Adult Services

For Library Staff Serving Adults

Tab/Accordion Items

North Carolina Adult Programming Environmental Scan Reports

Results and analysis of the state-wide environmental scan of adult programming in North Carolina public libraries, conducted fiscal year 2019-2020.

Executive Summary

Full Report

Other News and Information

American Library Association Voter Engagement Guide

ALA’s guide provides strategies and examples of how libraries can meet the information needs about voting for their community members, such as voter registration information, candidate forums, and being a polling place.

First Look Report on Recent Trend Results in Adult Literacy in the United States

The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) studies three major competencies—literacy, numeracy, and digital problem solving.  This report compares the 2017 survey results from adults in the United States to their peers across the globe.

Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities

This study of eight public libraries describes their efforts in dealing with the opioid crisis and how partnerships and funding were used to deal with the crisis.

Nothing Passive About It: Self-Directed Programming

This article in Library Journal describes the level of thought and planning that go into what are commonly called “passive programs,” and how engaged library patrons are with this type of programming.

New Americans Library Project

The American Library Association gathered information from public librarians and partner organizations and provides examples of how public libraries can expand their programs and services to new Americans.

National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA)

This two year study looked at characteristics, audiences, outcomes and value of library programming, as well as determining nine competencies required to succeed in the library programming.

Library-Adult Services 
This listserv is for NC library staff that provide services and programs for adults; subscription required.

Collaborative Summer Learning Program

This nationwide collaborative provides thematic programming material for children, teens, and adults for the annual summer learning efforts in public libraries.

North Carolina Center for the Book

The Center for the Book is a program of the North Carolina Humanities Council and offers humanities based programming and grants for libraries, such as the scholar led discussion series “Let’s Talk About It.”

PLA-Programming Resources 

This site is the Public Library Association’s collection of resources about programming in public libraries for adults and seniors, as well as low cost programming.

Programming Librarian

The American Library Association’s Public Programs Office provides this website where those interested in library programming can share ideas and browse through program models submitted by library staff.

 

5 Minute Librarian

Three librarians provide short articles about easy to implement book displays, marketing ideas, etc.

NoveList Training

Recorded trainings and tutorials, as well as how to documents and guides for using NoveList, the reader’s advisory tool included in NC LIVE.

LibraryReads

This is a list of the top ten books published each month that librarians across the country love, along with reviews from the librarians.

PLA-Readers’ Advisory

This site is the Public Library Association’s collection of resources about reader’s advisory service in public libraries, particularly genre fiction and book clubs.

RA for All

Beck Spratford is a reader’s advisory librarian and trainer from Illinois who writes numerous articles about providing reader’s advisory service to teen and adult library patrons.

 

Adult Basic Literacy

Literacy for All: Adult Literacy through Libraries

ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services toolkit will help you add, expand, and advocate for adult literacy services and offer suggestions to help you reach and serve new and non-readers and establish the library as an essential literacy partner in your community.

National Coalition for Literacy

The National Coalition for Literacy, of which ALA is a member, provides many advocacy resources to advance adult education, family literacy, and English language acquisition in the United States.

ProLiteracy

ProLiteracy is the largest adult literacy and basic education membership organization in the nation and through a partnership with ALA offers the free online course, Adult Literacy through Libraries (ALL): an Action Agenda Online Course, on ProLiteracy Education Network.

Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy

This Public Library Association site contains self-directed tutorials for basic technology skills, as well as a site with resources and tools for technology trainers.

Digital Learn

GCFLearnFree.org is a free online educational website focusing on technology, job training, reading, and math skills; the site is a program of Goodwill International of Eastern NC Inc. and the Goodwill Community Foundation Inc.

GCF LearnFree

Financial Literacy

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Resources for Libraries

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides free publications, online tools, and training opportunities to help libraries provide financial education to their communities.

Money Smart Week

Money Smart Week is an annual national initiative between ALA and the Federal Reserve Bank (Chicago) to provide financial literacy programming to help members of your community better manage their personal finances.

Smart investing@your library

This site is sponsored by ALA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and provides model programs, resources, and training opportunities about managing personal finances.

Health Literacy

Health Literacy

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) describes the importance of health literacy and the role that libraries play in providing consumer health informtion to their communities.

Health Literacy Toolkit (free registration required)

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) and ALA’s Libraries Transform campaign have partnered to create a free toolkit for raising awareness of how libraries support health literacy in their communities, including downloadable graphics to use online and in print.

NC Health Info

NC Health Info is a service of the Health Sciences Library at the UNC-Chapel Hill and is maintained by volunteer librarians statewide; this consumer guide covers health topics and provider services.

Public Library Health

This project is a collaboration between the Public Library Association (PLA) and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) that collects program ideas, database recommendations, and consumer health resources for libraries.

 

Immigrants/New Americans

New Americans Library Project

The American Library Association gathered information from public librarians and partner organizations and provides examples of how public libraries can expand their programs and services to new Americans.

US Citizenship & Immigration Services: Libraries

The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, provide citizenship and educational materials to libraries.

LGBTQ

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT)

This ALA round table supports the needs of LGBTQIA+ people by providing a toolkit for providing library service to LGBTQIA+ people, as well as bibliographies and reviews and sponsoring the Stonewall Book Award.

Is Your Library Doing Enough for LGBTQ Patrons?

This article from EBSCO provides ideas to make your library more welcoming to the LGBTQIA+ people in your community.