Patron-Driven Programming: Creating a Culture of Participatory Learning in Libraries Part 1 (October 2019)

1. Patron-Driven Programming
Creating a Culture of Participatory Learning in Libraries

2. Welcome + Introductions
Alicia Hammond
● Community Engagement Manager
at Forest Park (IL) Public Library
Amy Holcomb
● Experiential Learning Supervisor
at Skokie (IL) Public Library

3. Expectations for this workshop
● There will be participation
● There will be homework
● There will be time for questions

4. Agenda - Session 1
● Introductions
● Defining participatory learning
● Designing participation in programs
● Examples of participatory programming and experiences
● Activity/activities for next week
● Questions

5. Defining Participatory Learning

6. What is
participatory
learning?
(institutions)

7. “A place where visitors can create, share, and connect
with each other around content....The goal of
participatory techniques is both to meet visitors’
expectations for active engagement and to do so in a
way that furthers the mission and core values of the
institution.”
Nina Simon defines a participatory cultural
institution as:

8. What is
participatory
learning?
(cultures)

9. Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for
the 21st Century by Henry Jenkins, Ravi Purushotma, Katie Clinton,
Margaret Weigel and Alice Robison
A Participatory Culture:
1. Has relatively low barriers to artistic expression and civic engagement
2. Has strong support for creating and sharing one's creations with others
3. Has some type of informal mentorship whereby what is known by the most
experienced is passed along to novices
4. Is where members believe that their contributions matter
5. Is where members feel some degree of social connection with one another (at
the least they care what other people think about what they have created).

10. Our Definitions of Participatory Learning
● Alicia: Participatory experiences are a interactive way to get in touch with our
communities in unexpected ways. By providing open yet structured opportunities
to create and share, libraries are offering unique ways to connect with our
communities as well as create connections between community members.
● Amy: Participatory learning is a self-directed learning experience that is physically
active or involves active discussion with other participants. There is sharing
involved -- of knowledge, of supplies, of experience.

11. You’re probably
including participatory
elements in your library
programming. You just
didn’t call it that.

12. Designing Participation in Programs

13. Deconstructing a traditional program
1. Use an outline of your program that includes specific elements or parts.
a. For example, book clubs have discussion questions and can be more passive in participation, with
some people talking a lot and others not talking at all.
2. Select one element and brainstorm ways to make it more participatory.
a. Think about ways to encourage more equitable discussion participation.
b. Think about ways to encourage participation beyond discussion.
3. Provide options and expectations.
a. Provide a more hands-on option like book art projects.
b. More physical participation may enable more discussion based participation.

14. Tips to Creating Participatory
Experiences

15. Make the activity visible to as many people
as possible.
#1

16. Use scaffolding to create interest.
#2

17. What is scaffolding?
● Scaffolding is a useful tool to make programs or program elements more
accessible and/or more developmentally appropriate for different ages
and abilities.
● One activity can then serve a variety of audiences.

18. The Basics Example
● Start with
○ Clearly marked 6x6 blocks
○ Color guides
○ Pre-posted notes
● Level up to
○ Free form posting
Post-It Note art at the Fiskfélagið (The Fish Company) in Reykjavik, Iceland.

19. Programming Example
● Start with
○ Follow along guides and design examples
○ Kit-based learning
● Level up to
○ Freestyle designs

20. Remember onlookers when assessing impact.
#3

21. Start conversations with participants and
onlookers.
#4

22. Share on social media.
#5

23. Successful participatory projects
From The Participatory Museum by Nina Simon
● More than just fun
● Provide personal fulfillment when participation is completed
● Provide clear guidelines, roles, and information on how to participate
● Include tools to be successful
● Must align with the mission of the institution

24. Adding Participatory Culture

25. Group Art

26. Teen Advisory Board

27. Technology Class

28. Book Club for Creatives

29. Time to
Participate

30. Long List Activity
● Use this modified version of IDEO’s style of brainstorming to deconstruct the most
baseline library programs we do
● Programs include book club, storytime, craft program, teen advisory board,
lectures, or technology classes
● Choose one program type for this activity
● Come up with a list of 50 ways to make your selected program more participatory

31. Long List Activity - Ground Rules
● 5 minutes to complete this activity
● Defer judgement
● Embrace wild ideas
● Stay focused on the topic
● Go for quantity
○ The early ideas are the easiest and less creative
○ Real creativity comes after the easy ideas are said

32. Share Out How did it feel?
Share one idea that stands out.

33. Examples of Participatory
Programming and Experiences

34. The Basics

35. Post It Notes

36. Puzzles

37. YS Projects (Forest Park Public Library)

38. Sticker Mosaic

39. Poll: Have you
featured a similar
activity at your
library?

40. Displays & Exhibits

41. Black History Month

42. Catalog the Community (Forest Park Public
Library)

43. ImagineIF Libraries (Flathead County,
Montana)

44. Planetarium at Morton Grove Public Library (IL)

45. Newberry Library (Chicago, IL)

46. Programming

47. Knit and Crochet Events

48. BOOMbox

49. How-To Fest

50. Open Sew

51. Music and Dance Programs

52. Nature Play

53. DNA + Data Workshop

54. Stargazer Night

55. Community Walking Tours

56. Civic Lab

57. Video Game Tournaments

58. The 100 Artists Project (Forest Park Public
Library)

59. For the One Who Finds Me (Madison, WI)

60. Another spin on Book Club

61. Schools & Universities

62. Banned Books Week Survey

63. Petting Zoo During Finals Week

64. Crafternoon at McCracken Junior High

65. Museums

66. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (CA)

67. Museum of Science and Industry

68. Art Institute of Chicago

69. Embedded Experience

70. Subway Therapy (NYC)

71. Candy Chang (Worldwide)

72. We All Live Here (Chicago, IL)

73. Public/Street Art

74. Wndr Museum

75. Big Art Fun (Participatory “Museum” Concepts)

76. Poll: Did you find
inspiration or
affirmation with
these examples?

77. Activities for next week
● Finish long list if you didn’t already
● Write your own definition of participatory learning
○ Complete this form with your own definition
○ Please indicate if you want yours excluded from sharing
○ Definitions with consent to share will be shared in Google Docs
● Bring a participatory idea to talk about for next week (optional)
○ We’ll workshop it at the end of session 2

78. Questions

79. Thank you!
And see you next week.