Social Library, Volume 95
Jennifer Peterson
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09 November 2017
In this edition of our Social Library series we’re highlighting a pumpkin decorating contest (no carving allowed!), a library ambassador’s take on the new Austin Public Library, a makeup workshop, a 150 celebration, and a microcollege in the Brooklyn Public Library. The scope and range of library innovation never runs out! If you'd like to see your library featured in a Social Library edition, please let us know via [email protected] or find us on Facebook.
- Knox County Public Library in Tennessee caught our eye with their Plotting Pumpkins contest. This annual effort invites patrons to create a book-inspired pumpkin representing a favorite hero or villain, a thrilling scene, or storybook character. Pumpkins are displayed during the weeks before Halloween and voted on by the public. The winner from each category (Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Adult) received a $15 Barnes & Noble gift card! Pictured above is the winner of the middle school category, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, but be sure to take a look at all the creative winners.
- Austin Public Library in Texas has been in the news for their grand opening celebrations, but we wanted to highlight the post they shared from one of their ambassadors, Trina, recapping the library's grand opening. Ambassadors were invited to a sneak preview of the new library and many more have been sharing posts with the #APLambassador hashtag. (You can learn more about APL's Social Media Ambassadors program during our December 19 webinar.) We also enjoyed the wonderful photos shared about the new library in local Left/Right blog.
- Henrietta Public Library in New York hosted a Makeup 101 workshop last week. This might be the first time we've seen such a workshop offered at a library, and what a fun idea. "Learn each step of makeup application from start to finish! Discover different types of makeup brushes and figure out the best products for your skin type. Eva will provide application tips and tricks to give you the skill set to best apply your own makeup at home. Makeup applications will be demonstrated on a model."
- Portland Public Library in Maine is celebrating their #PPL150 anniversary this year and part of the celebration on social media includes a collection of crowdsourced stories about the unique library experiences of PPL patrons, staff, and community members. Check out the latest of the 'My Card, My Story' Monday posts.
- Brooklyn Public Library in New York shared the Wall Street Journal article about the new Bard At Brooklyn Public Library. "The "microcollege" will be free for students, and aims to attract talented low-income applicants who haven’t sought degrees due to the pricetag or personal hardships." The Microcollege will open in January with 16 students, but organizers plan to eventually grow the full-scholarship Bard College degree program at Brooklyn Public Library to about 64 students.