Social Library, Volume 55
In this edition of the Social Library we learn about a trivia challenge, a text messaging service, some literary March Madness, and two different passport programs. These services and programs attract patrons of all ages and connect people to libraries in innovative and meaningful ways. If you'd like to see your library featured in the Social Library series, please let us know via [email protected], or find us on Facebook.
- Sacramento Public Library in California will be hosting their first annual Library Pub Trivia Challenge in May. This fundraiser invites patrons to gather a team of four to six friends for a Sunday afternoon of pub-style trivia in the Library Galleria. The trivia will test team knowledge across the Dewey Decimal classes with hearty appetizers and beer. Prizes will go to the winners along with special drawings throughout the afternoon.
- The Manatee County Public Library in Florida is using a text messaging service that enables patrons to sign up to receive updates via their mobile devices or email. The library provides information for patrons on the terms and conditions of the service, in addition to a link to information about Rewind, the free service. If you'd like to explore the service, check out this AASL webinar archive, Remind for Libraries.
- We learned from a Douglas Library of Hebron post that their community will be participating in Passport to Connecticut Libraries, a statewide program running throughout the month of April 2016 in celebration of National Library Week. 124 libraries in all parts of the state are participating in the program. To participate, patrons are invited to visit participating local libraries and show their valid library card to pick up a free Passport. They can then visit other participating libraries to get their Passport stamped, and to receive a token gift at each one. If patrons visit at least five participating libraries for Passport stamps, they will be entered into one statewide drawing for a chance to win a $150 Visa gift card (for adults) or a $100 Visa gift card (for children under 18). A map of participating libraries with links to each library's website is available at http://tinyurl.com/jf4lned.
- The Austin Public Library in Texas created some of their own March Madness with #BattleOfTheBanneds. The series tipped off with four bracket categories of banned books, including posts about why the books were banned and an invite for readers to vote for their favorite book each round of the playoffs:
Hand Drawn: Persepolis, Where The Wild Things Are, Saga, and the Adventures of Captain Underpants.
Americana: Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Catcher in the Rye.
Grim Reality: A Clockwork Orange, Hunger Games, 1984, and Slaughterhouse-Five.
Growing Pains: Looking for Alaska, Harry Potter, Go Ask Alice, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
They've just moved into the semi-finals, so be sure to check back to see who makes it to the finals!
- We learned that the County of Los Angeles Public Library offers Passport Services at two library locations regularly by appointment. And last week the community was invited to stop by Lancaster Library for their Passport Open House!
Thanks to all of this week's featured libraries for such outstanding service to your communities!