PR Tips for SLMS:

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

The Captive Audience

CONTINUED

Straight from a Students Mouth

an interview with LeZonn Miller, 2nd 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 IPads.

PR Tips to promote media

programs to students
An SLMS must:

Have a deep understanding of the

students
serve
Advertising
thethey
school
media center

Know
not
just
the
needs
but the
to students is a year round
process,
priorities
facing
the students
however
are you
maximizing
one of
most
Haveuseful
soundtools,
knowledge
of the
your
orientation?
content
being
taught
to
students
Orientation, or as we like to think
of
able to
effectively communicate
it, theBe
captive
audience.
to students at their level
Orientation
the not always
the
Createisprograms
and services
that
most interesting
activity.
Why
not
attract students
add some excitement to routine and
encourages students to return to the
media center? Games like Jeopardy
Ask
An SLMS
and Ithe
wantExpert:
to be a Millionaire
aregives
available
online
download
and can
PR
advice
to for
other
SLMS
be customized. Or, try a scavenger
hunt
things
up.
Kids love
to
to
Beliven
creative
and
inventive
when
hunt for
anything
its a great way
dealing
with and
students
to teach
students
find
Know
how towhere
laugh to
and
smile
Be a in
rubber
band,center.
be ableIn
to
resources
the media
addition
it creates
change
plansan
at environment
the drop of a dime
isStay
on the latest trends
that
fun current
and welcoming!
important to students
Use
orientation
to hand
librarycan be
Show students
thatout
learning
cards fun
and a book swap ticket - one

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
References
collages of their favorite books, make
these into screen savers to use in
classrooms.
Anderson, M. (2011). Everday best practices.
Library Media Connection, 30(3), 48-50.
Gardner,
M. E. boards
(2004). The
of the Library
Create
bulletin
of Role
teachers
Media
Specialist
in
School
Technology.
Library
reading a book of the month, reward
the
Media Connection, 22(5), 48.
first 10 students who can identify all the
teachers
correctly.
Gilmore-See,
J. (2009). Call to Action for Library
Media Specialists. School Library Media
Activities Monthly, 25(5), 51-53.

Embrace technology and ensure that

information
technology
extends
Lyon, L., Silverstein,
R., Fisher,
J., Hill,beyond
A., Hegel,
Miller, walls
D., & Moyer,
M. (2002).
Public
the C.,
school
and into
student
Relations: The Route to Success and Influence.
homes.

Public Relations for Your Library: A Tool for

Effective Communications; Tooting Your Own
Horn: Web-Based
Public Relations
for the School
Collaborate
with teachers
to showcase
Media Specialist; Bookmarks as a Teaching Tool;
whatCustomers
is being and
learned
in the media center
Culture: The Who and What of
andLibrary
classrooms
every 9 Efforts;
weeks.Strategies for
Public Relations
Successful Job Transition. Library Talk, 15(3), 46,8-16,18-19.
Offer
a class on blogging or making a

podcast
a reward for high achieving
Levitov, D. (2007). One Library Media
readers.
Specialist's Journey to Understanding Advocacy:
A Tale of Transformation. Knowledge Quest,

Highlight
a culture each month in media
36(1), 28-31.
center. Utilize displays and books to
Purcell, M. (2011). Destination Media Center:
highlight
achievements.
How tocultural
provide an
orientation to make sure
patrons are headed in the right
direction. Library Media Connection, 30(3), 1618.