THINKING OUTSIDE THE 9-5:DESIGNING AN EVENT FOR EDUCATORSErin Zambataro, Senior Librarian—Children’s & Teen ServicesCaitie Morphew, Children’s Librarian

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Allegheny412-237-1890

WHY WE NEEDED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE 9-5 High teacher turn-over Large service area Different types of educators

Break through the email-brain-drain Stand out from the every day Engage on an individual level Foster sharing and listening Create buzz!

Image courtesy of [stockimages] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

EVENT PLANNING:FIRST STEPS Develop goals Design the event Write and present a justification

Justifying the event vs goals Communicate with administration and seek support Anticipate and plan for barriers

Develop a timeline and budget Secure funding

THE EVENT BLUEPRINT Goals

Create a two-way dialog Create connections Increase visibility in the community Showcase resources and services Schedule outreach/programs Sign educators up for Library cards Impart our relevancy in the 21st

century

THE EVENT BLUEPRINT What would success look like?

Primary goal: target PPS Attendance of at least 15 Positive connections Attendees learn something about the

Library

“A private, invitation-only showcase of your neighborhood Library’s resources and programs”

“You and a guest” Staffing Stations Food Wine Raffle and gift bags

THE EVENT BLUEPRINT

PROMOTION Creating a guest list:

formal and informal educators School rosters How many invitations?

Formal invitations Follow-up

Postcards Word of mouth Email campaign Confirmation email

LOGISTICS Budget

Invitations, graphics, reprints, station signage

Food, Wine Giveaways

Staffing After-hours security Individual objectives for each guest

Enjoyable experience vs targeted outreach, etc

21 RSVPs 16 educators and 9 guests

= 25 attendees

THE EVENT

4 teacher cards 1 personal library card Added outreach visits

to a previously unresponsive school to a special needs classroom

Added weekly library visits/programs from a 7th and 8th grade weekly summer camp an afterschool group

Connected a teacher to materials/resources Gave catalog instruction Tour to new teachers Added a series of art programs with a community partner

EVALUATION: OUTCOMES

Survey Monkey Follow up

What was the most informative part of the evening? “Information about the teen programs--the concept of the library as more

of a social center for teens.” “Learning about the various different educational programs available for

both teens and children.”

“I thought the event was wonderful and very informative.”-Ashley Dandridge, Gwen’s Girls

“You and your colleagues hosted an event that presented the Library and yourselves in such a positive way; Bart and I enjoyed ourselves a lot. Thank you.”

-Meda Rago, FACES: A Children’s Art Collaborative (via email)

EVALUATION: POST-EVENT SURVEY

Food layout is important! Send a save-the-date earlier Don’t discount the lure of SWAG Tie an incentive into the post-

evaluation survey

EVALUATION: CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR

Erin Zambataro, Senior Librarian--Children’s and Teen Services zambataroe@carnegielibrary.org

Caitie, Children’s Librarian morphewc@carnegielibrary.org

THANK YOU!