Activities That Work

 Collection displays  Booklists  Themed internet and database training  Library tours for special groups  Joint activities with other organisations  Using the @ your library tag for events beyond the themes  Back room tours  Themed storytimes  Promoting local Council services  Reusing Your Future postcards for careers fairs and Work Experience students  And of course speakers, author talks, and interactive workshops on every topic!

20 EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS

1. Carlton Library are planning a new promotional campaign on the deliciousness of reading- including redesigning areas to encourage recreational reading 2. A workshop and display on French winemaking went well at Darebin Libraries for their October theme, Craft @ your library. Darebin also had fun with Greek dancing during the Olympics 3. Brimbank’s demonstration of Digital photography and videomaking was very popular 4. The ghost story time inside the 1883 water tower next to Kerang Library was great Holiday Fun 5. Casey-Cardinia has run a whole series of well-attended seminars on each theme! 6. For Get Caught Reading during Holiday Fun, Corangamite put an old fridge box and loo in the foyer, which attracted 167 kids and doubled enrolments 7. Glen Eira had success with promoting their business collection to local businesses at Council Business Breakfasts 8. A beach party at Portland for Holiday Fun was a great success- kids played cricket on the lawn outside, on a beautiful day, and had fish and chips for tea 9. Casterton Library brought in an appreciative nursing home group for a tour, nostalgia music and games 10. Hume held their first ever evening event for adults, an author visit by crime writer Jason McGrath 11. At Kingston, the Savvy Seniors internet classes during Life is Learning booked out- patrons came for two hours, two weeks in a row (and a couple of the seniors thought it was snazzy seniors, which they liked) 12. Bendigo Library invited Bendigo newcomers to a special introductory evening, and got 30 new members. Their next idea is a singles night! 13. The Clairvoyant session at Melton Library attracted 200 bookings, so an extra session had to be organised 14. Monash Libraries ran a promotion in Wheelers Hill shopping centre which got people to go straight over to the library to join 15. Monash also said Paul Jennings was fantastic for Life is Learning, and Investing in Shares, for Doing Business, attracted 40 people on a cold night! 16. Murrindindi have a Junior Friends of the Library group as well as the adult group 17. Wellington ran seminars on Banking and investment for school kids with the NAB (but not promoting the bank), attracting 200 people 18. Desert Island Reads- Whitehorse Manningham asked patrons to submit reviews of books they would take to a desert island, and have compiled the reviews into a book 19. Wyndham Library were pleased with their 'non-static' display for Holiday Fun- they had chickens hatching in the library! It got a lot of attention, engaging both children and adults. At the end they were adopted out 20. And we can't forget Tess Brady!

Questions? Contact the Public Libraries Unit, State Library of Victoria on 8664 7044 or visit www.libraries.vic.gov.au/atyourlibrary