Book Speed Dating – A Sample Teen Program 10/29/12

Title: Book Speed Dating Location: IPL Meeting Room Staff: Teen Librarian + volunteer Number of Attendees: 20 (pre-registered) Overview: Book Speed Dating – This program is a way to introduce users to a wide variety of titles that they may not select for themselves. Participants sit with a book of their choice, then after three minutes of skimming the cover text, first pages, etc., a bell rings and they pass their book to the person next to them. In the course of an hour, twenty people can get a sampling of twenty different titles. A “behind door number three” option at the close of the program is the use of “blind date books” – books that have been wrapped in paper to obscure their titles and authors. Goals:

1. Connect teens with literature. 2. Promote discussions about how we’re drawn to specific books over others. 3. Have teens select books for check-out (or to take if using ARCs).

Set-up:

Tables and chairs, with one book at each chair.

1 small table for “blind date” display.

Bell or buzzer to signal when to switch books.

Multimedia:

Laptop and speakers to play music. Budget:

This program uses existing materials and marketing strategies, so there is no need for fund allocation.

Variations:

Select books based on a theme/genre.

Participants come prepared to talk about their favorite book; cycle through people.

Include lists of “compatibility matches” – read-a-likes for popular titles.

Use Advanced Reader’s Copies and use raffle tickets to allow “first come, first serve” selection.

Promotion:

Word of mouth to teen patrons.

Provide flyers to the Teen Advisory Board for school bulletin boards.

Small flyers (approx. 5.5”x4.15”) at service points and in study rooms.

Social media promotion. Sample Promotional Piece: