Keeping teachers and others aware of new holdings

[Roselle]

I used to print out a list of new books added on a monthly basis and distribute a newsletter from our library on an as needs basis. We stopped doing that because there was too much money going into printed matter. OK. Then we tried to send the lists of newly added materials to our staff by email but staff rarely would respond to that - you have to open the mail, right?

I asked for a link on the internal website but the guru wants to have it scheduled. I'm a librarian....who believes in schedules? I get so excited when I have something new I want to share with staff that I can't wait to get it to them.

How do you handle this at your school?

[Teresa Plumer]

I realize you posted this a while ago, but since I just joined the site I thought I would share some things that I have done. I usually try to have one large order each fall and then smaller orders as the year goes on. After getting in the big fall order (which I place over the summer), and we get them shelf ready, I have a breakfast for my faculty and staff to show off what we've gotten. I send out invitations, provide food, play music or sometimes a slide show of the book covers, and have a door prize or two. The first time I did this at my current school it was very well received. I do admit that as the years have gone on I get fewer and fewer teachers attending, but I still try to do it at least once a year.

At other times I send emails to staff about new books that pertain to their curriculum. This past year I tried to send out a quick one page monthly update of media center news instead of larger lengthier ones.

I understand your discouragement when it seems like no one reads what you send out, but from some things I have slipped into some of my updates (like my dad's 85th birthday under the calendar section), and then the emails that I get back, I know that things are at least getting a quick glance.

I don't know what kind of morning announcements you have at your school, but maybe you could do a booktalk on the announcements from time to time. You might also try getting a minute at faculty meetings to highlight some new titles.

I hope these ideas help.

[Susan]

I am late to this discussion but I have just joined and I wanted to give my .02. The email issue I fully understand and I appreciate the wanting to share your new holdings with faculty and staff - have you thought about having your students do some type of podcast on new holdings that can be added/scheduled on a monthly basis? I and my students love having them both contribute to peer reviews of new holdings and utilizing technology.

[Sherrie Stark]

Just got on this site-busy year. I'm really into using QR Codes. How many having a student(s) make a video of a few of the new books and post the QR Code around the school and the teachers' lounge/lunchroom. I'm going to have students make a video booktalking a few of the Iowa Teen Award and High School Book Award books and make a QR Code to post around the library and school. I am also putting QR Codes on some books to encourage reading and discussion.