The Social Library, Volume 30
Jennifer Peterson
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15 September 2015
We've reached an even Volume 30 in our Social Library series and we're thrilled to continue to highlight new and innovative approaches to programming, services and marketing from libraries around the globe. This week libraries are kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, connecting with their town and city council members, hosting happy hours and loaning cake pans. We look forward to seeking out next week's treasures from those we follow on Facebook and to hearing from more of YOU! Tell us about the great work going on at your library at [email protected], or find us on Facebook.
- Many libraries around the country will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. Graves County Public Library in Kentucky will be Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with a performance by traditional Hispanic dancers, along with food, drinks and crafts. How is your library celebrating?
- From Shoalhaven Libraries in New South Wales, Australasia, we learned of the wonderful video created by the staff at the Nowra Library. Their city council asked the library to detail their achievements over the past 12 months, and so instead of a boring PowerPoint, the library adapted Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody to tell their library's story. A Sydney Morning Herald write-up explains, "In Librarian Rhapsody, the librarians sing revised lyrics, which includes lines like: "Is this non-fiction? Is this just fantasy? Work in the library...we escape from reality."
- Flower Mound Public Library in Texas shared wonderful photos of their Teen Advisory Group who joined their Director of Library Services in attending the Town Council Meeting last week. They were on hand when the Mayor Pro Tem proclaimed the month of September to be National Library Card Sign-Up Month. What a wonderful way to involve library teens in telling the library story and to build library advocates of all ages.
The Detroit Public Library in Michigan will be hosting the Library Lounge, "a special happy hour for library lovers (and lovers to be) who like to socialize and enjoy life! See what’s new at your Detroit Public Library and sign up for that library card you’ve been meaning to get since forever. Meet good people at cool gathering spots around Detroit. Treat yourself to drink and food specials with a round of starters on the house. No cover charge, but RSVP and let us know you're coming!"- The Public Library of Brookline in Massachusetts is hosting a launch party for their new circulating Cake Pan Collection. The Brookline Wicked Local news shared a wonderful story about the new collection and the concept of a "library of things." Patrons who borrow the pans are encouraged to take photos of their final cake creation so the library can share on social media.
- And as an extra bonus this week, we wanted to follow up on the news we shared a few weeks ago from Michigan Radio about their cross-state road trip. They've published a wonderful retrospective, The public library in an internet age, also available as a browsable map.
Thanks to all of this week's featured libraries for such outstanding service to your communities!