St. Albert Public Library

Answering community demands for a makerspace when you have no money, no staff, and no space is a daunting task. Despite the challenges of staffing, budget, and space constraints, St. Albert Public Library successfully launched its Makerspace in 2018. Lisa will share lessons learned by SAPL including how to conduct interdepartmental staff training, selecting and training volunteers, how to operate without a permanently allocated space, and options for libraries on a limited budget. The SAPL makerspace brings together a broad demographic, including 30-49 year olds who normally do not participate in library programs. The makerspace is open two times per month overseen by one staff facilitator and 2 to 3 volunteers. Attendees explore different technologies, connect with others in the community, and move from being consumers to creators.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify a wide variety of adult programming ideas to try.
• Gather ideas, tips, tricks, and inspiration for adult programming.
• Creative inspiration

From a board game inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, to hilarious online challenges like #bookface, to Secret Agent missions designed to push the readers out of their comfort zone, St. Albert Public Library and Strathcona County Library are connecting adults and teens to great summer reading!
Learning objectives:

• The benefits of offering reading games to teen and adults
• Examples created around different themes
• Resources needed to develop/run a summer reading game and how to share programming resources

From the 2016 Alberta Library Conference

Children’s story time has been the bread and butter of library programs, but what happens when a brave librarian pulls out some saucy books for a Grown-up Storytime? What started as Halloween Ghost Stories became a monthly reading/storytelling program for adult patrons and library staff. Learn what makes an engaging storytime for adults, the basics of telling a good tale, and maybe listen to a story.

Learning Objectives:

• Troubleshoot challenges of creating/presenting program
• Gain tools to extend/condense story to fit in constraints of program
• Source storytelling materials from collections/online resources