[OPLINLIST] EXTERNAL: Buddy Project

Mon Nov 22 18:48:35 EST 2021

Mary,

So, not quite the same thing, but during COVID we starting this thing called "Project Postcard" so that patrons could see what one another was reading - they pick up a blank postcard (in the library now, but at the time via curbside) and write a review and mail it back to us, or drop it in the book drop. We post the completed cards to social media with links to the titles, and we are planning a story walk featuring kids' reviews (we have received reviews from all age groups (as designed).) More info at www.ghpl.org/postcard<http://www.ghpl.org/postcard>

The relevant part to you is that it was REALLY hard to get people to send them back. We had TONS (hundreds!) picked up from the library, lots of people who wanted to participate, but for the first few months, not ONE completed card was returned. Finally a few months in they started to trickle, and now we get ~1/week on average. Most are dropped off rather than mailed, and a few number of patrons have noted that we don't provide the stamps (though it would be crazy expensive to put stamps on the hundreds that go out, especially when they aren't coming back... no plans to do this, drop off works fine for us!).

I would recommend providing postage since it's something a lot of younger patrons apparently don't often deal with, that we didn't expect to be such a barrier in a pretty passive program like this.

We promoted via social media, curbside pick up, program brochures, etc. and lots of people heard about it and took the blank cards, just didn't follow through. The turning point was when we partnered with the schools, and middle grade classes used it as an assignment and wrote reviews on books they read. Maybe consider partnering with a school, or organization that already exists as a start?

Good luck!

Grace Freeman

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Adult Services Librarian
Grandview Heights Public Library
Where the Community Connects

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I'm currently reading: The Deadly Hours by Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber, Christine Trent
I'm currently listening to: The Judge's List by John Grisham

Please stay healthy: wash your hands, stay 6 feet apart, wear a mask, and get vaccinated!
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From: OPLINLIST <oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org> on behalf of Mary Ball via OPLINLIST <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2021 6:35 PM
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Subject: EXTERNAL: [OPLINLIST] Buddy Project

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Hello,

I just finished a wonderful book, "All the Lonely People" by Mike Gayle.
Hubert Bird, an elderly Jamaican immigrant, is expecting a visit from his daughter, Rose.
In his weekly conversations, Hubert regaled Rose with stories about all  of his adventures
with his friends. Rose can't wait to meet them. She is taking a vacation from her job as a professor
in Australia and is looking forward to seeing Hubert and his friends.  The trouble is, there are no friends-
Hubert made them up.  He's lonely and has to find and make some friends
before Rose comes home.

Enter his neighbor, Ashleigh and her young daughter. They slowly develop a trusting
relationship and set about to find friends.

Now, that you know a part of the story- here is the part I found inspirational.
Ashleigh sets about to help the lonely in her small village/neighborhood with
the help of Hubert.  The group struggles at first, but soon the idea of
helping the lonely catches on.

I would like to do something like the Loneliness Project in the book that reaches out to the
lonely and isolated in our area.  I was thinking of a pen pal project - just to get started.

My question is do any of you do something like this in your library?
If so, how did you do it and how did you get it off the ground?

We were brainstorming today and we thought we could bring in
young people to write to seniors who are in nursing homes or
in apartments - mostly living alone and perhaps a bit lonely-
more so because of COVID.

I'm looking for ideas- what worked, what didn't.

Thanks

Mary Kay Ball
Reference Librarian
Barberton Public Library
602 West Park Ave
Barberton, Oh 44203
330-745-1194(Ext. 1444 for Voice Mail).

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