CITATION PEARL: SEARCH COMPETENCY

Database: WorldCat Pearl Citation Searching

I began with a source I already knew:
Programming for adults :a guide for small- and medium-sized libraries by Raymond Ranier

Descriptors:Adult services in public libraries -- United States. Libraries and adult education -- United States. Public libraries -- Cultural programs -- United States.

Then I used the Adult services in public libraries -- United States link which led me to 25 very pertinent hits.

First hit = Adult programs in the library / Author: Lear, Brett W.The other hits were very relevant.

Review: A very readable text on how to produce successful programs. Lear has the ability to describe in explicit terms the procedures that should be used to develop policies that relate to the library mission, proceed with specifics needed to target intended audiences, locate performers or speakers, raise funds, publicize events, and produce an outstanding program followed by an evaluation.”—American Reference Books Annual

Reflection: There were 25 hits; all but 4 were pertaining strictly to adult programming in the public library setting. The topics covered included several books on creating and running adult book clubs, senior citizen outreach, and a manual about adult programming; all in all this method of searching in this database proved to be quite fruitful.

This search method has opened up a whole new world of search terms and synonyms for my blogging purposes, at least in this database. I learned that activities instead of programming or programs yields more hits. I learned that the term adult services or youth service begets more hits than just the word adult or youth far more relevant hits. This has been a very fruitful lesson.


Public libraries have always geared the bulk of their programming to Youth Services...with crafts, summer reading and storytelling. In the meantime, we have offered the traditional book clubs with other occasional programming to the 18 and over crowd.Our library has increased our Adult Programming budget by fifty percent for 2008 in an attempt to provide more diverse and creative programming for our "grown" folks. In the last year we have offered jewelry making, party planning, landscaping, computer instruction, car maintenance and songwriting workshops along with the adult summer reading club. In addition we offer bookmobile services to our community's nursing homes. We are trying our best to enlighten entertain and serve the entire adult community.