As a librarian who has started (and failed to start) many new programs -- my trite advice is to not give up. There is surely a library staff member who shares some of your tastes and would be thrilled to take an hour off of desk time to help facilitate. And after that, it just takes time and patience to grow things. There will be a few e…
As a librarian who has started (and failed to start) many new programs -- my trite advice is to not give up. There is surely a library staff member who shares some of your tastes and would be thrilled to take an hour off of desk time to help facilitate. And after that, it just takes time and patience to grow things. There will be a few events where people don't see the marketing or don't have time and it sucks (nothing NOTHING is worse than storytiming to ONE kid -- it's a lot of eye contact) but you show up next time and the next and surely, sometime at some point, someone else will come, too and THAT will be awkward (again, probably a lot of eye contact) but it will grow. Things that don't require people to put some skin in the game -- free things -- are so easy for people to blow off, so you just have to ride it out until the skin becomes fun and friends. Good luck!!
Really want to up this. Always...always, someone is *thinking* about going to that thing you are doing, but is a little nervous or the time didn't work out. Consistency is key...there is always a silent audience, thinking about joining you.
Re: bookclubs, I was successful using Meetup years ago, not sure if it is useful anymore, but I just started a feminist bookclub by myself and folks just showed up randomly. Benefit of being in a liberal city though.
As a librarian who has started (and failed to start) many new programs -- my trite advice is to not give up. There is surely a library staff member who shares some of your tastes and would be thrilled to take an hour off of desk time to help facilitate. And after that, it just takes time and patience to grow things. There will be a few events where people don't see the marketing or don't have time and it sucks (nothing NOTHING is worse than storytiming to ONE kid -- it's a lot of eye contact) but you show up next time and the next and surely, sometime at some point, someone else will come, too and THAT will be awkward (again, probably a lot of eye contact) but it will grow. Things that don't require people to put some skin in the game -- free things -- are so easy for people to blow off, so you just have to ride it out until the skin becomes fun and friends. Good luck!!
Really want to up this. Always...always, someone is *thinking* about going to that thing you are doing, but is a little nervous or the time didn't work out. Consistency is key...there is always a silent audience, thinking about joining you.
Re: bookclubs, I was successful using Meetup years ago, not sure if it is useful anymore, but I just started a feminist bookclub by myself and folks just showed up randomly. Benefit of being in a liberal city though.
I don't know how many groups I've started but it's double digits. I count on the first six months being touch and go.