Open House: The Gummy Guess

With the end of summer reading and the start of school comes a new task for public Librarians: Open House visits.  This is only my second round of Open Houses, but I'd already learned a lot from my first year.

"Look at me!" the table shouts.

Giveaways

Parents and other visiting caregivers love getting free (useful) things.  I didn't just have brochures and calendars (though you should always have items with information about your location and upcoming events), I had *drum roll* scented bookmarks.  There are dozens of scratch-and-sniff bookmarks from which Librarians can select including the delicious (cinnamon rolls), the satisfyingly-healthy (strawberries), and the weird (sunscreen).

Kids and teens go wild for scented bookmarks in the Library so I took some of the more popular scents, directed a volunteer to stamp the back with our information, and voila!  Instant promotions that are both fun and practical.

The scent of success!

The Feature Attraction

Many parents and caregivers have a lot to do on Open House Night and usually feel pressed for time.  What will make them really want to stop and chat with their local Librarian?

This year, I had a guessing game.  Guests had a chance to guess how many "book worms" (gummy worms) were inside a colorful cup for a chance to win the cup, the gummies, and a book bundle for their child.  The game was easy for our participants to simply swing by, fill out a guess slip, and maybe chat about the Library a little.  It also gave a great excuse to reach out to the caregivers as they passed by ("Want a chance to win some books to take home?") rather than just the old "Have you visited the Library recently?"

This was a great success and caregivers loved the idea.  It was a fun opportunity to engage potential and current patrons in a unique way and let the community know that the Library always has something to offer.

Guesses ranged from 12 to 310 for the number of gummies!
Answer: 106 gummy worms.

General Supplies

• Tri-fold board: Sure, it hearkens back to the days of your own elementary science fair, but it gets the job done.  Our board was designed by a very creative teen volunteer who was excited to showcase everything!
• Pens (if your Library has personalized ones): Often caregivers need to take notes at Open House and by providing what they need you're already advocating the importance of your Library!
• Books and other resources or toys to feature: Our LEGO Club is particularly popular so I included a Duplo pyramid among our display.
• Brochures and paper information: You can't beat your general brochure to provide basic information for new parents/caregivers.

I hope this helps for your next foray into an Open House or similar outreach opportunity.  Oh, and smiling helps more than anything!  Good luck!