My Top 5 Tips for a Successful School Visit

In my time as a Youth Services Librarian, I visited with thousands of school children each school year in the fall and spring months to promote books, reading, literacy, the library… and of course, Summer Reading!  Here are my Top 5 Tips I can offer as you get ready to promote your Summer Reading program to students this spring: 

Tip #1: Create an Outline

We are so excited to share everything we can with the kids, and they are excited for us to visit.  Yet, too much information can overwhelm your presentation.  Establish your purpose and begin to focus on one main activity with the preferred group size.  Build from there to create an outline.  Are you getting kids excited for books using booktalks, read-alouds, or book trailers and other videos?  Are you encouraging participating in programs or reading challenges by sharing pictures or make-and-takes?  I’ve learned that smaller groups work best for booktalks and grade-level groups work nicely for Summer Reading. Perhaps you’re visiting to simply inform the students about the basics of what the library offers such as library cards, books, and computers.  Sometimes, the simplest outline can make the best visit, especially for smaller groups of younger kids who are new to the concept of a library.

Tip #2: Pick a fun read-aloud based on the purpose of your visit

Are you featuring new books or wanting to get kids excited about different genres?  Is your read-aloud going to be a theme based on your Summer Reading program theme?  Are you teaching kids about getting a library card?  Make sure you are choosing from a wide selection of authors, age ranges, reading levels, interests, and diversity.  I kept a detailed spreadsheet of books we recommended and those we read aloud so that we didn’t repeat titles year to year and met many of those variety topics.  Also, don’t rule out reading out loud to the bigger kids!  Children in the fourth and fifth grades loved it when we did a funny read-aloud at our Summer Reading presentations, and it got them excited to do the program.    

Tip #3: Bring a giveaway or a handout

If you have freebies from your library, those can go a long way to help kids remember you came to visit their classroom, but not all libraries have a budget for tchotchkes.  A simple item such as a bookmark or handout for the teacher and kids that displays all the books discussed, can be a great reminder tool and provide great information for the adult. This way, the kids have something to take home, so when an adult asks them, “What did you do today?” they can show them!  Oftentimes, these books listed on the handouts were popular in our library, which was a great way to show outcomes as well. We even post them on our library website.     

Tip #4: Know how to adapt your presentation style

When I’m on a school visit, I love talking with the kids and asking them questions like, “How is your day going today?” or “What is your favorite thing to do at the library?” My style is very outgoing and participatory.  However, you do have to respect a teacher’s classroom rules.  I’ve had teachers who let me sit on the floor with the kids and shout out loud (within reason of course!), and those who wanted me to ensure a quieter room by raising hands and only calling on those children to speak.  I learned to ask a teacher before presenting if there were any rules or issues I should know.  You have to learn to adapt your presentation style to fit the needs of the classroom, so that you can still be the best representative of the library while maintaining your relationships with the schools and teachers.

Tip #5 Go with the Flow!

Something will always go wrong.  I’ve learned to have laminated visual aids and puppets in my bag for when the technology doesn’t work.  You will go to the wrong classroom on the wrong day at the wrong time. Since school outreach was a large part of my role, I created an annual outline with timelines and tasks based on the calendar and school year and used online scheduling software. You will have pages stuck together in your read-aloud.  You will have kids ask you really funny questions that you don’t know the answers to.  You will have kids raise their hands and tell you a completely random story because you asked if anyone has a question. You will have kids look bored and think you are the un-coolest person around and tell you they hate reading.  That is all OK and the challenge is accepted!

My best advice? If you do everything wrong…

Be present at the visit, share the basics, talk to the kids and engage with them in a warm, friendly, and respectful manner.  Be remembered as the adult that gave them a positive reason to think of the library.  I loved when kids came to the library and said, “I know you!!” or “I told my mom we had to come see you.” Sometimes you learn those kids never visited the library until you came to their class.  Wow!  It made all that extra effort worthwhile and was one of the most rewarding parts of being a youth librarian.  So go out there, don’t be shy, learn from your mistakes, and make it the best experience you can!

Looking for More? Try some of these sites for ideas:

Marta-Kate Jackson, a Youth Services Librarian & Manager, has a great feature on her blog for school outreach 

English teacher Kim Lepre gives a great overview of what makes a great booktalk in this video 

Check out the Public Library & School Library Collaboration Toolkit from the AASL/ALSC/YALSA Interdivisional Committee on School/Public Library Cooperation. 

The book, Library Partnerships:  Making Connections Between School and Public Libraries by Tasha Squires I found helpful when I began doing outreach to classrooms.  I also found the book Transforming Summer Programs at Your Library by Natalie Cole and Virginia Walter interesting and inspiring for new ideas.

Jennifer Peterson is a member of the School Age Programs and Services committee.  Currently, she is the Youth Services Supervisor at the Indian Trails Public Library District in Wheeling, Illinois.   

The post My Top 5 Tips for a Successful School Visit appeared first on ALSC Blog.

 In my time as a Youth Services Librarian, I visited with thousands of school children each school year in the fall and spring months to promote books, reading, literacy, the library… and of course, Summer Reading!  Here are my Top 5 Tips I can offer as you get ready to promote your Summer Reading program to students this spring:  Tip #1: Create an Outline We are so excited to share everything we can with the kids, and they are excited for us to visit.  Yet, too much information can overwhelm your presentation.  Establish your purpose and begin to focus on one main activity with the preferred group size.  Build from there to create an outline.  Are you getting kids excited for books using booktalks, read-alouds, or book trailers and other videos?  Are you encouraging participating in programs or reading challenges by sharing pictures or make-and-takes?  I’ve learned that smaller groups…
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