36 Adult Program Ideas in 90 Minutes (August 2019)

1. 36 Adult Program Ideas
in 90 Minutes
Amy Alessio
www.amyalessio.com
amyalessio@sbcglobal.net

2. Programs Easily Adapted
for Any Theme (Almost!)
 Writing Contests: flash, themed, poetry,
skit, song lyrics (Prize is publication.)
 Tasters: inexpensive foods on a theme like
chocolate, history, demonstrations
 Crafts: button making, origami, coloring,
photos and frames, bookmarks
 Local history: feature speakers, library
collections, photos
 Social Media and Relevant Apps/Sites

3. More Easily Adapted Programs
 Charitable Drives: food for fines, pet food,
costumes, prom gowns
 Photo or Video contests: in the library or
community, reading, promoting a service, book
trailers, family history
 Art: fairs, themed contest, scrapbooking, digital,
try new medium fair, feature local artists or
museums
 Music: local performers, all ages, learn to
download from library site, listen on new tech,
variety shows, karaoke
 Money & Health: local services, library resources,
information fairs, improvement techniques

4. How To
Participate
•Chat it Up!
• Prizes
•Organized
transcript
•Handout
•Slides

5. Fitness Fair
 Indoor Exercises &
Stretching
 Pedometers: Step It Up
Library Scavenger Hunt
 Demonstrations from Park
District: 20 minute
intervals
 Health representative
taking biometrics
 Smoothie Making
 De-Stress Meditation
 Massage Station
 Demonstration of fitness
apps

6. Chinese New Year
 Video of Dragon Dance
 Music
 Felt Fortune Cookies (glue gun)
 Zodiac chart to color
 Red Envelope Craft:
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_the
mes/World/chineseredenvelope/chines
eredenvelope.html
 Fortune type slips in cookies or on
bookmarks stuck in books advertising
the program.
 Language learning materials
 Cooking demonstrations

7. Superbowl: Snacks by Decades
 1930s/40s: Velveeta,
brownies
 1950’s: Mini Burger Bar,
Chex Mix
 1960’s: Bugles, Pringles,
Mini frank kabobs
 1970’s: fondue, cheese
balls,Grape jelly/chili dip
 1980’s: Cream
Cheese/pepper jelly
 1990’s: cupcakes

8. Black History All Year
Genealogy programs
Drumming Circles
Underground Railroad sites
Historical speaker – interactive
Musicians – Jazz study
Display of Inventions
Vote on favorite authors by genre
NMAH podcasts:
https://historyexplorer.si.edu/teacher-resources

9. Passionate Readers & Viewers!
• Mood music
• Raffled candles,
chocolate, books
• Tasted bits of chocolates
from drug stores, voted
• Served bubbling grape
juice
• Varied range of material
in books, music, movies

10. MOVIE PARTY AND TRIVIA
Gourmet
Popcorn
After Hours
Oscar Night
Party
Short Movie
Festival

11. March: Rosie Plus the Role of Women in WWII

12. Self Defense and Safety
 Police Department
 Scams towards seniors
 Making your house safe
 Safety Online
 Self Defense
 Special class for seniors
 In lobby, or class

13. Basketball Fest
 Nostalgic movies
 Video game tournament
for adults of NBA2K19
 Trivia games
 Match player to town
 Mascots
 Game trivia
 Make dream team for
prize drawings

14. April:
National Library Week
Swaps and Other Simple Celebrations
• Info Fair by departments
• Departments make something
to auction
• Tours: Live or Virtual
• Flea Market and Craft Fair
• Comic Swap
• Authors with publishing
workshop
• Learn Something New – punch
cards for watching videos
• T/F: Library Common Sense

15. Money Smart
Resources Demonstration
Tip Board
Teen or
NextGen
Budget
Contest
Budgeting and
Investing Apps:
Robinhood
Coupon Apps

16. Library Virtual 5K
(and other Healthy Gadgets)
 Staff post how much they walk on desk
throughout the week
 Patrons post photo of themselves walking
in the library or throughout the month for
a prize
 Walk a 5K and screen shot Map My Walk
or other evidence. Enter with $10 towards
Friends, inexpensive medals
 Live walking 5K around library
 Steps scavenger hunt or Geocaching
within library

17. May: Star Wars Day
 Movies & Coloring
 Costume cosplay for adults
 Trivia or Timeline
 Books
 Parody movie contest
 Fan fiction contest
 Origami
 Yoda Soda
 Rebel Legion
 https://theoutreachlibrarian.com/2012/04/04/may-the-
fourth-be-with-you/

18. Easy Adult Child Crafts
(time to clean out the closet)
 Recipe Scrapbooking
 Paint and Book Cover Night (hold the wine for staff)
 Apron Decoration
 Painting /coloring: photo frames, tote bags, t-shirts,
notebook covers
 Tye Dye socks
 Beaded bookmarks
 Bookmark design contest
 Cards for charity, gifts
 3D printed keychains

19. World of Flavors
Tasting and Exchange
 Restaurants with tasting
(registration)
 Get treats from local
stores – even cookies!
 Patrons bring copies of
recipes
 History of area with
samples of foods,
recipes
 Holiday themed

20. *Read a Latte all year round
*Reading challenges – no
registration!
*Allow programs to count
*Drawings per book read
*Prize is book or fine clearing
coupons
*Send photos wearing library
shirt
*How many items in library
tote?
*

21. *
• With foods
• Speakers from historical
sites
• Bus trips
• Virtual tour – picture,
cost, website info.
• Ask for coupons from
sites

22. Car Show + Safety
• Hooking media up
• Emergency kits
• Shopping through
library sites
• What to look for in
used cars

23. Also:
Bike Trails
Safety town
ID

24. July:
Treats & Beats
by the Decade

25. *Library County Fair
*Growing competitions
*Oldest items
*Collections
*Book wreaths
*Quilts & Pies?
*Discussion of craft
competitions
*Talk on local farmers
markets
Is she serious?

26. *Book Olympics
Family Event
*How fast they can put books away and clean…
*Putting books or DVDs in order
*Scavenger hunts
*Relays at your own discretion
*Mini golf
*Set up a themed display
*Synchronized cart movement

27. AUGUST MYSTERY NIGHT
Crimescene as display
or one-time program
(Paper Towns program)
2008 Texas Teen Reads
Manual
Mystery flavors
Classic crime TV &
movies
T/F Town ordinance
laws vs. historical
Improv mystery solving
CSI from police

28. *
• Audience sends in words under limits, themes
• Small prizes
• Puzzle speed
• Puzzle stations
• Puzzling devices – iPad course
• Create own

29. *
*Library classes for adults
*ESL
*Continuing Ed. Representatives from colleges, high
schools
*Online Learning Options – through library?
*Park District
*Museums
*Colleges: auditing lectures

30. September:
Fall Into Something New
 Style and Fashions: scarves, jewelry making, hairstyles
 Sushi demonstration, or other no-cook healthy choices
 Resume Refresh, Social Media review
 Travel tips: local favorites, upcoming museum exhibits
 New and readalikes for popular books & media
 Download and Go: technology demonstrations
 House Refresh: speakers on painting tips, woodworking
 Park District: new sports classes

31. Library Card Sign-Up Month
• Use card at local businesses
• Drawing for getting or renewing
card
• Swipe card for drawing – virtual or
live
• Clear fines with visible card
• Drawings for entire households
with cards
• Using your card from home
scavenger hunt
• Flash fiction library themed contest
• Show card around community
photos

32. Hispanic Heritage Month
9/15 – 10/15
 Map your heritage
 Match photo to country
 Match food photo to country
 Ojo de Dios family craft
 Corn Husk Spice Painting
(Harris Cty. Tx. Lib.)
 Language learning materials
 https://www.hispanicheritagemont
h.org/

33. October: Mindfulness, Yoga and Smoothies
• Speakers for mindfulness,
laughter, relaxation
• Massage techniques
• Yoga instructors for simple
workshop
• Office fitness
• Smoothies or Yogurt parfait
samplers (DIY)
• Teas
• Making tabletop zen
gardens, zen terrariums

34. Nostalgic Halloween Party and
Blood Drive
 Vintage horror movie or
80’s monsters: Freddie,
Chucky, Jason
 Halloween cartoons
 Duct tape or toliet paper
costumes – mini contests
 Finish the scary story
contest or flash scary
fiction 1000 words
 Storytelling 101 – outside
 Dirt cup parfaits
 Decorate cookies

35. Diwali
October 27
 Ethnic markets – décor and food
 Local music or dance programs
 Henna painting
 How to drape a sari, wedding styles
 Decorate a Diya – prepare with base coat
 http://www.wikihow.com/Decorate-a-Diya
 http://www.programminglibrarian.org/programs/diwali
 Rangoli Art: https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/rangoli-
craft-idea-for-kids/

36. November:
Veterans Thank You Open House
• Create a Card Party
• Online Photo
Montage
• Collect Photos,
Memorabilia
• Veterans Benefits,
Spouses
• Records of What
Units from Area
Were in Each Major
Conflict Including
Civil War

37. NaNoWriMo
• Steps for Success – Getting
Started
• Demonstrations of how to login in
lobby
• Write-Ins – allow time after
writing programs or FINISH THAT
BOOK!
• Celebration event in January –
next steps?
• Interactive display of local word
counts
• Tweeting author quotes
• Display of books on writing,
biographies

38. November: Knitting for Charity
 Have this program in visible area to invite more
 Host throughout the month
 Staff or guest teachers simple stitches.
 Collect squares for Warm Up America
 Better students will make small blankets for animal shelters
 Drop in event to knot polar fleece blankets for local
shelters

39. December: Make and Take
 Fill glass balls with glitter, garland, shredded paper
 Print photos, decorate frames
 Paper:
 https://www.diyncrafts.com/9606/decor/20-hopelessly-adorable-diy-
christmas-ornaments-made-paper

40. Night Star Gazing
 Telescope at certain
place, certain times
 Partnership with college,
expert
 Patrons record who can
see what
 Getting started in
stargazing
 Astrology 101: What’s in
store for you next year?

41. Holiday Library Open House:
Virtual and Live
 Marketing features Invitation to special event
 Music, local high school groups
 Set hours: Free, fast and fun for all ages
 Demonstrations of timesaving tips or activities in each
department
 Peaceful place to sit and read if desired
 Local food vendor
 Virtual: virtual tour, resources for easing year end
stress, holiday traditional stories

42. Questions?
Amy Alessio
amyalessio@sbcglobal.net