Get Publicity

Spread the word about Teen Read Week! Use the tools listed on this page and then
tell us what you've done. Libraries across the country are planning special events for Teen Read Week, encouraging teens to read something light and humorous, just for the fun of it! As we promote Teen Read Week to the press, we would like to hear about how your library plans to celebrate. List your programs and event information at the
Teen Read Week Wiki, and we'll share this information with ALA's Public Information Office. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your event and to get the word out.

Sample Press Release

For Immediate Release: [Date]

Contact: [Name and phone number]

Headline: [LIBRARY/SCHOOL NAME] celebrates Books with Beat @ your library® for Teen Read Week ™!

[LIBRARY NAME] will celebrate Teen Read Week™ 2010, Oct. 17-23, with special events and programs aimed at encouraging area teens to read for the fun of it. Thousands of libraries, schools and bookstore across the country will hold similar events centered on this year’s theme, Books with Beat @ your library®, which encourages teens to read a variety of materials, including poetry, audiobooks, books about music, and more.

Teen Read Week(TM) is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association.

“Teens have more activities to fill their free time than ever — web videos, social networking sites, video games, afterschool activities, athletics —and increasingly high expectations in the classroom,” said [Librarian's name.] “It’s important that we show them that reading is something that’s fun and relaxing that they can do for free. And that reading for fun can translate into better performance at school.”

In addition, [Librarian's last name] hopes to show parents and other concerned community members what they library can offer by hosting special programs and events during Teen Read Week(TM). [describe the programs and provide contact information for readers who want to learn more].

“Many families have learned to make do with less as a result of the economy and have flocked to the library,” [Librarian’s last name said.] “Teen Read Week is a great time to make sure teens and their families know about all the free services the library can offer them and to reach out to teens who aren’t regular users and encourage them to come see what they can find here.”

Parents of teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Read Week(TM) at home, as well. [Librarian's last name] offers these ideas:

Visit the public or school library with your teen to attend a program or to check out books.
Set aside time each night for the family to read.
Give books or magazine subscriptions to your teen as a gift or reward.
Share your favorite book with your teen.
Go online with your teen to learn about new books or authors. A good place to start is YALSA's Booklists and Book Awards page,
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.
Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.

Teen Read Week(TM) is held annually during the third week of October. An updated sponsors and supporting organizations list can be found at the Web site,
www.ala.org/teenread.

Sample Letters to the Editor

See sample letters from a
teen and a
parent.

From a Teen:

I’m ________ (insert age here) and I wanted to make sure everyone knew about something really important in our town: the library. Lots of students go there for help with homework or to do research for school projects, but the library has a lot more than that! They have cool programs like ______________(insert name of event you’ve been to here) and they’re free. They have all kinds of stuff to read like magazines, stories, graphic novels, manga, and more.

My favorite book from the library is ___________ (insert title of book here). Even if you don’t like to read, I bet if you look hard enough or ask a librarian for help, you’ll find something good. And at a time when my parents and everyone else is trying to spend less money, the library is the perfect place to go.

My library also has computers I can use for homework, to keep in touch with my friends and family and to play games and relax.

October 17 to 23 is Teen Read Week(TM) . I’d like to tell other teens who may not be using the library that they should definitely check it out. There is more to do here than they may think, and there are people here who can help you get your questions answered. Also, parents should go to the library, too! They can see all of the resources the library has for the whole family.

My librarian, ____________________ (insert name here) says that the theme for Teen Read Week(TM) is "read for the fun of it." I do like to hang out with my friends, play video games, go online and all kinds of stuff. But I think that reading can be good when you want to relax or have some time by yourself, and I like that I can get books for free from the library and that people there can recommend interesting books to me.

So, don’t forget to read a book for Teen Read Week(TM) and go check out the library. You’ll see teens there, and they'll be having a good time.

From a Parent:

The library is an important part of the community for my family. It truly has something for everyone, and its resources are free to the public. As the parent of a teenager, this resource means a lot.

My teen uses the ____________ (insert library name here) for homework and school projects, but for quite a lot more. The library provides interesting and age appropriate programs like ______________(insert name of event your teen has attended recently), where my teen learned ________ (describe activity), all for free. It offers a wide array of reading materials for my teen, including magazines, newspapers, classic stories, graphic novels, how-to books and more. I know that the librarians there have chosen the books carefully and that they can help me find books that aren’t just interesting for my teen, but appropriate as well.

October 17 to 23 is Teen Read Week(TM) , a national literacy event sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association. I’d like to encourage other parents to make a trip to the library with their teenager to check it out. There are more great resources and events than they may think, and there are trained professionals who can help you get your questions answered. Plus, it is a safe place for teens to have fun and do something positive.

My librarian, ____________________ (insert name here) informed me that the theme for Teen Read Week(TM) is "read for the fun of it." I read that the National Assessment for Educational Progress found that students who reported reading for the fun of it score better on standardized tests. So I’ll be taking my teen to the library for Teen Read Week and for other weeks, as a way to encourage him to read and also to provide him with a place where he can relax, be with friends and learn.

Sample PSA Scripts

English

:30 seconds

Books with Beat @ your library®! October 17-23. Stop by [insert name of school, library, bookstore] during Teen Read Week and check out our Books with Beat! Pick up books and other materials about poetry, music, and more or listen to an audiobook. Stop by today and find a page turner that you can read or listen to, just for the fun of it!

Sponsored by [name of library, school, or bookstore].

:10 Seconds

Books with Beat @ your library during Teen Read Week, October 17-23. Drop by today and read something with a beat. Pick up a book and read for the fun of it! Sponsored by [name of library, school or bookstore].

Audio PSAs

Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson, created three audio public service announcements to use for Teen Read Week. Download any of these thirty-second clips and use them during school announcements, play them over your library's public address system, or provide them to a local radio station to use. Thanks to Nancy Cartwright and Galaxy Press for making these PSAs!

Cartwright PSA #1 (mp3)

Cartwright PSA #2 (mp3)

Cartwright PSA #3 (mp3)

Sample Proclamation

Whereas, the ability to read and process information is a basic survival skill in our global information society; and
Whereas, the reading proficiency of teens has remained stagnant over the last thirty years; and
Whereas, the number of students who can read but choose not to do so is increasing; and
Whereas, the most effective way to improve reading skills is to read regularly and often; and
Whereas, too few teens think reading is a valuable tool for enjoyment and relaxation as well as for schoolwork; and
Whereas, regular daily reading for the fun of it creates the reading habit for life; and
Whereas, parents, teachers, librarians, and all concerned adults can serve as role models by reading for fun themselves;
Therefore, be it resolved that I (name, title of official) proclaim October 17-23, 2010, Teen Read Week(TM) in (name of city, state) and encourage teens to read for the fun of it.

Using the TRW Logo

YALSA offers two Teen Read Week logos. The general logo is available for download for anyone. To get the theme-specific logo, you need to
register.

The general Teen Read Week logo is available for download in several different formats.

b/w TIFF (for high-quality printing, can be embedded in Word files)

CMYK EPS (for highest-quality printing)

If you have trouble with the above files, this
Word document contains the logos as well.

The use of the Teen Read Week logo and/or any other trademarked material related to Teen Read Week(TM), is limited to school and public libraries, or other non-profit groups, and is for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other uses must be specified in a Letter of Agreement between YALSA and the requesting organization or company. Questions regarding the use of the logo or other materials should be directed to YALSA at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390 or by e-mail at
yalsa@ala.org.