Changing bulletin boards each month can feel like a lot of work, especially when you are responsible for several at once. They take planning and time to put together, so it makes sense to get more from that effort. Interactive bulletin boards provide opportunities to gather ideas, notice patterns, share results, and shape meaningful library programs. (Get inspired by these ALSC blog posts about the wide-ranging impact of bulletin boards in the library.)
Start with a Plan
Decide in advance what your focus will be. Some months might feature art that invites patrons to draw, color, or contribute pieces to a larger project. Other months might focus on feedback using sticky notes, checkmarks, or short written responses to questions about programs, certain books, or events. During Summer Reading, the board may (likely) explain how to participate and earn incentives. At other times, they will highlight important community cultural celebrations or thematic book lists inspired by current events. Feel free to indulge when you get the urge (and energy) to create a really beautiful literary-inspired, pun-filled board just for the joy it brings.
Invite Patrons In to Join the Fun
Bulletin boards are usually in high-traffic areas like near doors, busy hallways, or service desks. Add prompts asking about topics like favorite authors, beloved characters, book wishlists, or even upcoming reading goals. For questions that require a bit of time, include QR codes or short links so patrons can submit longer or more sensitive responses online. If your library does not have a bulletin board you might consider using the side of a shelf, an empty wall, the back of a closet door, the front of a long service desk, or even a window. (Read this blog post about “Mapping a Path to Successful Programs and Services” to help you to identify where to place interactive data displays within your space.)
Reflect and Adjust
Every sticky note, drawing, or comment is potentially useful information. Patterns will develop around which programs are popular, which ideas repeat, and which books or activities are most requested. Use this information to inform planning and demonstrate the library’s responsiveness, giving concrete evidence of how the space supports patrons. Make time to review and to reflect on what works; what might need tweaking; and what surprises emerge. Being open to new ideas and insightful suggestions allows programs to evolve in ways that are more impactful and meaningful to the patrons and the wider community.Every Voice Matters
Remember to share findings with patrons. A few times a year, update the board with “You Asked, We Listened” or “Did You Know?” sections. Post reading challenge results, highlight new programs inspired by suggestions, or display infographics based on the data gathered from the board and around the library. Sharing results visually reinforces that community input is valued and that the library is responsive.(Review the ALSC Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Libraries.)
Make Every Board Count
Over time, these data points highlight trends and provide evidence of librarian impact and data-driven decision-making. In school libraries, this data can be shared with administrators to highlight student responsiveness, program outcomes, and to justify budget lines. In public libraries, it can be used in monthly reports, grant applications, or staff meetings to demonstrate patron needs and levels of engagement. Sharing results in newsletters and public reports advocates for the library by highlighting impact and showing how community voices guide decisions.
Changing the bulletin board is already on the to-do list. Why not let it do more? How can your next board help the library reflect the needs of people who use it?
===========================
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competency: V. Outreach and Advocacy
Amalia E. Butler is a member of the ALSC School-Age Programs and Services Committee. She is the librarian at Park Avenue School (Orange, NJ) serving children in preschool through 7th grade.
Pat Skinner
After working many years in a school setting where bulletin boards were so often used mainly as decoration and providing some information, I am looking forward to using that idea to gather more information from the patrons in our small public library. I like the idea of the ‘You asked, We listened’. In the situation I have stumbled into there is a need for some freshening up. And where there is a need to expand their offerings and programs, rather than doing the same things they have for years, I would like to see if we can tailor things more to the patrons that are well established but create more interest to draw in more library users. We offer so much more than the books and there is so much more we could offer.