What Is a Program, Anyway? Findings from NILPPA, ALA's National Study of Library Public Programs

1. NILPPA.org

2. The National Impact of Library Public Programs
Assessment (NILPPA): Phase I is made possible
in part by the Institute of Museum and Library
Services grant number LG-96-17-0048-17.

3. Today’s presenters
Carolyn Anthony, NILPPA Research Committee
In addition to her leadership with NILPPA, Carolyn currently serves on
the Standing Committee of the Metropolitan Libraries Section of IFLA
and continues as a consultant in aspects of public library leadership
and planning. She retired in 2016 after a lengthy time as director of
the Skokie Public Library (Illinois).
Mary Davis Fournier, Deputy Director, ALA Public Programs Office
In addition to serving as director of the NILPPA research, Mary’s project
portfolio includes the ALA initiative Libraries Transforming Communities,
the American Dream Literacy Initiative, and numerous other public
programs projects.

4. AGENDA
• Context
• About NILPPA
• Research Committees
• Research Process
• Defining Key Terms
• Findings: What makes a program?
• Implications

5. The Rise of Public
Programming

6. U.S. libraries are transforming to meet changing
needs of their communities.

7. More than just collection
holders and lenders…
• Centers for lifelong experiential learning
• Hubs for civic & cultural gatherings
• Partners in community-wide innovation
Today’s libraries are now:

8. Source: The Atlantic, "The Books of College Libraries are Turning Into Wallpaper." May 26, 2019.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/college-students-arent-checking-out-books/590305/
Yale’s Bass Library University of Virginia
Academic library circulation trends

9. Public library circulation trends
• Over the last five years, library programs have grown
at twice the rate per capita (6.3%) as the decrease in
per capita circulation (–3.0%).
• 2017 Public Library Data Service Report
• http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2017/12/the-2017-public-
library-data-service-report-characteristics-and-trends/

10. increased digital
usage
more isolation

11. Examples from Skokie Public Library

12. Rise in library program numbers

13. Benefits of programming

14. Currently, little
national data
is available…
To understand the
impact of programming
on libraries, library users,
or their communities,
or to describe effective
practices across the field.

15. About NILPPA

16. NILPPA goals
• Multi-year, multi-part research project exploring the
impact of library public programs
• Documenting the characteristics, outcomes and value
of public programs
• Contributing information to help prepare future
generations of library workers to excel in programming

17. WHY? (our ultimate goal)
To advance public programming in all types of libraries
across the country.

18. NILPPA: PHASE 1 = 2 Questions
Q1: How can we characterize and
categorize public programs
offered by libraries today?
Q2: What competencies and training are required for
professionals working with library programming
today?*
*Webinar 2 will explore Q2

19. Research
Committees

20. Q1: Program Categories Group
Carolyn Anthony, PLA past president,
(retired) director, Skokie Public Library (Ill.)
Jennifer Weil Arns, Ph.D., Associate Professor
at the School of Library and Information Science at the
University of South Carolina
Jamie Campbell Naidoo, Ph.D., Foster-EBSCO
Endowed Professor at The University of Alabama
School of Library and Information Studies

21. Q2: Competencies Group
Michele Besant, Associate Director at the iSchool,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Terrilyn Chun, Deputy Director of Multnomah
County Library in Portland, Oregon
Janine Golden, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the
Master of Management in Library and Information
Science program, University of Southern California
Marshall School of Business

22. Research Process

23. Research methods
1. Meta-analysis of current library programming categories
• Resulted in four dimensions of categories: Library Profile, Program
Characteristics, Program Audience, Program Administration
• Drew on findings from Project Outcomes, Measures that Matter,
WebJunction, University of Washington Impact Study, and others
for inventorying and streamlining program descriptions and dimensions
2. Validity surveys (3 waves total)
• 721 responses
• To further refine dimensions and add subdimensions (primary and other)
3. Case studies
• Six 30-minute interviews with selected libraries
• Additional review of library websites

24. Library programming surveys
Reached a wide field of library practitioners

25. Categorizing and characterizing
programs:
• What are the topics and formats in use?
• How are programs paid for?
• What audiences are being served?
• Who are the most valued community partners?
• How are program evaluated to assure quality and
meaningful impact?
• What outcomes are evidenced through effective public
programming?

26. Defining
Key Terms

27. Programs are a lot like art. We know it when we see it –
but it’s difficult to articulate a definition that everybody
agrees on.

28. IMLS definition of program
“A program is any planned event which introduces the group
attending to any of the broad range of library services or
activities or which directly provides information to participants.
Programs may cover use of the library, library services, or library
tours. Programs may also provide cultural, recreational, or
educational information, often designed to meet a specific
social need (IMLS, 2015).”

29. Alternate definition of program
“A program is a proactive and intentional service in a social
setting developed to meet the needs of an anticipated target
audience.”

30. What is a program?
A “program” is an
intentional service
or event in a group
setting developed
proactively to meet
the needs of or
interests of an
anticipated target
audience.

31. What do we mean by public?
The community the library serves
or the audiences the library targets
with its programs is its public.
This definition underwent
considerable review and discussion
to clarify the “free choice” nature
of the attendees. If attendance
is required at a program, it is
outside of the definition.

32. What is a public program?
A public program is a service or
event in a group setting developed
to meet the needs or interests of
an anticipated target audience.
All libraries, regardless of type,
have a public—the audiences the
library tailors its programs to and
the people the library serves.

33. Findings:
What Makes a
Library Program?

35. Library Profile

36. Program Characteristics

37. Program Audience

38. Program Administration

40. Implications

41. Combined with results
from the question of
competencies, research
findings provide a more
nuanced understanding
of the nature of library
public programs today.

42. Help library workers
of all types design
strategic plans with
attention to public
programming.

43. Questions?
Project updates available at NILPPA.org

44. Our thanks to:
NewKnowledge Organization, LLC
NILPPA Research
Committee Members*:
Carolyn Anthony
Jennifer Arns
Michele Besant
Terrilyn Chun
Janine Golden
Jamie Campbell Naidoo
*Full information available at:
http://www.ala.org/tools/programming/research/NILPPA/ad
visors
NILPPA Advisors*:
Miguel A. Figueroa
John B. Horrigan
Bob Horton
Richard Kong
Colleen Leddy
Annie Norman
Emily Plagman
Manju Prasad-Rao
Kathy Rosa
Marsha L. Semmel
Rebecca Teasdale
Sarah Goodwin Thiel
Angel Ysaguirre

45. Contact us
Mary Davis Fournier,
mfournier@ala.org;
800-545-2400; ext. 5056
Carolyn Anthony,
carolynanthony73@gmail.com
NILPPA.org