Preparing for the Winter Blahs
We had our first snow here in Colorado last week, and it got me thinking about winter. I love winter: hot chocolate, snow, baking, the holidays, and more time to read—it’s one of my favorite seasons. However, things around the library always get a little slow in the winter months. Circulation is down, and due to people’s busy schedules, attendance at programs is down as well. Teens, like all of our other patrons, get busy with the holidays, schoolwork, and more, and we see less of them.
I’m wondering about what would be a good strategy for this less-than-busy season. As overall usage is down at the library during these months, is building numbers a lost cause? Is it better to stick with some classic programming (like TAB meetings, Game Nights, etc.), but keep the overall programming light and use the extra time for planning for the busier spring and summer months? Or is it possible to fight against the lower usage trends in November and December and do creative, fun programming and other events that could bring more teens in the door? I don’t have answers—I’m hoping this post will spark a conversation.
I’m a relatively new librarian, so I’m curious as to what other librarians do during the winter months. Do you have successful teen programming that you can suggest? Or do you spend the time planning and regrouping for later?
The winter is such a great time to get out into schools– if it’s tough for the teens to come to us with their busy schedules, let’s go to them!
I do a booktalking extravaganza in the late fall/early winter..I have a posse of fantastic school library workers who organize a full day of classes coming down to the school library for my presentation, which is generally 1/2 hour of some quick library info, and the rest is devoted to booktalking 10 or so titles. I’m at the point now where I can spend 2 full days camped out at some of my more involved schools, and wind up seeing nearly every student in school as their language arts teachers bring them through.
This kind of outreach has benefited our library so much– teens know who I am, our circulation has improved significantly in the teen section, and it builds really positive partnerships with the schools. I am to the point where I really miss the school year because in summer I don’t get to talk to as many different teens.
I repeat the extravaganza in the spring to promote our summer reading program, and that round of visits has a significant impact on our SRP numbers.
Outreach in the winter FTW!
-April
I was wondering if the down time would be a good time to film 60-second book talks that are then posted to your library’s teen web site or blog. Since the children aren’t coming into the building, they may still be interested in what’s good to read.
Louise
Try a poetry slam or book discussion, complete with hot chocolate and coffee! If you don’t have space to meet, go to a locally-owned coffee shop, even. (Maybe they can cut everyone in your group a deal on the drink prices?) The book can be seasonal.