least at my library scared college kids into avoiding contact with staff. ah the old war stories.

generally i don't think they are viewed as welcoming places. kind of like knowledge is being guarded by pitt bulls with buns on their heads. stereotypes need to be broken down and libraries need ways of saying we are open and accessable. much could be done to improve the concept of education by having intelligent leaders in this country too. the united states doesn't value education and the people that do automatically seem to be labeled as lofty and unapproachable. of course sometimes they are. libraries and schools themselves need to abandon dewey philosphies. keep the decimal system -- just not the philosphy. one of the saddest things i ever heard was a person was not hired at our library because they were deemed "too attractive" and decided he might sway little innocent college girls away from their studies. if thats not pathetic i don't know what is --- and its a page right out of dewey.

Answer 7

How about a saturday event for kids where every week
is a different theme. You read a book on that theme and do an arts and craft project

Also, our library hired a magician, for every thursday of august and it was great. my bros and sis all six of them couldnt wait to get there, and they love to go now even when there is no special event

Answer 8

Our library lets us donate our paperbacks and replace them.
2 for one we bring in 2 and they let us take one. It saves me lots of money.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

hi!!! why not make a baby area! so the parents could relax as the kids played! ;O)