Program Idea Generator
22 March 2025
You've now done a Needs Assessment and looked at Serving the Underserved. Now propose 2 additional programs or services for whatever user group you like. They can be all for the same library or at different libraries. For each one, address the following:
• Where (What library/school/institution + What area/space/platform)
• What (Briefly describe your program or service)
• Who (Audience - be specific)
• Why (Purpose/Mission - how it aligns with library/school/institution and audience)
• How (Explain how you'll achieve your program or service goal)
Teen Comic Book Club
Where?
Porter Branch Library, part of Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL)
What?
What it says on the tin: a book club devoted entirely to comics. Each month, participants would gather to discuss either a single book or a selection of books that fit a specific theme. More than likely, the club would focus on standalone graphic novels, but other comics can be included based on participant interest.
Why?
Long gone are the days of comics' derision as base literature unworthy of perusal by the common child—comics gradual acceptance and ascendance into a cultural touchstone have allowed it to evolve into a rich, storied medium commanding a devoted audience, especially among teen readers. So normalized is this acceptance that comics have become standard inclusions in classroom curricula, mostly in the form of graphic nonfiction (Bessie, 2024). Their fiction counterparts, are just as worthy of regard, and this book group will be designed to provide a suitable venue for like-minded comics-likers to discuss anything from new releases, longtime favorites, or titles for a specific theme or occasion.
CRRL hosts dozens book groups across the entire system, with at least one at all but one of its main branches—but none devoted specifically to comics. The Porter Branch Library in north Stafford County consistently boasts the highest circulation of YA graphic novels (cataloged under the 745.5 series of call numbers in the nonfiction collection), meaning there likely is a sizable audience of potential teens who would attend this club.
How?
Though teen services at public libraries usually allow their target audience some degree of decision-making in programming put on for their benefit (teen-centered), most stop short of giving teens full control over how events are run, a level of agency that allows for stronger socioemotional learning. Though there are drawbacks to this level of leeway, these book clubs should strive to give participants as much control over a club for their benefit (Braun, 2020). Given the uncertainty and adaptation involved in getting these clubs established and resembling something stable, the librarian will likely have to maintain the lead for its first few incarnations. As things take shape, there are some possible directions the club can be taken in:
- Fully Self-Directed: everything is decided by the teenagers participating: the club name, the kinds of comics the group will read, the format of discussion—while library staff would limit themselves to providing suggestions and moderating discussions as much as possible. Given the vast number of possible choices, library staff would have to provide a [selection/choice] of possible choices each month for participants to decide on, limiting teens' agency somewhat.
- Nonfiction: The "serious business" version. The books selected for this version would likely aligned with a month's major holiday or "this [time unit] in history." It's also not outside the realm of possibility for this to be held in partnership with schools—the librarian could select a graphic nonfiction title that relates to a subject currently being taught in middle or high school a la paired texts learning.
- Hands-On: This one is a bit of a long shot, designed to appeal towards young comics creators. Selection would lean towards titles that are distinctive or avant-garde in some way, and discussion would focus heavily on the craft of a given comic. Time would be provided for participants to draw and collaborate on comics of their own. If possible, local artists could be brought in to showcase their work. (This actually might just be a little more serious than the nonfiction club, really...)
Digital Literacy Clinic Series
Where?
Can be held at any CRRL branch with the space and resources to get a lot of laptops and peripherals in a room, but best held at branches in municipalities with lower incomes (Westmoreland, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, with the latter serving as the hypothetical)
What?
A series of educational programs that aims to foster digital literacy. These can range anywhere from the basics of using computer peripherals and smartphone UIs, how-tos on web browser layouts and navigating the internet, specific lessons on popular email clients and social media, and even lost arts like navigating file browsers. The Alexandria Library's website has a digital literacy page with just about all the topics a library would want to cover.
Who?
Although anyone who needs tech education regardless of age would be welcome, this series would primarily be oriented towards adults, as according to Figure 6 in the NCES report, the likelihood of someone lacking digital literacy is directly correlated with how old they are. Outreach and promotion would likely be focused on existing venues for older adults, such as Lobby Stops and rural satellite locations.
Why?
Is there any way to argue against the importance of digital literacy? For better or worse (lol), whole civil services that were once handled by legions of government workers have been almost entirely integrated onto the internet. For anyone who doesn't possess much aptitude for digital technology, these services can prove nigh-inaccessible, which is no small amount of people: a report compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2018 found that 16% of Americans ages 16 to 65 were not digitally literate (Mamedova & Pawlowski, 2018). Seven years out from these stats aside, I'm sure that percentage feels a lot higher for anyone providing technology help to the public, or at least a lot more urgent. And why wouldn't it be, when public libraries can be the sole place certain patrons can access a desktop computer or the internet, sometimes even both? Having classes devoted specifically to digital literacy, then, will furnish these users with more confidence in our digitally-mediated era.
Also, I'm not gonna lie—at my current branch of work, there's always been hearsay about a computer class CRRL put on in the past, and nobody seems to have a clue of if these are half-remembered whispers or not. So, this will put those rumors to rest by actually getting something off the ground once more.
How?
There are two existing programs that these clinics are likely to be modeled after: Montgomery County (MD) Public Library's Computer and Technology Skills series (n.d.), and Arlington (TX) Public Library's Digital Literacy series (n.d.). Formal digital literacy classes range from an hour to two hours, likely a longer-than-average commitment than most, but definitely one that patrons would be incentivized to stick to given the benefits it would have in their lives. Keeping in mind this length, attendance would likely be best handled on a drop-in-drop-out whenever necessary basis. Demand for these classes is likely to be high, however, so registration would be available for those who wish to guarantee a spot for any session as well.
The aforementioned rumors about a previous incarnation of tech support classes described it as a one-on-one service staffed by volunteers—though I'd figure given that this program is no longer running, finding volunteers skilled enough and committed enough poses a problem. Thanks to the sustained effort it would take to lecture and assist a classroom's worth of participants, this program will almost certainly require a devoted staff member(s) who already assists the public with technology to run these classes.
References
Alexandria Library (n.d.). Digital literacy. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from: https://alexlibraryva.org/digital-literacy
Arlington Public Library. (n.d.). Digital literacy - Adult education classes. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from: https://arlingtonlibrary.org/classes/digital
Bessie, A. (2024). Literacy and the Graphic Novel. EBSCO Research Starters. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/literacy-and-graphic-novel
Braun, L. W. (2020, May 1). Give teens the lead. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2020/05/01/give-teens-the-lead-teen-driven-services/
Mamedova, S & Pawlowski E. (2018). A description of U.S. adults who are not digitally literate. National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018161.pdf
Montgomery County Public Libraries. (n.d.). Events. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from: https://mcpl.libnet.info/events