tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post5037910829885446075..comments2024-03-27T05:00:00.090-04:00Comments on Letters to a Young Librarian: The Modern Book Club (meets in a bar), by Leah L. WhiteJessica Olinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-8703958284471892832013-01-24T12:18:41.693-05:002013-01-24T12:18:41.693-05:00Love this and attempted one at my old library and ...Love this and attempted one at my old library and am planning it again at my current library. A big issue was the booze (are we encouraging drinking by being in a bar) and instead went with a small tea/coffee shop that also served a few beers on tap - thus everyone was happy.<br /><br />Except for the Friend's group which was somewhat unhappy about having an off-site programming at all. They felt it moved people away from using the library. Are argued against this in that I partly considered the programming as outreach.<br /><br />The ages varied from teenagers to the elderly (which was awesome) and, in my opinion, multi-generational is the way to go. The secret is to choose good books and our librarian did a wonderful job of finding the perfect books to get a nice intimate crowd of varying ages.<br /><br />For promotion, I think the venue is your primary point of promotion. I don't want people from the library meeting at a new place, I wanted people at the new place seeing the library there. So signage and promotion at the venue is key.<br /><br />Currently, I am shopping around for a new venue to do an off-site bookclub and have not found a good fit yet.<br /><br />Awesome post and very helpful! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05764686989342179833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-64984881659248707942013-01-17T18:23:50.052-05:002013-01-17T18:23:50.052-05:00Hi Julie! That's a tough but very valid questi...Hi Julie! That's a tough but very valid question. Since I'm not an attorney, I can't speak to the true legality or liability issue. But I can say that at my past two libraries, the boards and attorneys didn't find issue because the library was not providing or purchasing the alcohol for patrons. Some of my members in Books on Tap just get a soda and dinner! <br /><br />But seriously, I think this points to the importance of writing a strong proposal that notes the successful libraries that have been doing this without issue for many years, particularly Oak Park. It would maybe even help to contact someone at Oak Park to see if they would be interested in speaking with someone in administration to address the issue. That said, some people will always be naysayers. But hopefully it with the right arguments and the strong support of administration, the idea can pass.<br /><br />-leahLeah Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04273633181075526062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-29911132189973889912013-01-17T13:15:39.820-05:002013-01-17T13:15:39.820-05:00What if your library's lawyer says no go? What...What if your library's lawyer says no go? What then? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com