I don’t know about the rest of you, but it’s hard to find a reason to stay indoors when the weather is nice and the sun is out past 9 p.m.  Fall and Winter roll in and the daylight wanes along with my inclination to be outdoors. Add an ailing economy, and those trips to the bookstore and eating dinner out just aren’t an option anymore!

Luckily, I have found so many fun things to do at the public library just when I need it most.  Having worked in public libraries up until I came to ICFL, I got to enjoy them from behind the scenes but it’s been a long time since I got to be a customer. Imagine my delight when my empty social calendar is filled with fun things at the Boise Public Library!  I visited the Collister branch and picked up a slew of CDs to keep me occupied on my morning rides and, while I was there, learned about an awesome teen hip hop dancing program they started and which is not only popular with the kids but is also a huge hit with the refugees in the area!  Next, I went to the Hillcrest Branch for craft activities (this month they are decorating Halloween bags) and again the next night for a super cool Winter Bicycle Commuting workshop where I learned about winter riding safety, how to keep warm, and even how to change a bike tire.  Everybody left with free rear lights, carabeeners, booklets (a state publication – my favorite!) and more resources.  The room was packed with cyclists, beginning and new, of all ages and experience levels.  This was one of the coolest programs I have ever attended and was a big hit with the community.

All this winter programming reminds me of a year ago when a colleague and I from the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County were frantically trying to prepare for a series of Library Speed Date programs.  We started with one program, but it was so popular that we soon had a waiting list and had to add more.  We came up with a target age range, developed some inhouse publicity and contacted the paper and soon we were entertaining a group of single adults who came to the library after hours as a way of meeting other single book lovers and enjoying some snacks and cider.  I don’t know that anyone fell in love, but a lot of people made good friends and we hit a market that we had trouble capturing before: adult men.

Another one of my favorites was a craft circle where people brought in needlework projects and we showcased library resources, taught skills and let people show off the cool things they were making while eating cookies and drinking tea.  The best part was that we had whole families, moms and daughters, dads and grandmothers, and everyone was learning new things alongside each other. 

It makes me think that maybe the wintertime engenders the spirit of togetherness.  If so, it’s a great time for libraries to provide special programs that reinforce the Library As Place concept.  I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time at my local branches!