Easy ways to promote your library and materials.
Quick Bulletin Boards
If you have accumulated a supply of book jackets, you can easily create an assortment of eye-catching bulletin boards. For a fall display, choose a variety of book jackets appropriate to the fall season. Cut the front cover and the inside flap from each jacket. Mount the corresponding covers and flaps next to them, so that patrons can easily read the descriptions. Write the call number or library section where each book can be found on its flap. Use the same procedure to create an author display, a thematic display, or a display of award-winning books. If you have a color scanner you can do the same with new books.
Beautiful Bookmarks
Making bookmarks is a great follow-up to book care lessons. Duplicate a supply of construction paper bookmarks. You can cut them out for younger children. Have your young patrons decorate each bookmark with rubber stamps. You can also use stickers. If you have a theme pick up a roll of stickers (say fish or dolphin stickers) for an ocean theme.
Check Out The Library
Getting teachers into the library media center is sometimes a challenge. Excite them about new books in your collection by creating a new-book display in the faculty lounge. Once new books have been cataloged into the collection display them in the lounge using copies of covers and descriptions. After having new books disappear into classrooms never to resurface I changed to using color copies of the covers. Teachers can look over your new offerings, come and check the books out, or discuss them with students. For an added outreach periodically invite teachers to a book talk in the media center. You can offer refreshments as an incentive to come.
