Janie L. Hermann, Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJJanie L. Hermann, Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ

Implementing Implementing

High Impact High Impact Programs Programs

on aon aShoestringShoestring

BudgetBudget

NLA 2008 NLA 2008 Bridging the Gap Bridging the Gap Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV

What is a Shoestring?What is a Shoestring?Depends on a variety of factors such as overall size of operating budget, programming budget and total population served

One library’s shoestring is another’s pot of gold

Free (except for staff time) is the ideal shoestring budget program

My Rule of Thumb:My Rule of Thumb:Under $200 for small libraries

Under $400 for medium libraries

Under $750 for large libraries

Defining ImpactDefining ImpactHard to define, but it is not just the actual attendance for one event or a series of programs.

Impact:

• resonates with the community

• reaches new users

• results in positive feedback

• raises visibility and awareness

• rejuvenates interest

The capacity to create a The capacity to create a powerful effect.powerful effect.

-- Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus

Programming at Princeton Programming at Princeton Public LibraryPublic Library

Single-branch municipal library in heart of downtown

State-of-the-art 58,000 square foot building opened in April 2004

Staff: 54 FTE Population: 31,000

Cross-departmental programming team comprised of 15 staff members

Programming provided for all ages from infants to seniors

“Traditional” in-house programs as well as community outreach and virtual programs

Number of Programs in 2007Number of Programs in 2007

1,7181,718

Program AttendanceProgram Attendance

42,83042,830

ExpandExpand

How do you define programmingHow do you define programming ? ?

Rome wasn’t built in a day …

Programming for adults takes time to grow – there will be failures as well as success along the way. Be patient. If you build it they will come (eventually).

High Tech, Low CostHigh Tech, Low CostExtend your programming reach

with technology:

Interactive blogs and wikis

Podcasting

Technology Talks

Video and Photo Contests

Gaming Nights

Student Film Festival

Customized Social Network

Virtual Poetry ProgramVirtual Poetry Program•Recorded and published a poet per day for National Poetry Month in 2007•Our own community and visitors from across the globe listened and commented•Attendance at the library’s monthly poetry readings went up significantly as a result•Local poets received great PR and requested we do it again in 2008

Podcasting for Free (or close to it)Podcasting for Free (or close to it)

The Princeton Method:•Purchase USB Microphone ($32.95)

•Record and edit using Audacity (free)

•Host files at the Internet Archive (free)

•Post podcasts on a WordPress blog (free)

•Staff Time (varies greatly)

The Proof is in the Numbers

Poetry Podcast 2007:12,615 visits as of August 14 4,994 visits in April 2007 32 visitors per day on average since the blog went live in April 200731 posts total with 59 comments

Poetry Podcast 2008: 5,320 visits as of August 14 359 visits on April 28 2008 (best day ever)

125 visitors per day on average during National Poetry Month 200835 posts total with 95 comments

For more details on the PPL Poetry Podcast Blog visit:http://slideshare.net/janieh

Create an Interactive Adult Summer Reading Club for Free!Create an Interactive Adult Summer Reading Club for Free!

Princeton Public Library used a wiki to capture reviews in 2006 (we now use the review feature in our online catalog).

Many libraries have set up book review blogs and post reviews from members throughout the summer

Steal this next idea – a video contest on YouTube!

Video Review ContestVideo Review Contest

YouTube Channel: Free

Prizes – donations may be possible, if not the cost is relatively low:

Flip Video Camera $150MP3 Players $50-$75

Benefits:Benefits:

Great PR Tool

Interactive

Encourages Creativity

Promotes new Technology

Fun!

Student Film and Video FestivalsStudent Film and Video Festivals

•Designed for high school and college students up to age 24 •Guidelines and call for entries posted via library web site and press release•Students submit completed films•Committee of volunteers screen and selects film•Films are viewed, often with filmmakers present, over several nights•Cost can vary from close to free to $500 or more depending on amount of PR and if prizes or t-shirts are given to participants•Susan Conlon won the VOYA MVP award for creating this program

For detailed Information See: http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/teens/media/

Photo ContestsPhoto Contests

Not Just for Kids

Examples:•reading favorite book•PPL’s “Red Bag” photo •Where is Thommy Ford?

Create a set on flickr.com for free or post directly to your web site

Digital cameras can be purchased for around $100 to use for contests

Create community,

online conversations,

virtual programs and

promote library events

and news by leveraging

the power of Ning.com

to create a customized

FREE social networking

site for your library.

Become the Community’s Become the Community’s Living Room Living Room

Ongoing monthly programs build connections and create meaning

Impact is not just high attendance – it is about creating something meaningful for those who attend

Be open to all possibilities and build programs that can be self-sustained with the use of volunteers

Examples at PPL:Examples at PPL:Scrapbooking CircleSocrates CaféESL Conversation GroupsBook JourneysSCORE

Partnerships are KeyPartnerships are KeyWho can you work with to provide free, high quality programming?

Almost Anyone!Almost Anyone!Theatres and Art Museums

Colleges, universities and schools

Poetry and writing groups

Local clubs and community organizations

Business and networking groups

Computer Clubs

Annual ProgramsAnnual Programs• Adult Summer Reading

Club• Sounds of the Garden

State Music Series• Princeton Reads• Princeton Environmental

Film Festival • PPL Poet Podcast

OutreachOutreach• Citizenship Classes• Ask a Lawyer• Gente y Cuentos (People

and Stories)• Senior Care Options• Engaged Retirement• SCORE Counseling• Literacy and ESL tutoring

Continuing SeriesContinuing Series• Comments from Campus• McCarter Live at the Library• World Cineclub• Art Talk

– cosponsored with the Princeton Arts Council

• Thinking Allowed (Princeton University Press)

• SCORE Seminars for Small Business

• Princeton Rep PlayLab• Voices Multilingual Poetry Night• National Issues Forum• Based on the Book Film Series• Princeton Festival Previews

Monthly ProgramsMonthly Programs• Writers Talking• US 1 Poet Invite• Readings Over Coffee

(45th Anniversary Season)• Book Discussion Groups

– Fiction, Mystery, Talking Politics, Spanish, Book Journeys

• Socrates Café• Read, Write and Share• Scrapbook Circle • Creative Non-Fiction Writing

Group• Tuesday Technology Talks and

Databytes• Computer Classes (almost daily)

Ideas AboundIdeas Abound

From West Deptford PL in NJ:•Faux Finishing with Lowes•Digital TV tech tips with Radio Shack•Country Line Dancing NightsFor more ideas see: http://www.youtube.com/user/cmw48

From Marylaine Block:•Garage Band night•Memoir-writing workshops•Read to your grandchildren Story Times•Family Game NightFor more ideas see:http://marylaine.com/cheap.html

Election Election Night at Night at the Librarythe Library

Rubik’s Cube Rubik’s Cube CompetitionCompetition

Watch the World Cup Watch the World Cup on the Big Screenon the Big Screen

Synchronized ScreeningSynchronized Screening

Wizard of Oz and Dark Side of the MoonWizard of Oz and Dark Side of the Moon

Picture CreditsSlide 1: www.flickr.com/photos/26506346@N00/115270818

Slide 2: www.flickr.com/photos/54289096@N00/7638076

Slide 4: www.flickr.com/photos/akearns72/193415074/

Slide 5: www.flickr.com/photos/85289736@N00/2679609226

Slide 6: www.flickr.com/photos/49503180180@N01/2294005931

Slide 7: www.flickr.com/photos/36642717@N00/313308360

Slide 9: www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/72778694

Slide 16: www.flickr.com/photos/16887514@N00/1064207574

Slide 17: www.flickr.com/photos/96466040@N00/2169860900

Slide 20: www.flickr.com/photos/28801512@N00/456715938

Slide 21: www.flickr.com/photos/38633611@N00/232642382

www.flickr.com/photos/14897761@N07/2655184747

www.flickr.com/photos/98894117@N00/237529176