Online Programming: Engage and Interact with Community, Any Time, Anywhere

Abstract

Public programming is a core library service that brings children, teens, and adults into our buildings for lifelong learning, recreation, and entertainment.

Benefits of Online Programming:

● Reach patrons where they are

● Reduces scheduling conflicts

● Provides on-demand content

● Increase participation

● Improve accessibility

● Reaches wider audience - homeschoolers, homebound, etc

Drawbacks of Social Media:

● Takes patrons away from your website

● Full of distractions

● Privacy concerns (lots of data gathering)

● Content only flows in one direction

Matching Programs to a Platform:

● Think about what works well online

○ Storytime

○ Lectures

○ Crafts and DYI

○ Music, poetry, interviews

● Make your own videos, or,

● Link to external content (TED talks, Library of Congress videos)

Tips to Engage your Patrons:

● Offer downloadables (maps, handouts, workbooks, coloring pages)

● Use polls or reflection questions to engage and reinforce knowledge

● Allow patrons to send material back to you

○ Upload poems, art, etc.

● Make room for questions (Let patrons ask you things)