The Captive Audience

PR Tips for SLMS:

Students
Contributors: Ingrid Hanson, Natarsha Miller, Jill Beverly
and Dolly Baker


Simple ideas for
attracting students

Make book talks more interesting by
creating podcasts and posting them on the
media center website.

Have students create pictures or collages
of their favorite books, make these into
screen savers to use in classrooms.

Create bulletin boards of teachers reading
a book of the month, reward the first 10
students who can identify all the teachers
correctly.

Embrace technology and ensure that
information technology extends beyond the
school walls and into student homes.

Collaborate with teachers to showcase
what is being learned in the media center
and classrooms every 9 weeks.
Offer a class on blogging or making a
podcast a reward for high achieving
readers.
Highlight a culture each month in media
center. Utilize displays and books to
highlight cultural achievements.

Advertising the school media center to
students is a year round process, however
are you maximizing one of your most useful
tools, orientation? Orientation, or as we like
to think of it, the captive audience.
Orientation is the not always the most
interesting activity. Why not add some
excitement to routine and encourages
students to return to the media center?
Games like Jeopardy and I want to be a
Millionaire are available online for download
and can be customized. Or, try a scavenger
hunt to liven things up. Kids love to hunt for
anything and its a great way to teach
students where to find resources in the
media center. In addition it creates an
environment that is fun and welcoming!
Use orientation to hand out library cards and
a book swap ticket - one more reason to
come back!
C


References

Anderson, M. (2011). Everday best practices. Library Media
Connection, 30(3), 48-50.
Gardner, M. E. (2004). The Role of the Library Media
Specialist in School Technology. Library Media
Connection, 22(5), 48.
Gilmore-See, J. (2009). Call to Action for Library Media
Specialists. School Library Media Activities Monthly,
25(5), 51-53.
Lyon, L., Silverstein, R., Fisher, J., Hill, A., Hegel, C., Miller,
D., & Moyer, M. (2002). Public Relations: The Route to
Success and Influence. Public Relations for Your Library:
A Tool for Effective Communications; Tooting Your Own
Horn: Web-Based Public Relations for the School Media
Specialist; Bookmarks as a Teaching Tool; Customers and
Culture: The Who and What of Library Public Relations
Efforts; Strategies for Successful Job Transition. Library
Talk, 15(3), 4-6,8-16,18-19.
Levitov, D. (2007). One Library Media Specialist's Journey
to Understanding Advocacy: A Tale of Transformation.
Knowledge Quest, 36(1), 28-31.
Purcell, M. (2011). Destination Media Center: How to
provide an orientation to make sure patrons are headed in
the right direction. Library Media Connection, 30(3), 16-18.




CONTINUED

Straight from a Students Mouth
an interview with LeZonn Miller, 2
nd
grade student at
Russell Elementary.
Q) How can Mrs. Arrington (SLMS) be more
effective and help you learn?
A) Help me read better, help me find books
quicker, teach lessons using I-Pads.
PR Tips to promote media
programs to students
An SLMS must:
Have a deep understanding of the
students they serve
Know not just the needs but the priorities
facing the students
Have sound knowledge of the content
being taught to students
Be able to effectively communicate to
students at their level
Create programs and services that attract
students

Ask the Expert: An SLMS gives
PR advice to other SLMS
Be creative and inventive when dealing
with students
Know how to laugh and smile
Be a rubber band, be able to change plans
at the drop of a dime
Stay current on the latest trends important
to students
Show students that learning can be fun