Taking the Fear out of How-To Fests: 20 Activity Ideas in 90 Minutes

Amy Alessio amyalessio@sbcglobal.net

Planning: What are adults looking for?

• Time saving • Money saving • Family activities • New, fun skills • Bucket list items • Nice, easy, inexpensive yet thoughtful gifts

Stretching Resources

Staffing

• Applications to teach • Staff talents • Demonstrations at tables • Volunteers • Sponsors • Multiple days • Tech Free (also known as retro, vintage or historical)

Budget

• Clean out the closets for prizes and giveaways • Collaborative with community partners • Tables staffed by agencies doing demos • Use day to feature what library already has online and in person – tours!

Inspiration + Reality Check

• Year round committee: Rotate Chairs • Online collaborative document • Staff Maker Day to test things out • Prizes for staff to attend other maker days • Staff notices from first appearance in publications • All desk staff on day of event are in on fun

Marketing & Appealing to Adults

• Drawings for attending a few events • Sessions run more than once, shorter sessions and longer ones • All ages doing demonstrations • Advertising not all technology oriented • Handouts in youth areas listing family activities • Mini demos leading up to event in central location, just for adults, or by seniors

Cedar Mill, OR: Mobile Production Kits

• 1 week checkout • Technology to make or edit podcasts and videos • Record and edit media • Post-Production Kits in library • http://library.cedarmill.org/find/beyond-books/media-maker-kits/ • Demonstration of recording family stories

Other Ideas:

• Not Just One Day • Different Themes per Location • Earth Week Theme • Easy and Appealing Theme

When It Doesn’t Work

• Problem-Overcoming It • Over budget - sponsors • Weather - rain dates or alternate locations if possible for some parts of day • Tech Can Break – contingency plans, equipment, plenty of other activities • Performers – other activities, backup activity run by staff in case problem with one performer • No Interest - surveys ahead of time, plenty of other activities at each time slow • Run out of prizes, handouts, bags – cleaning out some leftover prizes from past programs

2 for 1 Crafts: Fixing Up Library

Are their items people could paint around library for event?

Garden outside library

Crafting

Retro Crafts:

• Flower Loom http://www.knitting-and.com/small-looms/ • Quilling http://www.honeysquilling.com/quilling-101-how-to-start-paper-quilling-a-free-

tutorial/ • Pom Poms (think roller skates) • Macrame http://www.redheart.com/articles/how-to-make-6-common-macrame-knots/ • Woven Barrettes http://dailyparent.com/articles/how-to-make-a-braided-barrette/

Victorian

• Tussie Mussie http://www.learn2grow.com/projects/floral/crafts/MakeTussieMussie.aspx • Dried Flower (or Rose) Pomander http://www.save-on-crafts.com/toprostre.html • Williamsburg style craft: orange with cloves

Charitable Projects

Project Linus https://www.projectlinus.org/

Cardsforhospitalizedkids.com

(for pet shelters)

http://www.petmeds.org/petmeds-spotlight/diy-pet-blankets/

Tech: Not Just for Teens

http://www.instructables.com/ (flashlight from recycled cereal box and other supplies)

Scheduling Social Media Into Your Busy Life

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/the-ultimate-guide-to-social-media-update-scheduling.html

17 Tools to Schedule, Analyze Social Media Content http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/87999-17-Tools-to-Schedule-Analyze-Social-Media-Content

Social Media for Readers

• Following authors: Amazon, FB, Twitter • Fandoms + Fan art on Tumblr • Library resources • Communities and Challenges: Goodreads • Apps: Book Crawler, Google Play Books • http://www.popsugar.com/tech/Best-Reading-Apps-38193336

Creative Printing

Temporary Tattoos http://www.instructables.com/id/Design-and-Print-Your-Own-Temporary-Tattoos/

Stickers with Word http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-custom-stickers-with-Microsoft-Word/

Supplies Used to Make Photo Magnets: http://www.wherethesmileshavebeen.com/make-photo-magnets-easy-inexpensive-diy/

• One 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of adhesive magnet paper • Two sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ photo paper • Printer & ink • Silhouette Cameo, scissors, Xacto knife, or paper trimmer

Adulting Life Hacks 20 minute presentations or 30 minute demos

• 15 Minute clothing repairs: hems, rips, fasteners • Grocery shopping shortcuts • Resume refresh and posting online (library resources) • Scarf tying

Keeping Indoor Plants Alive

Overview of indoor planting supplies that are not overwhelming – mini aquafarm Painting terra cotta plant pots: http://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-seal-painted-flower-pots/

Changing Oil and Tires

• Hooking Phone, music, bluetooth up to car • Emergency kits – police? • Finding Value and Shopping through library site • Used car shopping – what to look for - mechanic

Self Defense

• Different Ages • Many karate studios do this for free • Ask police to discuss senior scams

Travel Tips

• Carry on competition - filling something the designated size for flying • Local Sites: Schedule, exhibits, savings • Learning languages through library • Disney 101

Food Fun

Microwave Magic

• Baked Apple http://www.food.com/recipe/microwave-baked-apple-for-one-368388 • Healthy (including French Toast in a cup) http://greatist.com/health/surprising-healthy-

microwave-recipes • Fast and Easy Snacks http://www.oola.com/cooking-tips/8873/17-crazy-fast-and-easy-

microwave-snack-hacks-muglife

Recipe Scrapbooking & Exchange

• Glue copies onto 8 ½ x 11 cardstock or scrapbook paper • Stickers, printed recipes and quotes from cutters • Page protectors for 3-ring binder • Have patrons bring copies and exchange for drop in program • Ties in with holiday or international themes

No Bake Desserts

• Make Your Own Parfait • Insanely Easy No-Bake Desserts https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/21-insanely-easy-no-bake-

desserts/ • 227 Pins and Ideas! https://www.pinterest.com/shugarysweets/no-bake-desserts/

Reluctant Cooks: Cookbooks, Apps and Sites

• Five most popular food sites: Allrecipes.com, Foodnetwork.com, Food.com, Thekitchn.com, Yummly.com

• 4 Popular Apps: http://www.reviews.com/recipe-app/

Small Appliance Savvy

• Ask staff who has one • Demonstrate • Show slides of modern vs. vintage • Invite people to bring in ones or photos and find them recipes, information (like tech help

programs) • Prize for stumping staff

Holiday How-Tos

• Basic Book Wreaths • http://kirstiemikles.blogspot.com/2010/10/book-wreaths.html • http://www.vintagepaintandmore.com/2013/11/book-page-wreath-tutorial.html

Gifts for Great Readers

• Bookmarks: quilling, origami, stamps, Mandala coloring, woven paper • Calligraphy with quotes on bookmarks • Decorating tote bags • Duct tape wallets or iPad covers

Local Charity Review

• Demonstrations of how to make things for donations • Group projects – knotting blankets • Card making space • Handout listing contact information + needs for each agency

History of Traditions

• Culture clubs at schools, religious organizations could help run events • Crafts: Making crackers to pull, or learn new skill in New Year drop in • Sample candies

• Teach dance moves • Family gingerbread house competition, recycled boxes • Local traditions

10 Minute Ornaments

• Fill glass balls with glitter, garland, shredded paper • Print photos, decorate frames • Paper:

o http://www.smallhomelove.com/fun-easy-paper-ornaments-2/ o http://carolyncreates.com/3-easy-paper-ornaments/ o http://weddbook.com/entry/529c7c0e7b1f46197f000000