A Tool for Advocacy and

Professional Development

Empowerment Through Your Newsletter

Why should you even consider publishing a newsletter?

A: Your plate is not full enough, and besides, stress is good for your heart

B: Using more paper means fewer trees; fewer trees means fewer leaves to rake

C: Teachers have too much free time, and they really love it when the stack of papers exceeds the size of their mailbox

D: You can bind your newsletters together and use them as a portfolio when applying for your next job

The correct answer is . . .

E. None of the above

Some real reasons to seriously consider publishing a library newsletter …

Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge

Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge

Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society

Pursue personal and aesthetic growth

Let the community know what the library media center is doing to help students develop into 21st Century learners

Announce programs and events that promote reading and literacy

Promote author visits

Preview and promote book fairs

Report on reading competitions

Share new teaching strategies

Preview newly arrived materials

Publicize curriculum resources

Encourage collaboration between the library media specialist and the content area teachers in a way that will ultimately raise test scores

Suggest possible collaborative lessonsRecognize teachers who collaborate on lessonsSpotlight print and online resources directly tied to curriculum objectivesInvite teachers to participate in the materials acquisition process

Provide a vehicle for In-service training/ professional development/outreach

Promote the LMC professional collectionDiscuss professional materials currently under consideration, and solicit teacher input for future acquisitionsInclude useful information on matters such as copyright law, teaching/learning trends, teaching strategies, etc.Get teachers “addicted” to partaking of all the LMC has to offer

Getting Started …

Choose a desktop publishing program…

Microsoft Publisher: Easy to use and included in most Microsoft Office bundles

Art Explosion Publisher Pro 2.0: More pro features and costs about $20

Adobe InDesign: Professional look at about $350

QuarkXpress 8: Really professional, newspaper-grade program at $529

Choose a design and layout

What form and how often?

Decide on a publication schedule and form

Print or E-mail?

Weekly, Bi-Monthly, Monthly?

As needed?

What am I going to put in this newsletter?

Ready Resources

Teacher SuggestionsStudent AchievementsSchool NewsletterDistrict NewsletterListservesLibrary Media Connection, School Library Journal, Teacher Librarian

Online Resources

I Love Libraries http://www.ilovelibraries.org/?gclid=CPnbqOnF3pYCFQsMGgodmFk91g

Marketing Your Library http://www.marketingyourlibrary.com/2008/06/top-10-ideas-for-summer-newsletter.html

The One Person Library http://www.ibi-opl.com/newsletter/Rober Iannello’s Promoting Libraries and Librarians (Gale PowerPoint) http://www.aib.sk/files/svkbb2005.pps Public Libraries and Schools: A Natural Partnership http://bookmarks.infopeople.org/pub_school_bk.htmlLibrary Lovers Calendar of Ideas http://www.librarysupport.net/librarylovers/calendar.html

Promote Your Library http://www.libraryavenue.com/id29.htm Good Ideas Newsletter http://www.schoolibrary.org/pub/goodideas.htm International Association of School Libraries http://www.iasl-online.org/index.htm Sites2Good2PassUp4Librarians http://www.librarysupportstaff.com/4schools.html

Bizarre, Crazy, Holiday and Events Calendars http://www.brownielocks.com/month2.htmlKid’s Puzzles http://www.kids-puzzles.com/Free Digital Photos http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/ Trivia Questions http://www.triviaplaying.com/

Beat Buddy - create your own newsletter!

Presented by:Karen DiGiorgio

Crittenden Middle School6158 Jefferson Avenue

Newport News, VA 23605karen.digiorgio@nn.k12.va.us

Slide presentation available at:http://cms.nn.k12.va.us/library.html

under Collaborative Resources