Whereas in the past, we often solicited outside presenters and speakers, our new programming model emphasizes original, librarian-created events and classes. This approach has allowed savvy staff to create culturally-relevant, responsive and buzzworthy offerings, chief among them the Random Fandom series. Random Fandom has special appeal to emerging adults and millennials, and attracted new audiences to our downtown location, a location with traditionally low attendance for most adult programming.

The key element in the Random Fandom series was keeping apprised of trends. Staff carefully gauged popularity of "cult" favorites in the bottom-up approach. We worked to build excitement via social media, engaging with customers who had RSVP'd by sharing quizzes, polls and reading lists. We engineered the experiences of the series for visual appeal and shareability, from offering cheesecakes as Golden Girls trivia prizes to the spectacle of painting in a highly visible space.

We had record attendance at the Golden Girls event, with over 70 participants, and continue to draw significant audiences for the Random Fandom events. More importantly, offering this type of programming signals our interest in listening to customer about their passions — however "random." The events have also provided community, allowing adults to meet and engage with one another, connecting over passions that don't always encourage in-person social experiences.