1. Programming for Pennies
Millie Sparks
Collection Development and Outreach Librarian
Pitt Community College Library
Community and Junior College Library Section/NCLA

2. How do we fund events? Fines and fees (NOT LOST BOOKS)
Pharos print system (when people add money to their accounts)
Monies to be used for student-centered activities

3. Types of Events: Meet the Author Game Nights Pet Therapy Book Clubs
Library Lawn Party

4. If you feed them… they will come.

5. Meet the Author

7. Methods of Advertising
Listed as event in newspaper
Bulletin board flyers
Posted event page on Library’s Facebook
Write-up in newspaper
Posted flyer on Facebook

8. Cost of Program: Total: $ 51.00 2 Dunkin’ Donuts coffee boxes $ 32.00
Slices of cake $
24 bottles of water $
Styrofoam cups Free
Napkins Free
Artificial sweetener Free
Stirrers Free
Total: $ 51.00

9. Potential Cost of Program:
Bottled Water $5.00

10. Were the events successful?
1st event successful due to speaker being the wife of a faculty member who encouraged participation
2nd event successful due to being sent out to faculty and staff a few days before event
Both events successful but only one student participated in 2nd event (attendees were mostly faculty, staff, and community members)

11. Meet the Author Benefits: Drawbacks:
Connect with and introduce local authors to campus community
Provide authors with venue to sell works (if permitted)
Attract crowd who might not otherwise visit library
Drawbacks:
May have to turn down some authors seeking to promote their work if not well-suited to community interest/standards
May be difficult to attract students to “literary” event

12. Game Nights

13. Methods of Advertising
Bulletin board flyer
Event page on FB
Flyer posted on FB

14. Cost of Program: Total: $ 196.00 Games $ 121.00 Subway cookies $ 40.00
Soda $
Water $
Total: $

15. Potential Cost of Program:
$0.00

16. Was the event successful?
Attended by about 20 people, mostly staff plus a few faculty members
Only about 5 or 6 students came and, of those who came, all but 2 were already in the Library for other reasons
Those who attended enjoyed the event, but more success might have been achieved with adjustments to timing

17. Game Day Benefits: Drawbacks: Bring people into library to have fun
Can be accomplished at very low cost
Drawbacks:
May end up feeding people not interested in event
May not have appropriate space to host noisy event
May be difficult to gauge which games will have greatest appeal

18. Pet Therapy

19. Methods of Advertising
Bulletin board flyer
Facebook event(s) page
Flyer posted on FB
Post on PCC Facebook each day, advertising for following day
Picture in newspaper provided good press for next pet therapy event

20. Cost of Program: Total: $ 65.00 Chocolate chip cookies $ 60.00
(three large trays from Sam’s Club)
Bottled water $
Total: $ 65.00

21. Potential Cost of Program:
$0.00

22. Was the event successful?
Brought in faculty, staff, and many students
Attended by about 60 people total
Advertising campaign worked well
Event was very successful overall; hoping to repeat in the future

23. Pet Therapy Benefits: Drawbacks:
Can be strong draw for animal lovers who normally don’t visit the library
Provide much-needed stress relief, especially during exam time
Allow opportunity for safe interaction for those uncomfortable around dogs
Drawbacks:
May not have appropriate space for this type of event
May put off those seeking quieter library environment or who have allergies or fear of dogs

24. Book Clubs

25. Methods of Advertising
Advertised internally during morning announcements
Advertised during freshmen orientation tour at the Library

26. Cost of Program: Jeopardy game and Dollar Store prizes (for two games)
Total: $30.00

27. Potential Cost of Program:
$0.00
(plus free books for everyone due to Walmart grant)

28. Was the event successful?
Successful for first three meetings during first semester; interest waned second semester
Final meeting had only half the crowd we had at the start
Greater potential for success at future meetings if more activity and team oriented, possibly including Jeopardy and other trivia games

29. Book Clubs Benefits: Drawbacks:
Provides an opportunity to engage adolescents in the process of reading.
Creates opportunities for thoughtful discussion and emergence of critical thinking skills.
Drawbacks:
Planning time for a Book Club with an Early College High School may be difficult due to scheduling conflicts. May need to come in early or stay late.

30. Library Lawn Party

31. Methods of Advertising
Facebook marketing with sponsored ad; $10.00 to run one day
Created Facebook event page

32. Cost of Program: Total: $215.50 Giant chess mat $ 65.00
Giant Jenga $ 45.00
Washers $
Plinko $ 20.00
Ring toss $ 20.00
Bags of ice $
Bottled water $
Popsicles $
Plastic black and red plates $
Toss the ball (donated) Free
Corn hole (borrowed) Free
Total: $215.50

33. Was the event successful?
75 attendees due to marketing
Not enough activities to keep everyone busy
Successful based on number of participants, but many lessons learned on how to avoid mistakes and ensure greater success in the future

34. Things to Do for Next Year’s Lawn Party
Pool Noodle Javelin
Cost:
15 Pool Noodles $ 15.00
PVC Pipe $ 12.00
Duct Tape (2 rolls) $ 7.00
Total: $ 34.00

35. Things to Do for Next Year’s Lawn Party
Balloon Ping Pong
Cost:
Balloons $ 12.99
Popsicle sticks $ 6.00
Paper plates $ 4.00
Packing tape Free
(if already have on hand)
Total: $ 22.99

36. Lesson Learned:
Food vs. Event
Food?
There’s food!!
Where?

37. PSA:
No one’s reading your bulletin board flyer! Save the trees and the colored ink.

38. What to do instead…

39. How do I target posts?

40. RIGHT ON TARGET!

41. QUESTIONS. Millie Sparks msparks@email. pittcc
QUESTIONS? Millie Sparks Office #: