In planning for a new Central Library, a small group of creative library thinkers wanted to address several questions: How could we reach the 18-29 year old audience our library was missing? How could we offer innovative programming that builds on previous successes? And how could we take advantage of the makerspace movement without a large, dedicated space for or specialized knowledge of technical equipment? The result was The Bubbler, a new programming model for our library that provides engaging, interactive programming focused on creativity, exploration and hands-on learning utilizing a network of local experts eager to share their talents. Incorporating our library’s new vision emphasizing learning, sharing and creating, The Bubbler has been extremely successful and highly visible in the community thanks to media support, an active social media presence, Bubbler coordinator Trent Miller’s leadership, and a programming model that invites expert program leaders to share their work at the library with their own social and professional contacts. The Bubbler has also helped us address a longstanding marketing challenge: offering more than 4000 individual programs each year, we needed new ways of marketing programs as a series or through name recognition. The Bubbler’s four main programs have helped us fine tune our marketing model to offer programs that are part of a series, build brand awareness, and a base of attendees for events.

The Bubbler was piloted in our neighborhood libraries while our Central Library was closed for construction, and we were able to test the theory of The Bubbler by offering several series of hands-on workshops which were met with enthusiastic response. The Bubbler consists of four main programs at the Central Library: Artist in Residence, Meet Your Maker, Night Light, and the Media Lab. Artists in the Artist in Residence program use the two-month residency to work on art projects in a public setting, provide drop-in art education, and teach classes in the Central Library and in neighborhood libraries. Meet Your Maker is a weekly, drop in program on Saturdays, featuring different community experts or “makers” providing visitors a chance to learn everything from cheesemaking to screenprinting to bookmaking to web site coding. Night Light extends the Bubbler experience through monthly, after-hours social events at the Central Library that rotate between music, theater, dance, storytelling, performance art, and other live happenings. The Media Lab is a free space to explore digital media production in the realms of stop motion animation, 3D world design, green screen video, audio design and graphic design from volunteers who are digital media professionals. All four programs further the library’s strategic goals of making the Central Library a destination space, providing innovative programming, engaging new audiences, and fostering creativity and civic engagement. Neighborhood library programming is also shifting toward the Bubbler model, focusing more on active, engaged learning opportunities for visitors of all ages.

The Bubbler helped the library achieve its strategic goals of establishing the Central Library as a downtown destination and engaging new audiences. Bubbler events routinely draw younger audiences, library card registration has increased at the Central Library, and the Bubbler’s social media presence gained 792 Twitter followers and 943 Facebook followers in less than a year. Strong support from City of Madison leaders, including Mayor Paul Soglin, has increased the library’s visibility in City government. The Bubbler has fostered an institutional excitement about art, learning, and creativity as well, pushing staff to embrace new ways of offering programming throughout the organization. The creation of many library partnerships through the Central Library’s Bubbler programming model has enriched the library system and created spinoff projects or partnerships at several neighborhood libraries. Community partners often help promote other library initiatives and become library advocates – and users – themselves. Thanks to a National Endowment of the Arts Our Town grant, with additional funding from the MPL Foundation and BMO Harris Bank, the Bubbler is off to a successful first year. In 2013, 5003 visitors attended 292 programs, and in 2014 to date, 2997 visitors attended 280 programs, not including drop-in attendance for artist-in-residence sessions. Our library and the Bubbler has benefitted greatly from the opening of a much anticipated new Central Library. Our challenge will be to keep that momentum going and continuing to attract new audiences while fine-tuning the program to best meet continued demand for Bubbler programming.