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Orem Library rolls Orem Reads into yearlong challenge and explains display policy
Summary
Programming librarian Meg Cinders Pei unveiled a unified Orem Reading Challenge for 2026 with Hobbit-themed badges, a Beanstack-managed registration platform and limited physical 'junk journals'; staff also reviewed a post-2023 display policy built on ALA guidance and invited resident contributions to the display calendar.
Meg Cinders Pei, Orem Library programming librarian, described a reworked adult programming lineup that consolidates the Orem Reads fall event, yearlong adult reading challenge and periodic book clubs into a single, yearlong "Orem Reading Challenge" that kicks off in January.
"We've made some changes to our adult programming for 2026," Meg said, explaining the library moved the fall Orem Reads kickoff to January and designed a reading challenge that uses themed location badges inspired by The Hobbit. The library provides a limited number of The Hobbit copies and a decorative "junk journal" for participants; staff-designed sticker badges reward completion of challenge milestones. Registration is managed through the Beanstack app (orem.beanstack.org), which the city pays for to host unlimited reading challenges.
Staff also reviewed the library’s display policy, explaining the 2023 rewrite followed best practices from the American Library Association and the Library Bill of Rights. The policy clarifies roles for staff, collection developers and the advisory commission, allows a wide range of resident-proposed topics when materials exist, and defines types of displays—local history, cultures, staff picks and "meet your neighbor" features—so the library’s voice and individual staff interests can coexist.
Commission members asked about display locations and metrics; staff said some displays moved during renovations and that success is measured by checkouts and qualitative feedback. Staff cited 2023 checkout examples (Halloween and Thanksgiving among the highest-performing displays) and said they would update 2024–25 statistics for the commission’s review.
Staff invited cross-promotion with the makerspace and other library divisions to align programming and displays. Members suggested additional topics (for example, baking and fossils) and staff committed to considering them when building the calendar.
The commission encouraged resident participation and emphasized the administration will continue to accept display proposals and materials for collection development consideration.
