iDate: Ridgewood Residents Getting Online Dating Tips at the Library

The best place to pick up dating tips? The library, of course.

According to organizers of a new iDate series at the Ridgewood Public Library, a group of about 30 residents have been learning the tricks of the trade when it comes to online dating from free classes at the library.

“We started in January,” Librarian Kerri Wallace, who started the monthly program, said.

“We do a lot of how-to online courses at the library, so I thought, why not try one on Internet dating? I don’t think any other libraries do anything like this, so we weren’t sure what to expect. But we’ve actually had a great response.”

Each month, Wallace runs a seminar featuring iDating experts who talk on different aspects of online dating – which sites to use, how to choose the perfect profile photo, and even tips on how much information you should share on match.com or OkCupid.

“Online dating still sort of has a stigma, and a lot of people are nervous about using it for the first time,” Wallace said.

“One of the nice things we didn’t expect is that everyone who comes for the classes has an open dialogue about their experiences.  That’s been really helpful to people. My goal is to help people build confidence and be able to use all different sorts of online resources.

The seminars are free, and the library hasn’t been targeting anyone in particular when promoting them. As a result, Wallace said the crowd attracted to the seminars, “has been really varied. All ages, all different relationship levels. Some people are looking for their first real relationship, some people are getting back into dating after a long-term relationship, and a lot of people are at different points in between.”

While Wallace said the future of the iDate classes will depend on the interest level they sustain, so far, it’s been off to a good start.

“We are getting a lot of people,” she said. 

The next session is Tuesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at the library.