SJRLCProgramming on a shoestring

budget

Carol NersingerEast Brunswick Public Library

Suburban, professional Population 47,000 Excellent school district Increased community diversity Town is built out No Main St. or center

Well supported and funded Well used & good reputation Building 30 years old & run down Considered community center Didn’t start adult programming until January

2006!!

It’s about the experience It’s about the emotional memories

◦ People do not remember actual facts◦ They remember emotionally and they connect

that emotion to organization/event

I swear I returned my book! I still owe money to the library from 1969! I got yelled at by the librarian when I was a

kid. Heidi’s story

Fun Exciting I feel like I belong here Changed my life I met my wife/husband at the library Celebration (escape bad times)

Does your Mayor (or other funding officials) come to your events?

When your Mayor has to choice which event to attend, is the choice obviously the library?

Why or what is the purpose of your programming◦ Crisis◦ New building◦ Declining traffic

Otherwise, there are so many excuses:

◦ It might snow◦ It’s the holiday season◦ People will be on vacation◦ Our customers are “different”◦ Our customers go to NYC or Philly for programs◦ It’s the Rec departments job◦ We tried it and it doesn’t work

Start with the easy stuff Events vs. programs How tough is your crowd? Have a built in audience Develop a reputation Have staff do programming – meditation Copy, copy, copy

Timing – you need to experiment Content/subject – may be tied into timing Involve other groups/associations Involve all staff To register or not to register, that is the

question Chairs

You can do it little money & staff◦ Start slow◦ Or◦ Big impact events

EBPL does not do it on a shoe string◦ Big impact events & many programs at the same

time◦ We have sponsors, staff & Friends◦ I don’t actually do the work

Music – but not as successful for children◦ Outdoor summer concerts

Comedian How to do it Programs with partners Films – foreign & fine (Middlesex & Union)

◦ 12 foreign films per year Events

First event was Friday night from 5 to 7 pm during February

Wasn’t in newsletter Sponsor Sort of “grand re-opening” Food Multiple activities/entertainment 1000 people attended

Harry Potter night Library birthday party week Healthy Halloween India Week Israeli month Spring Health Fair Ice cream Social

Storytelling festival Puppetry festival

Keep it short Get sponsors and/or discounts Volunteers – use teens! Go with the flow Plan B if it’s outside Lot of work but cheaper per person than

paid programs

Try to plan ahead Sell tickets for food Repeat successful programs, but be careful

you don’t do the same thing for 20 years Use holidays/school closings to your

advantage Consider doing events outside library hours

Repeat events - predictability Calendar for the year If you do a good job, it will happen faster

than you think People will look for things to attend You need to become a machine if you want

to do a lot of programs

Newsletter – mailed to every household Cable TV

◦ Library program◦ PSAs◦ Bulletin board◦ This Week in East Brunswick

Website Emails Facebook Press releases Handouts/posters Paid ads Word of mouth

Have fun!