The Social Library, Volume 34
Volume 34 of our Social Library series showcases libraries appearing in parades, newspapers and on YouTube, and others who are supporting budding novelists and easing the stress of costume hunting. These examples barely scratch the surface of what we're seeing from libraries each week on Facebook, but they do provide a small taste of the creative, critical, and changing ways in which libraries meet the needs of their communities. We look forward to seeking out next week's treasures from those we follow on Facebook. And if you'd like to see your library highlighted in the Social Library series, please let us know via [email protected], or find us on Facebook.
- Iowa City Public Library was well represented at the University of Iowa's Homecoming 2015 parade, complete with a book cart drill team, a kazoo band, and their very own superhero, Book Man. Staff and carts in the parade were promoting (with wonderful t-shirts and signs) Music is the Word, a 9-month celebration of music welcoming the University of Iowa School of Music to Downtown Iowa City. Running through May of 2016, "the focus of Music is the Word will be all things musical and will include performance events for all ages and tastes, as well as non-performance, music related programs, displays and exhibits."
Pima County Public Library shared an interview written by the staff co-chairing the library's LGBT Services Committee. Published last year in the Arizona Daily Star, Your library: Pima County's LGBT services, resources set a national trend, shares the history of the committee (which was started in 1997), and highlights the ways in which the library has supported LGBT programming and services, "providing opportunities for families of all kinds to learn and read together."
- Pinson Public Library in Alabama is preparing for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which begins on November 1, when participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel in a month. The library will be hosting a NaNoWriMo Writing Help session where patrons can ask questions and bounce ideas off a local writing teacher.
The State Library of Kansas shared a wonderful new video, Kansas Libraries: You Belong Here. The 1:44 minute video was created in September by Josiah Engstrom, is narrated by Martinez Hillard and "tells about a lifetime of belonging in your library."
- La Ronge Public Library in Saskatchewan is hosting a Happy Halloween Costume Exchange on the two Saturdays before Halloween. Community members are invited to come and exchange old costumes for new. From someone who's experienced far too many last-minute costume scrambles, the exchange approach is brilliant!
Thanks to all of this week's featured libraries for such outstanding service to your communities!