The WVLS Adult Services Summit was held on Thursday, November 1. The event was well-attended by librarians throughout WVLS who work in adult services. Below are some of the resources and ideas that evolved from the day.

Program Ideas

  • Music in the Stacks (Merrill), after hours, local bands
  • Easter Book Basket (Neillsville), donated books, toys from summer are gathered in baskets purchased at Goodwill/St. Vincent De Paul and library users make a donation and take for their families
  • Murder Mystery
  • Escape Rooms
  • WI Science Festival Speaker, selected and paid for by WI Science Festival
  • Step class (Dorchester), taught by board member!
  • Designated Tech Time (MCPL)
  • Wine Glass Painting and Sipping (Neillsville)
  • Henna (Neillsville, Greenwood)
  • FRIEND Speed Dating (MCPL)
  • Series of Programs: writing, music, crafts (MCPL)
  • Foraging for Edibles (MCPL)
  • Therapy Dogs
  • Leaf Flowers (Neillsville)
  • Martial Arts Demonstrations and Safety (Neillsville)
  • After Hours Apps (Neillsville), check out new materials right there while enjoying appetizers from local businesses after library hours
  • Mark Moran, antique appraisals (MCPL)
  • Poetry Open Mic (MCPL)
  • WVLS Makerspace Kits (Neillsville MUGS!, MCPL)
  • Costume Exchange (Neillsville)
  • Penny Wars to purchase specific items (Antigo)… or maybe for donating to a cause?
  • 6 Word Stories (MCPL)
  • NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month (MCPL)
  • Monthly Knitting (MCPL)
  • Anime Club (MCPL, Antigo)
  • Cansgiving (Colby), groups sign up to make sculptures out of canned goods for donation to local food pantries for Thanksgiving
  • Wausau Paranormal Research Group
  • Test Paranormal Equipment in library after hours!
  • Chad Lewis, local paranormal author & speaker
  • Astronomy for Everyone (Neillsville)
  • Fairy Houses (MCPL)
  • Succulent book planters (Neillsville, Abbotsford, Three Lakes, MCPL)
Adult Services Summit

Summit Participants

  • Don’t be afraid to ask “Do you know anyone who is an expert in _____?”
  • Don’t be afraid to cold call or email groups or businesses: “Are you able to send anyone to speak at our library? Can you recommend a speaker?”

Partner Ideas

  • Contact professional sport teams in Wisconsin for donations: Packers, Brewers, Woodchucks, etc.
  • Humane Society, meet and greet with animals and promotion of Humane Society
  • PBS point of view (POV) documentary series, libraries show for free!
  • NetFlix, also free documentary series
  • UW-Extension, contact your closest office to ask about speakers on topics
  • UW Speakers Bureau, experts on all kinds of topics, 2 speakers for free!
  • Historical Society
  • CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) groups or Homesteader’s groups to teach sewing, butter making, other skills
  • Wisconsin Humanities Council
  • Martial Artists
  • Staff or family talents! Library staff family members!
  • Restaurants
  • Red Cross
  • Local nurseries/greenhouses
  • Master Gardeners
  • Food pantries
  1. Who is missing from the partner list? Make a partner inventory for your library. List who on the library team has a connection to each group.
  2. What types of programs are missing from the program idea list? Any literacy areas that programs should be provided for?

Handouts

  1. #Libsocial for 20-30 somethings : Subscribe to the newsletter
    1. This is a newsletter sent out by the Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, Ill. Look at all those free program ideas to steal or adapt for your community.
  2. Adulting 101 by Anne Ford, American Libraries Magazine, May 1, 2018.
  3. Wisconsin Health Literacy, information for free library program with a $200 stipend supported by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

-Submitted by Anne Hamland