This presentation (created in May of 2020) is an introduction to virtual programming ideas, resources, and methods for public libraries.

1. VIRTUAL LIBRARIES
ADJUSTING TO THE FUTURE OF PROGRAMMING ONLINE

2. AGENDA
• Tools and Preparation
• Challenges and Concerns
• Libraries Go Live
• Passive Programming
• Resources for the Future

3. TOOLS AND
PREPARATION

4. WHAT PLATFORM(S) WILL YOU USE?
STREAMING & INTERACTIVE
• Zoom
• WebEx
• Skype
• Google Hangouts
There are more options, but these are
the most often recommended as they
are free/inexpensive and simple to use.
MULTIPLE PROGRAM OPTIONS
• YouTube – stream and/or record
• FB Live – stream and/or record
• Twitch – stream and screenshare
• Discord – multilevel room setup
• WhatsApp – easy and free chat app

5. HOW WILL YOU PROMOTE
YOUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMS?
• Just like in-house programs, virtual programming
doesn't work unless people know you're doing it.
• If your library doesn't have a social media guru,
congrats—you're it! There are tons of webinars
and tutorials for learning how to utilize social
media for your library.

6. HOW WILL YOU PROMOTE
YOUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMS?
Think of unconventional advertising techniques beyond basic
Facebook reminders and newsletters. Consider:
• Creating a dramatic book trailer or movie-style poster
to advertise for a book club
• Using outtakes from one video to advertise for the next
• Utilize Instagram and Facebook stories
• Use Facebook and Twitter polling options to get ideas
and feedback for future programs (this will up your
patron interaction and do half your advertising for you)

7. CHALLENGES
AND CONCERNS

8. THINGS TO
KEEP IN MIND
TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES
SECURITY AND
PRIVACY
STATISTICS AND
METRICS

9. LIBRARIES
GO LIVE

10. WHAT (EASILY) CARRIES OVER?
Storytimes and
Early Lit Activities
Clubs (book, art,
writing, and hobby)
Crafting Programs Friends/TAB Meetings

11. ADAPTING YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER
• Storytimes and Early Lit Activities
• Facebook Live, YouTube – get viewer stats + comments
without interruption
• Clubs (book, art, writing, and hobby)
• Zoom, WebEx, Google Hangouts – get attendees, save
chat logs/record (Zoom), can be registered or drop-in
• Discord, WhatsApp – get attendees, save logs, better
suited for book and writing clubs

12. ADAPTING YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER
• Crafting Programs
• Facebook Live, YouTube – more like a tutorial than
a program unless you have someone to handle
comments and help answer questions
• Zoom, WebEx, Google Hangouts – get live interaction
so you can help one-on-one, like in-house programs
• Friends/TAB Meetings
• Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype – Pretty easy to use
for all involved

13. ADDITIONAL
IDEAS FOR NEW
PLATFORMS
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
• Invite local counselors/therapists to discuss
mental health for all ages, not just adults
• Specialty health and/or health info classes for
seniors, new or expecting parents, or caregivers
• Help fight isolation by providing virtual drop-in
meeting spaces (themed by topic, age, interest)

14. ADDITIONAL
IDEAS FOR NEW
PLATFORMS
DIY PROGRAMMING
• Cooking – themed according to age, supplies,
nutritional value, budget restrictions)
• Gardening – themed according to intended
supplies, living situation, age group, etc.)
• Home and/or vehicle maintenance everyone
should know how to do

15. ADDITIONAL
IDEAS FOR NEW
PLATFORMS
VIRTUAL GET-TOGETHERS
• Virtual Gaming – D&D, board games, party games
like JackBox, and more all have virtual platforms
or tutorials for how to play using Twitch and Zoom
• Trivia Nights
• Virtual Parties – Watch parties, music & dancing,
paint & sip, even virtual proms/galas

16. ADDITIONAL
IDEAS FOR NEW
PLATFORMS
LEARN FROM HOME
• Language learning classes
• Library digital service tutorials or tech classes
• Hit up colleges or local genealogy and/or archival
experts for classes on digitizing photographs,
using sites like Ancestry, and starting your family
tree from home

17. PASSIVE
PROGRAMMING

18. VIRTUAL
PASSIVE
PROGRAMS
Google Forms Activities
• Escape Rooms, Scavenger Hunts, Trivia Games,
Choose-Your-Own-Adventures, Digital Art Crawl
Contests and Competitions
• Voting Brackets, I Spy, Would You Rather/Who Would Win
(encourage defense in the comments for extra interaction),
Guessing Games/Brain Teasers
Creative Endeavors
• Book Talks, Famous Art Recreations, Book Trailers,
Minimalist Posters, Honest Book/Movie/TV Taglines
Collaborative Projects
• Show and Tell (arts and craft projects, pet shows,
TBR piles), collaborative storytelling, themed Spotify
playlist and/or Pinterest board creation, recipe swaps

19. RESOURCES FOR
THE FUTURE

20. FACEBOOK GROUPS
• My Pinterest Page (including Virtual Programming Board)
https://www.pinterest.com/kayla_l_martin/_saved/
• Programming Librarian Interest Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProgrammingLibrarianInterestGroup/
• Teen Services Underground
https://www.facebook.com/groups/407834692712782/
• Storytime Underground
https://www.facebook.com/groups/storytimeunderground/

21. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• The Programming Librarian
• Quarantined Librarianship
• Super Library Marketing
• BiblioCommons

22. CONTACT INFO
KAYLA MARTIN-GANT
KMARTIN-GANT@MLC.LIB.MS.US