LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Here are the responses to the mini-survey I conducted regarding library PR.
Thanks again to Darla, DaShannin, Anita, Kathy, Kim, Simone, Sandy, Debbie,
Cindy, and Kristy. I've also included my own responses to these questions.
Boy oh boy are we a busy bunch!
1. What do you do to promote the library and reading?
-> This week we have been celebrating our freedom to read with a daily
question. The students and staff get a mini candy bar if they answer
correctly, then have their name placed in the drawing at the end of the week
for a gift certificate to Borders books.
-> Cool ALA "READ" posters, displays and bulletin boards, P.A. announcements
about which book is currently the student favorite in Accelerated Reader
voting, ALA promotional items for teens (bracelets, bookmarks, "READ"
tattoos, etc.), prizes during the Book Fair, pizza party in May for those
who read 15 of 20 Texas Lone Star list titles, reading to kids, book talks,
NoveList subscription, and much more!
-> This year I am trying to promote the library to by having a monthly
contest. The contest is for any student who comes in the library to borrow a
book. The contest this month is How many books are in the library? Another
month might be how many jellybeans are in the jar? I wanted to have a fun
incentive to get kids in the library. I also have booktalks and book
displays to encourage students to read.
-> I send out lists of new books and materials. I make lists of services
the library provides. I send out e-mail messages about the library program
and services. I give booktalks, teach classes, confer with teachers, give
reading gudiance, talk about books, etc.
-> A number of things--display cases, newsletters, events, etc. I do "book
bash" events before holidays, where I put out new titles and serve
refreshments during lunch periods. Teachers are invited in to choose
recreational reading for themselves for the holiday breaks.
-> Have free food with book displays for teachers, Newsletters targeting
groups, bookclubs for teachers and students, drop notes to teachers about
new materials or ideas.
-> Services I provide and how I can help, new materials, upcoming events.
-> I purchase the books that kids ask for. I work with Battle of the Books.
-> I talk about books to people all the time. I've got posters and contests
that promote reading. I do announcements, newsletters, booktalks, reading
lists, lists of new materials, and internet lists. I've even given teachers
a "gift certificate" that they could redeem for the purchase of any book
that they wanted to see in the library--I did this in my first year at a
school where the teachers generally avoided the library. Not everyone took
advantage, but I had some people use it three or four years after I issued
them--and yes I still honored it! :)
2. If you produce a newsletter, what kinds of information do you include?
-> I don't produce one yet, but hope to in the near future.
-> Remote passwords for electronic resources, important dates (Teen Read
Week, etc.), newly-released info about student reading habits and favorite
book titles, volunteer info, upcoming events (Lone Star pizza party, etc.),
and much more!
-> I write a monthly newsletter for teachers. I mainly focus on new
materials in the library, recommended websites, topics related to the month,
and what I am planning to do with the students during class (my teachers do
not collaborate with me).
-> When I produce I newsletter I tell what has been happening in the
library, list new materials, give directions for accessing online resources,
and talk about issues concerning selection and censorship.
-> I submit info on events or new materials to the parent newsletter each
month. I also do a reading-promotion newsletter just for staff about 4
times a year with recommended reading lists from me and my assistant.
-> New books in the library, web sites of interest, I always ask teachers to
contact me if they have any special needs.
-> I focus on materials that would be of interest--ranging from the
professional collection contents to information on student aid websites. I
write about upcoming events. I promote not only books but also various
websites. I try to pick a theme in the sites that I recommend and have the
sites for that issue focus on that them. I've written a newsletter solely
intended for faculty and another that was intended for teachers and students
(and anyone in the community who had access to it.) I'm considering
converting my newsletters to pdf format so that they can be available on the
library website as well. So far, my newsletters have all been in print
format, but I definitely see the time coming when they will be e-based.
3. If you subscribe to other mailing lists (electronic or otherwise) for a
source of information, what are they? (feel free to include subscription
information if you have it!)
-> Member of LM_NET, Texas Library Connection (for Texas school librarians),
Neat Net Tricks computer users list, Accelerated Reader teacher/librarian
lists, and many more!
-> LM_NET is the only Listserv I need!
-> I subscribe to LM_NET, Silk-12, and a couple small ones.
-> I subscribe to lists like NeatNew and ExLibris, YALSA-BK, Librarianship
101, WagonDragon Book Review, and of course LM_NET. I use the information I
get from this variety of sources to help me decide what materials I want to
purchase and/or promote, what sites are new and teachers might want to know
about. I have several sub-folders in my inbox labeled: Consideration File,
Curriculum Links, Newsletter Ideas, Professional Development, and Web Page
Ideas. As messages come in, I sort information into them and get rid of what
I don't need. It helps keep me organized.
4. Do you do promotion geared toward:
a. faculty 3
-> One of this year's most fun activities was a quick library tour and
re-orientation for teachers about how to use the OPAC...followed by drinks
and refreshments (purchased at my own expense) and freebie giveaways (old
magazines, bookends, etc.)
-> To make the classroom teachers aware of primary source documents, 15
minutes of a faculty meeting was turned over to the Media Specialist. She
did a powerpoint presentation, and brought samples of primary source
documents and lesson plans, showing how they could be incorporated into the
present curriculum. (In NY, our 4th graders have to answer document based
questions.) She put together a pamplet for the teachers, and offered to
give workshops on how to use both print and electronic primary source
documents.
-> newsletters, notes, get togethers, book club
-> I have a standing class at the beginning of the year inservice for all
new teachers.
b. students 4
Comments:
-> To promote the science fiction collection to the 6th graders, we
announced a "Guess the Alien" contest. We purchased a large, inflatable
alien doll (you know, little green man with big black eyes…). Each morning
before the students came in, we put the doll in a classroom. The doll was
set up to depict a scene or setting from one of the sf books. For instance,
one morning the alien was found wearing a Mets baseball cap, another
morning it was found in the coat closet holding an umbrella. The class that
found the doll announced over the loudspeaker what the doll was doing. Over
the course of the contest, the students kept track of what the doll was
found doing, and read the sf books from the LMC. The class that correctly
guessed the book at the end of the contest won. The winner was announced
over the loudspeaker and got an sf-themed library party.
-> newsletters, displays, book club
-> I meet with all students in class and out of class to ask about book
selection.
c. both 6
Comments:
-> I find that most of my promotion is for students. Since we are an open
library - students can come anytime during the day to get a book. Many times
it is up to the students to remind the teacher they need to go to the
library. However, this year I am having a Bagels and Books for teachers in
the library. It's a morning breakfast that is centered around all of the
latest materials we have in the library - videos, books, reference
materials, etc.
d. other (please specify)
parents, administrators, school board members, and the community
5. What do you consider to be the most important type of PR you do and why?
-> Showing the students and staff what our media center has to offer. The
other big thing is that our media center is user friendly, inviting and
interesting to use.
-> One-on-one helpful enthusiasm! As one of our new teachers put it on the
bulletin board I just finished this afternoon, "People may forget the things
you say, but they'll always remember the way you made them feel." I want
students, parents, teachers, and administrators to feel like they can come
to me with anything for help, and that the librarian is always on their
side!
-> The most important PR I do is my newsletter. It is a simple and easy way
to promote the library. I wish I could write about collaboration projects
with teachers in my library - but because I am split between two schools -
it is almost impossible to collaborate.
-> A friendly disposition, a smile, and a helpful attitude.
-> I think the most important is the informal stuff--just friendly helpful
offers to the staff; let them know I'm approachable and helpful.
-> Newsletters- refer back to it with teachers and students
-> To plan on what teachers will need to successfully teach and have it
there before they need it. Example: I was out of town the day of the WTC
tragedy. When I returned to my office on Thursday, I put together a list of
web resources for teachers. I faxed the list to them as well as hotlinked
them on my website. On Saturday a teacher let me know how valuable that
information was. She had used it with her class on Friday after they
watched the Faith Service at the Washington Cathdral.
->I think the day-to-day friendly, cheerful, helpful attitude does wonders
for making you approachable--by students, staff, and faculty alike.
6. What items do you produce for students that indirectly or directly
promote the library?
-> We have done bookmarks that contain library info. and online database
information.
-> Bookmarks, PowerPoints, handouts, bulletin board displays that promote
books in our collection, etc.
-> The most important PR I do is trying to help people when they have a
need. For example, sometimes when a teacher has a computer problem, they
may feel that our tech support staff's attitude is "Your problem is not my
problem." They know I will at least try to help them, and will do what
troubleshooting I can. The same is true for other areas.
-> As a first year LMS, this is what I am doing for PR – Open School Night –
3-fold brochure for parents plus a looped PowerPoint display. For students I
have bookmarks with the school library name on them. The kids are amazed to
see that I have bookmarks and since they are computer generated I can change
them at will. (Apparently they did not have them before). Hopefully I will
be able to add more as time progresses.
-> Worksheets, bulletin boards, contests, booktalks, book fairs, etc.
-> Display cases in the library.
-> class lessons
-> Bookmarks, games, and lesson plan books for aides to use.
-> Lists of state book award nominees and winners, bibliography style
sheets, lists of search engines and how to use them, tips for searching,
information on state purchased databases.
Additional comments:
-> This is my first year in this position, so it has definitely been a real
learning expereince. I have many things yet to try, but I am looking forward
to it!
-> There are tons of articles and books about school library PR. You can
find them by doing a search in ERIC.
-> I work as a district librarian in a district that covers 65,000 square
miles. I have eleven schools that I visit twice a year. The service that I
provide is ranked third in the district in level of importance. I make sure
that I take care of teachers requests promptly and stay in contact with
them. Everyone has my home phone, so if they come into town on the weekend
they can get a hold of me to pick up stuff at the district media center.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Mailing List Home