Planning
Here are some things to think about as you develop your program. Click on any of the sections for more comprehensive information. And, if you wish, download a PDF of this entire Planning section so that you may easily print and distribute it as needed (best printed in landscape).
Creating Your Team
Bringing together people with the right knowledge, resources, and specialties is key to pulling-off a successful program. Finding the right people will do far more than lighten your own workload!
Book Selection
There are many wonderful titles to choose from, and the success of the program will depend, to a large extent, on selecting a book with broad appeal that will engage your community.
Community Outreach
Reach-out far and wide into your community in order to elicit sponsorship, volunteer assistance, promotional materials as well as participants in your program.
Creating Promotional Materials
Maine programs have implemented a potpourri of promotional materials, including bookmarks, flyers, handouts (including “interim’ handouts used to take advantage of momentum and public interest before all events are confirmed), pins, posters, press releases, stickers, and tote bags. They run the gamut, utilizing black ink, full-color, white paper, specialty paper, simple or sophisticated design.
Budget/ Funding
One Book programs have been offered in Maine at a cost ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The ambitions of the program can be geared to the available resources, and actual out of pocket expenses can be kept low by enlisting volunteers and in kind contributions. Expenditures to consider include book acquisition, advertising and promotion, design, and programs and presenters
Evaluating
If you wish to assess your program chiefly on its own merits, or with an eye toward future programs, it will be invaluable to spend the time evaluating all facets of your efforts. This information will also be welcomed by others after you if you choose to share your experiences on this Maine Humanities Council OB:OC resource.
Please consider whether you will wish to share your program experiences with others in the One Book community. You will be able to share by furnishing your finished program details to us for listing in our Maine Programs section. If interested in this option, you may want to download our submission form now so that you can familiarize yourself with the information and materials we will ask for. Of particular note is information and suggested release forms for any program photography involving people.
