prompt #3 (week 6)

    After the several recent successes in passive programming at our library branch, I'd like to pitch a few passive program ideas for promoting our horror collection. 

    Firstly, I'd like to create a faux evidence/detective's board to both highlight and tie together various horror novels, media, and writers utilizing the white board near the library's entrance. Instead of using pins, I'd like to use the pin-shaped magnets used for the previous "You Belong" display. 

    The idea for this interactive display is that patrons would fill out slips of paper with their favorite writers or their favorite titles, what kind of media it is (i.e., book, media, etc.), and even a bit about the title or what they enjoyed about their experience with it. They'd also be encouraged to print out pictures of covers and movie posters, if they so choose. Different colors of string would be utilized to convey how the various titles are connected: red would signify that it's similar to another title (like a read-alike), black is for indicating the connection between writers and their works, and purple could signify adaptations of works in a different medium (i.e., book to movie). While I would start with a few "connections" I'd made to give patrons the idea, all horror aficionados that enter the branch would be encouraged to make suggestions/connections of their own. In this way, patrons, especially those who know the genre best, can recommend things to each other and may also find new titles or films to check out. This program would offer them the opportunity to showcase their own knowledge and contribute to a larger effort. 

    Some examples of "connections" to further illustrate this idea: Stephen King would be featured as a writer with black strings connecting him to his works like Carrie or It. It would then have purple strings connecting it with its various movie/television adaptations, as well as a red string that ties it to read-alikes like Edgar Cantero's Meddling Kids (a personal favorite of mine). King could also be connected via a red string to Joe Hill, his son and popular horror author in his own right. 

    Depending on the program's popularity, some connections may have to be removed to make room for new ones (especially if the display is up for the full month), but I'd like to keep track of the connections made by our patrons and use them to build out a word document or interactive map (like Prezi, maybe) that can be handed out or linked on the website for patrons and librarians to reference. 

    Another idea for a passive program for this genre is for a 100-word Horror Story contest. Piggybacking off the success of the NaNoWriMo short story contest for the teens, patrons would be encouraged to write and submit their own horror-inspired short story, as long as it's 100 words or less. Submissions can be collected in person at the branches via a designated submission box at the main desk or online via a Google form linked on the library's website. Patrons of all ages would be encouraged to enter, and winners will be picked according to age brackets of children (0-12), teens (13-17), and adults (18+). Once the top three winners (can be adjusted depending on interest) in each age bracket are chosen, stories will be typed up and presented in a display of their own for all library patrons to read when they pass by. As an added bonus, each story will have an accompanying recommendation of a read-alike or watch-alike based on the content, themes, etc. in the piece. Winners can make these suggestions themselves with their submissions, or the librarians can determine them.  

    Ideally, one or both of these passive program options would be put in place within the next year or so. Doing either one for the Halloween/spooky season is also definitely an option, given the public's proclivity toward the horror genre during this time of year. Patrons seem to be increasingly drawn to our passive programming since we've reopened from the Covid-19 related closure, so I sincerely hope they'll respond positively to these ideas. As always, if you have any suggestions or concerns for these programs, let me know!