Tonight we had the finale event for the Paint the Town Read initiative that we’ve been running for 2 months now. We hosted 2 great come-celebrate-and-show-you-love-the-library events–one at the Main Library and one at ImaginOn. We had, collectively, over 1,000 people show up to celebrate libraries on this Friday of National Library Week! (May I mention that we were running our events parallel with the Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood sold-out concert at the arena in downtown Charlotte in the same city block?) It was a wonderful, library-loving night!
Here are some thoughts on how to make big library events that people love:
1. People love music, especially live music. Tonight we showcased the rocking & pure lovely music of Lunch Money. If you haven’t booked them for your library, get on it!
2. People love to be surprised. Many folks showed up prepared to see the theatre event only at ImaginOn, not knowing that there was food, drink and goodies waiting for them. Those that came just for the party found that there were welcoming staff, giveaways, music and lots to do!
3. People love to be treated special. Staff roamed among the many hundreds of visitors and welcomed them and thanked them for coming. It is the same as if you were having a party at your house–remember that…treat every guest special. And it will be a special event.
Here’s to Emily and all the staff that helped make the Red, Read Party a Real, Really Special Event!
I would like to add AMEN! The staff was wonderful! They worked the room making sure everyone was happy!
Totally didn’t expect all the goodies! We loved the Alphabet soup play. Considering our kids are 22 months old that is saying a lot!!
But my absolute favorite was Lunch Money.
They rocked the house!!
If you don’t own their CD yet go buy a copy!!
I love the music as much as (okay maybe even a little bit more) my daughter.
Hoping to find some photos of the event online.
Finding your comment has made my day! It was an evening filled with fun for community members AND staff. Lunch Money really did rock the house, huh? That last 30 minutes of live rock music, the kindie mosh pit, the dancing adults and flying red discs was nothing short of fantastic! Thanks for coming and rocking with us at the Library.
Tony-
I read about your celebration with envy. What a party! Of the 3 points you make, #3 is the most important to me as a library patron. In all cases, it is the human contact that binds us to a place. I can’t imagine that ever changing. I recently had dinner in San Francisco with a young MD/PhD who is doing research on eye contact and touching among mammals. He is finding astonishing things out about the nature of mammalian exchanges of welcoming (a human handshake for instance, or sea lions touching fins and the like). Turns out these gestures actually make us more resiliant. Keep things strong in Charlotte, Tony!
Patricia
The Red, Read Party was absolutely amazing! Thanks, Tony, for having this dream and sharing it with all of us. I couldn’t be happier with the way the night progressed and the turnout we had. Lunch Money rocked out and the activities were awesome! Thanks again!
Em