The document provides information about summer library programs for adults from several libraries. It discusses adult summer programs at the River Falls Public Library in Wisconsin, including their book club in a bar program and use of prizes and publicity. It also describes the Thomas St. Angelo Public Library's transition from an elaborate adult summer bingo program to smaller, mini reading challenges. Finally, it outlines the Lester Public Library's adult summer reading review card program, incentives, prizes, marketing strategies, and ideas for additional adult programming throughout the year on topics like local history and sustainable living skills.

1. Summer Library Programs
And Other Programs---For Adults!
Chris Hamburg (Two Rivers) Megan Olson (Cumberland) Heather Johnson (River Falls)

2. Summer Library Programs--And Other
Programs--For Adults!
● Inspiration and ideas for creating summer
library programs for adults
● Adult library programming ideas to use
throughout the year

3. Adult Summer Library Programs
WHY SHOULD THE KIDS HAVE ALL OF
THE FUN?

4. Why Should Libraries Have Adult
Summer Programs?
Adult Summer Library Programs Can:
● Offer adults the opportunity to have fun, explore new interests, and interact with one another.
● Offer a good role model for children enrolled in summer reading programs.
● Encourage adults to try new literary genres.
● Give the library opportunities to highlight books of interest to adults. Create positive publicity for the library.
● Attract new segments of the adult population to the library.
● Increase registration and circulation.
● Increase participation in library events and activities.
● Offer outreach opportunities to the community.
● Engage in collaboration opportunities with community organizations and businesses.
● Support the reading needs of the adult population and the whole community.
Information Source: 2015 Collaborative Summer Library Program Adult Manual (p.8)

5. Collaborative Summer Library Program
In response to library requests, the
Collaborative Summer Library Program
added the adult component in 2010.
Image Source: http://www.cslpreads.org/programs/archives/newer-archives/42-programs/adult-program/159-adult-programs15.
html

6. Adult Summer Library Program Ideas and Inspirations
★ Heather Johnson: Adult Services and Circulation
Librarian at the River Falls Public Library in River Falls,
WI
★ Megan Olson: Library Director at the Thomas St. Angelo
Public Library of Cumberland, WI
★ Chris Hamburg: Adult Services Librarian at the Lester
Public Library in Two Rivers, WI

7. River Falls Public Library
http://www.riverfallspubliclibrary.org/
Population: 15, 000+

8. River Falls Public Library
In 2003 and 2007
the River Falls Public
Library added an
adult component to
their Summer
Library Program

9. River Falls Public Library
2011
Adult Book Review with
weekly prize drawings for
Chamber Bucks
2012
Adult Book Review and
Local Landmarks Scavenger
Hunt

10. River Falls Public Library
2013
Book Club in a Bar
was added as a part of
the adult summer
reading program

11. River Falls Public Library
The Book Club in a Bar program has provided the library with the opportunity to:
● Engage in and create literary conversations with adults in the community
● Attract new patrons to the library from different demographics
● Collaborate and partner with local businesses
● Market and promote the library through word-of-mouth and other medias

12. River Falls Public Library
2014
● Adult Book Review
● Book Club in a Bar
● Weekly Activity
Sheets for “Mystery
Prizes”

13. River Falls Public Library
2015
● Book Review Program
● Activity Sheets for Mystery Prizes
● Book Club in a Bar
● Something New……..
SOMETHING NEW...
➢ Bigger and more appealing prize incentives
(Hotel packages, dining gift certificates, gift
baskets, etc.)
➢ Read and Run Book Discussion Group
➢ Adult Painting party
➢ Add a prize wheel for the Book Review
Program
➢ Book Review Bingo or Tic-Tac-Toe
➢ Movie Night
➢ Any of the new Program Suggestions in the
2015 Collaborative Summer Library
Program Adult Manual

14. River Falls Public Library
The “Villians”
(What Didn’t Work)
● Book-a-Month Club in 2003
● Adult Book Review is starting to drop off in
numbers
● Lack of advertising and publicity
The “Heroes”
(What Worked)
● Publicity, Publicity, Publicity!
● Book Club in a Bar
● Social Media
● Weekly Activity Sheets
● Mystery Prizes
● Pairing Adult Summer Reading Programs
with already existing library programs
● Local Landmarks Scavenger Hunt

16. Thomas St. Angelo Public Library
of Cumberland
Population: 2,170
Service Population: 5,978
Director since: June 2013

17. Thomas St. Angelo
During an internship at Matheson Memorial Library I experienced my first
Adult summer program with Angela Meyers :-) The program was AWESOME
I decided to take what I learned to Cumberland during my first full summer.
Prior to me, there was no adult summer reading programs.
This is what happened….

18. Summer 2014 - Library Bingo!
To participate patrons filled out a registration card with a few basics. After they
registered they were given a ticket for a free book and a bingo sheet
The bingo sheets were double sided. The front was the bingo square, the back
had an area for reviews and a super short survey on the program.

20. Each completed Bingo card was entered for prizes
Patrons could chose from 3 bingo sheets and could complete as many as they
wanted.
At the end of each month we drew two prize winners
Our patrons were really excited and interested in the program - we had over 60
people sign up. Awesome, right? well...
- Library Bingo!Summer 2014

21. What went wrong!
Out of the 60 patrons that we had sign up - we didn’t even get 15 bingo sheets
back and the ones we did get back were from 4 different patrons.
I learned - I went too big, too soon.
Patrons loved the idea of an adult summer reading program.
But making our first summer such an elaborate program didn’t work
Start small!
*I will totally do bingo again, I will just make a 4x4 or even 3x3 bingo square

22. Summer 2015 - Mini Challenges!
Taking what we learned last year - we are going smaller in 2015 with mini
challenges.
Same concept as library bingo - each challenge will encourage patrons to learn
more about library services and to push them out of their reading comfort zone
- our theme is Escape the Ordinary, after all!
I am complete comic nerd so this summers theme has me very excited!

23. We are constructing six mini challenges. All challenges will be available at once
so patrons can work at their own pace.
Each mini challenge will be printed similar to a Post Card. One portion will be
used for the contact information and the other portion will have the challenge.
Each Challenge portion of the ticket will be put on a bulletin board so other
patrons can see what books people have liked and - hopefully - gather
inspiration!
There will be one or two grand prizes at the end of the summer.
If a person completes all the challenges they will have 6 chances to win.
Summer 2015 - Mini Challenges!

24. Mini Challenge - Post Cards
Prototype - still working out my ideas

25. Funding.
Our community is small - so we suffer from a lot of donor fatigue.
2014: I didn’t ask for any donations and our Friend’s group gave us $150.00 for
prizes, which we turned into six $25.00 Chamber certificates. I also used
duplicates that I accidently ordered and a few tote bags from the summer
reading catalog. I was hoping the program would cause such buzz businesses
would take notice for the next year.
2015: I again will not be asking for donations but instead will be asking the
Friends for some money to buy items. I am going to go to businesses and local
artisans and ask for a discount or donation in return for my purchase. I am
hoping this will create goodwill and allow me to plug the program some more.

26. Marketing
Marketing is one of my favorite things to do, so the majority of work is done in
house.
I do have a print shop in the community that I use to print my items and she
works with us to try and get us the best price.
I have a bi-weekly news article and a weekly radio spot that I use to promote
programming (both are free). I also send press releases out to area newspapers
and websites.
We do the traditional methods of blasting it out on social media and putting
flyers up around town as well.

27. Our website is currently under construction!

28. Lester Public Library
Read. Discover. Connect. Enrich. www.lesterlibrary.org
City Population: 11,600
Service Population: 16,900
Adult Programming Budget: $500

29. Lester Public Library
Adult Summer Reading
Review Cards
● My first real attempt at programming for adults
● Since 2002, 10 Weeks Long
● Rating system & 2-3 sentence reviews
● Cut off bottom for raffle entry

30. So How Does it Work?
Patrons sign up at the Help Desk
When they turn in their first review they get the
participation prize
Every review turned in earns raffle entry
Drawings every Friday for $10 chamber buck gift
certificates, book bags, “get out of fines free” cards, free
book from on-going book sale
Grand Prize Drawing at the end of the summer—usually
$100 chamber bucks and $50 chamber buck prizes
Reviews are anonymous once raffle part is cut off, cards
are used in EXTREMELY popular displays

31. Incentives & Prizes
Where do we get them?
www.4imprint.com
www.janway.com
What do they cost?
Bulk of entire yearly programming budget
● $200-$400 for sign up prizes
● $250 for weekly and grand prize
4imprint offers One-by-One grants
● Favor local requestors
● Ideal for starting a program
● Can be requested more than once
Where do I get the money?
$500 adult programming budget
Library Foundation

32. What Prizes?

33. Marketing
● Mentioned in ALL Youth Materials
● Circ Staff Actively Promotes
● Decorate Entire Library
● Newspaper/Radio
● Website & Social Media
● Review Displays
● Future Plans? Online Reviews

34. Does it work?

35. The Bad & The Ugly
● Prize for the most books read
● Review display can be
challenging to keep filled
● Finding the right incentives at
the right price
● How many incentives do you
even buy?

36. What’s Next?
Winter Reading Challenge
2 months, five books + 2 sentence reviews
= adorable polar bear mug
Want more of a challenge?
Pick books that meet certain criteria, read ‘em, review ‘em.
Win the bear mug AND an entry into the $50 chamber buck
raffle
Remember, the average person only reads 6 books a year so
this is definitely a challenge!

37. BEYOND Summer Reading
● More of a challenge than reading programs
● Need to grow awareness in the community of the library
as a source of adult programming
● Marketing is a much bigger factor in determining success

38. Why adults attend programs
● Appeals to intellectual curiosity “life-long learners”
● Learn something new
● Passionate about the topic
● Meet new, like-minded people
● Spend time with friends
● Recreation/Entertainment
Thinking about who will be attending your program
and why is critical for choosing the right time and
marketing tools.

39. Scholar for Life
● Connected with the Dean of local UW campus
● Dean wanted faculty to be more visible in
community
● We wanted presenters for lectures
The Result?
A highly successful partnership that features
professors sharing their ongoing research or
favorite lectures with the general public.
● 2 fall and 2 spring lectures every year
● Cost: Free

40. Local History Alive
● Local “experts” sharing their knowledge
of a particular aspect of local history
● Speakers include amateur historians,
curators, doctoral candidates, history
professors, “people with a passion”
The Result?
A successful program covering a wide
range of topics from architecture &
shipwrecks to politics and people.
● 4-6 lectures per year
● Cost: Free

41. Sustainable Saturdays
● Teaching homemaking skills that we no longer learn
from our parents or grandparents.
● Asked the UW-Extension for names of people who
could teach gardening, canning, cheese making,
chicken keeping, spinning, etc.
● Library staff were an excellent source for contacts
and instructors.
The Result?
A successful program covering a wide range of topics that
brought some new users to the library.
● 1 Saturday a month
● Cost: $25 gift certificates as thank you

42. Multigenerational

43. Program Marketing
● Series marketing as well as individual programs
● “Branded Marketing” so all bookmarks and
posters for the series look similar
● Newspaper articles - still reach a huge segment
of my community
● Facebook, Facebook, Facebook!

44. Defining Success
What is a good turnout?
● Different expectations for different programs
● Not just about statistics
● Increase awareness of the library
● Requests for similar programs
● Volunteers
● Donations

45. Chris Hamburg
Adult Services Coordinator
Lester Public Library
chamburg@lesterlibrary.org (920)793-7113