1. Open Hearts, Open Arms Reaching out to our Communities Kathryn Seidel Reference Librarian/Instructor Baton Rouge Community College

2. Many different paths Open HousesBook TalksClubsCommunity Service

3. Outreach is… Many possible interpretations “The ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) serves the Association by identifying and promoting library services that support equitable access to the knowledge and information stored in our libraries. OLOS focuses attention on services that are inclusive of traditionally underserved populations.” For the purposes of this talk, programming that will bring the community into the library Reading & Outreach Programming Reaching out to the communities that libraries serve is an important part of the ALA. These programs are focused on ways to reach the greatest number of potential users in each community. http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/outreach/index.cfm

4. Programming Librarian “Development of this site is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the American Library Association Public Programs Office to assist librarians in finding authoritative resources for cultural programming, train librarians in cultural programming techniques using a variety of online methods and involve library schools in examining the need for courses in cultural programming.” www.programminglibrarian.org. www.programminglibrarian.org.

5. Programming Librarian’s guide to implementing a program Audience goals – Who will the program serve? Collection goals – Is there an part of the collection being emphasized? Program goals – What should the program accomplish?

6. Decade of Growth Open House

7. Passport to Learning Open House

8. Themed Open Houses

9. Book Talks Author Book Talks Community Author Book Talks Faculty Book Talks

10. Author Book Talk Series Bill JonesMark E. Martin

11. George Rodrigue

12. Community Author Book Talks Book Talk in the Library On Wednesday, October 22, at 6pm, Louisiana author Deborah LeBlanc will be speaking in the Magnolia Library. She will introduce several of her thriller novels: Morbid Curiosity, A House Divided, Grave Intent, Family Inheritance, and the newest title, Water Witch. Ms. LeBlanc will also share with students her insights on becoming a published author, and her very exciting LeBlanc Literacy Challenge. Where: Second floor of the Magnolia Library When: October 22 @ 6-8 pm. Refreshments will follow. For more about the Literacy Challenge, visit http://www.theleblancchallenge.com/ http://www.theleblancchallenge.com/

13. Faculty Author Book Talks New in Fall 2009

14. Book Talk experiences Participation varies From 5 to 75-80 students, faculty, staff and community members Promises Participation is growing over time Serves our goal of bringing people into the library Pitfalls No dedicated space Participation is always an unknown Need to review guidelines for selection

15. Conversation with the Artist Local Travelling shows

16. Clubs Magnolia Library Book Club BRCC Library Club

17. Magnolia Library Book Club Once a month Began in the evenings Now Brown Bag and Books Participation varies Book selection varies

18. Library Club Student organization Terrebonne Parish school supply drive Toys for Tots Reading at pre-schools/ YMCA 11/2008 Visibility on campus

21. Outreach within the community: Community Service Storytelling with Head Start Neighborhood Senior Center Louisiana Book Festival EveryBody Reads Keep Baton Rouge Beautiful

22. Annual Book Sale Outreach with a twist Establishes good will with the college community Provides some income People like to donate their books Pitfalls – books that won’t sell Hope to turn this into a community service project

23. BRCC Annual Book Sale, Spring 2009

24. A word about promotion Daily electronic news Directed emails – individually directed – everyone! Posters, flyers, pushcards School newspaper Meetings with student government

25. The End Always finish with a thank you note! It’s not only good form – anecdotal evidence suggests it creates repeat business! It’s not only good form – anecdotal evidence suggests it creates repeat business!

26. Resources www.programminglibrarian.org http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/ou treach/index.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/ou treach/index.cfm Langemack, Chapple. The Author Event Primer: How to Plan, Execute and Enjoy Author Events. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2007.

27. What avenues are you exploring? What’s working? What are the challenges?