That is a tough one as each community is different. A library in a retirement community won't have as many children attending storytimes as one in a community with lots of schools. It is probably more important to look at community demographics, time of the program, PR efforts, and quality before jumping to eliminating a program. In your first example, is the storyteller wonderful or bored? Is PR going out to daycares (if you have a night storytime), neighborhood newsletters? Are you competing with area mother's day out programs when you offer the program? Are you doing storytime when kids are taking naps (in the afternoon)? Are there unruly parents and kids, and other parents don't want their kids in that environment?
I think there is a point where tradeoffs have to be considered. If you have a series of monthly programs, and each one has only six people attending and you're paying $200 per month per speaker, and you've taken the effort to discern issues around time, consistency, and advertising and there still is a problem getting people to come, if the topic is currently popular in general but the community is not responding, then it is probably time to hang it up. Good question, but I'm not sure that there would be appropriate metrics considering the complexity of a community, quality of programming, and logistical and PR issues. Dale -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Laurie Mahaffey Sent: Thu 1/24/2008 8:46 AM To: ctls-l Subject: [ctls-l] FW: Question about programs & priorities (From Donita at Wells Branch) From: Donita [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 11:54 AM In determining which programs to continue and which to scale back, we are trying to set up a base level of participation. What kind of formula do other libraries use to determine if a program is successful? Do you need 15 children in a storytime? One hundred at a puppet show? Do you have different requirements for adult programs and children's programs? Any input would be great. Thanks! -Donita _______________________________________________ ctls-l mailing list ctls-l@ctls.net http://ctls.net/mailman/listinfo/ctls-l_ctls.net _______________________________________________ ctls-l mailing list ctls-l@ctls.net http://ctls.net/mailman/listinfo/ctls-l_ctls.net
