Programming–and I Don’t Mean Java or Unix

Last year I was appointed to the newly formed Culture and Public Programs Committee (as part of ALA’s Public Programs Office) and today was our first meeting. I was having one of those “just a reference libarian” moments as directors, presidents, and other esteemed honcho types introduced themselves around the table. But we were all together to work on the common goal of promoting the cause of public programming to not only patrons, but to ALA. Public Programs has been a part of ALA for quite some time, but relies largely on grant funding to do their work. According to statistics compiled by the PPO, over 10 million people have been served by adult cultural programs in libraries since 1990, with no small amount of help and support from the PPO staff. One of the charges of the committee is to demonstrate the importance of PPO to ALA, and to lobby for a much deserved place of permanence within the organization.

Our library realizes the importance of adult programming and it’s one of the top things that I get most buzzed about as a librarian. It’s one of things where you can see the tangible impact of a service–the feedback is immediate, and hopefully enthusiastic, and although you might not reach huge numbers of people with any one program, it’s the sort of thing that people talk about once they’ve left the library. It’s invaluable PR.

But, those of us around the table today already know this and want to spread the word. It was one of the most collegial, enthusiastic and progressive groups I’ve had the pleasure of working with in all my ALA experience. I think we all came to the table wondering how to continue to promote the already excellent work done by PPO, but ended up thinking of programming and PPO as ways to reach out to the generation that libraries lose between story hour and parenthood. And rather than applying what we already know to reel in this jr. high-30ish demographic, we need to be responsive to what they want and need. It was really exciting to be in a room of practitioners and leaders who understand that there needs to be a major paradigm shift (or accommodation) in service. This committee understands that technology is not something to be feared or held at bay, but, rather, a different way to do the things that libraries have always done. There was a lot of discussion about the potential of gaming, blogging, and streaming media being pressed into service by library programmers who want to serve a group that is often absent from libraries. I’m pleased as punch to have been appointed to this committee and look forward to working with these folks!