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Social Library, Volume 131

Jennifer Peterson /

Image courtesy Baltimore County Public Library on Facebook

We’ve been collecting examples to include in our Social Library series for over four years, and we’re still finding fresh ideas and inspiring engagement from libraries we follow on Facebook. In this week’s edition, we’re highlighting a prom closet, a lost and found, “then and now” photos, an Oreo tasting, and a very viral typo. If you'd like to see your library featured in an upcoming edition, please let us know via [email protected] or find us on Facebook.

  • Baltimore County Public Library in Maryland hosted their first annual Prom Closet: Prom Clothing Giveaway for Teens! "Need an outfit for prom? High school students are invited to attend a prom clothing giveaway featuring new and gently used gowns, formal shirts and pants, shoes and jewelry. Each attendee has the opportunity to choose an outfit free of charge." The wonderful Facebook photo album shows the large crowd who gathered at the Owings Mills Branch Library for the 3-hour event, complete with portable dressing rooms (Pop Up Pods), and staff and volunteers to help deck teens out, from head to toe, for their special night.
  • Cannon Falls Library in Minnesota recently invited folks to share their favorite children's books, and they announced Spring Roaming Readers, an all ages walk with a librarian every Wednesday during April and May. Participants are invited to meet at the library and walk for 30-45 minutes with a librarian and "talk to fellow walkers about your latest read or anything you like." They also announced an Adult Spelling Bee, hosted at a local brewery, and we loved that they used Facebook to share photos of items from their Lost & Found. Thanks for reaching out to share your efforts, Cannon Falls!
  • Lancaster Public Library in Pennsylvania hosted Operation Oreo, an Oreo tasting event for all ages. "Back in the day, there was only one kind of OREO, but now there are 100 different flavors! If only there was an easy way to try them all. That’s where Operation OREO comes in!" The local LancasterOnline covered the event with photos and a video, and explain that participants "sampled 12 different flavors of Oreo cookies, from original to golden, pistachio to chocolate peanut butter pie and salted caramel to carrot cake." In addition to the taste testing, Oreo facts and history were shared, along with the nutrition content of each of the flavors. Spoiler alert: Lemon Creme came out on top. A photo shared by the library.
  • Pflugerville Library in Texas grabbed the social media limelight after their Teen Anti Prom was listed in the local paper with a typo. The print edition of the Community Impact Newspaper included in the announcement, "The theme of the night is "Fairy Tales," and there will be a DJ, snakes and a photo booth." The library made the most of the typo, first with an update announcing there will be snacks, not snakes (which was shared and liked thousands of times), and then with a post about updates to the Teen Book Display. Various media outlets picked it up, including BuzzFeed, who referenced a tweet about the typo that generated nearly 12,000 retweets and 47,000 likes! The newspaper issued an apology along with a donation of snake snacks for the Anti Prom. Be sure to check out some of the photos from the special night, and because we love this idea so much, here's the full description of the event: "Anti Prom is a safe space for you to dance (or not) the night away, no matter your sexuality, gender identity, beliefs, or any other reason. The theme is Fairy Tales, so feel free to wear a crown. Everyone’s prom king and queen here. Semi-formal/Formal is recommended, but not required. There will be a DJ, free snacks, and a mini Instax photo booth. This event is free and open to high school students up to age 18 only. If your parents insist on attending, they will be banished to the library lobby. No younger/older siblings or friends."

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