Adult Programming

Want to build a fun escape room program that appeals to families with children, teens, and adults, but feel like you don’t have the space to make it work? Have you seen pictures from amazing escape room programs in other libraries, but don’t have a dedicated space to commit to a lengthy program? I’ll share tips, tricks, and plans for three different escape rooms we have successfully run that fit (almost) entirely on a book cart and are easy to set-up and take-down. We’ll talk about rooms with doors that don’t lock, different types of puzzles that are easy to use, how to build multiple rooms using the same materials, and ways that participants can adapt these programs for their own library spaces.
 
Presented at the CATS Conference, Kelowna BC, Oct 7th, 2019. 

Alberta Library Conference presentation by Harper Collins

Programming for adults isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be notoriously difficult! Unpredictable attendance, hard to reach audiences, competing for space in busy schedules – these are just some of the reasons you might be tempted to turn your focus to safer programming bets (early literacy anyone?). Edmonton Public Library’s Adult Services Team has tried to break out of this comfort zone by piloting a variety of previously untested adult programs to see what sticks: passive programming like the Summer Reads ’18, to extremely active programming like the Tour of EPL library bike tour, special events like a literary and local themed spelling bee, volunteer-led DIY workshops, live concerts, guest lectures, “Learn Local” discussion groups, and more. At this session the presenters will share what they've tried, what they’ve learned, and where they’re going next to keep growing great adult programming at the library.
Learning Objectives:

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

This session will present strategies to create a coding-based library program. Grant will discuss the use of coding tools like the Sphero and Code-a-Pillar, as well as online games that can be found on Code.org and codecademy.com. Learn easy processes to develop a coding program that is fun and interesting for your patrons! This session will also cover pitfalls and strategies to get around potential issues. There will also be hands-on time with some of the websites and gadgets discussed.
Learning Objectives:

• Identify resources available for a coding program.
• Learn how to plan and execute a coding program.
• Recognize how and why to engage children in coding.

Tech help can be a tricky area of public library service. In our efforts to ensure the library  remains relevant to the public we embrace helping our users with technology. We point to this as success and evidence of the library’s relevance and empowering mission. But that goal of individual empowerment often comes at the cost of obscuring systemic complexity. What does that obfuscation cost us as a community? In this session we will explore this issue and discuss Strathcona County Library’s approach to creating room for the discussion of politics and ethics within our tech programs. 

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