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 Picture It! @ your library® for Teen Read Week ™!

[LIBRARY NAME] will celebrate Teen Read Week™ (October 16-22, 2011) 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, Picture It! @ your library®, which encourages teens to read a variety of materials, including graphic novels, movies, books about photography, and more.

Teen Read Week™ 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™. [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™ 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™ 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:

My name is [NAME] and I’m [AGE]. I’d like to tell other teens who don’t use the library that they should definitely check it out. There is more to do here than they may think. They have cool programs like [LIBRARY PROGRAM YOU’VE ATTENDED] and they’re free. They have all kinds of stuff to read like magazines, graphic novels, manga, and more. My favorite book from the library is [BOOK TITLE].

Even if you don’t like to read, the library has great stuff like movies and music. I bet if you look 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, to play games or just relax. Also, parents should go to the library, too! They can see all of the resources the library has for the whole family.

October 16 to 22 is Teen Read Week™ and my librarian, [LIBRARIAN’S NAME] says that the theme for Teen Read Week™ is "Picture It! @ your library" which is great because it includes so much! I can read about movies, photography, cartooning or even a graphic novel. If I can read it, I can picture it!

So, don’t forget to read a book for Teen Read Week™ and check out the library!

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 [LIBRARY NAME HERE] for homework and school projects and so much more. The library provides interesting and age appropriate programs like [name of event your teen has attended recently], where my teen learned [describe activity]. And 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 will spark my teen’s imagination.

October 16 to 22 is Teen Read Week™, a national literacy event sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). I’d like to encourage other parents to make a trip to the library with their teenager to check it out. There are many more great resources and events than they may think. 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™ is "Picture It! @ your library.” This is a great theme that encourages teens to read because if they can read it, then they can picture it!

The purpose of Teen Read Week™ is to encourage teens to read for pleasure. The National Assessment for Educational Progress found that students who reported reading for the fun 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

Picture It @ your library®! October 16-22. Picture It at [insert name of school, library, bookstore] during Teen Read Week! Pick up graphic novels, art books, photography guides, fantasy titles and more. Stop by today and find something that inspires you, just for the fun of it!

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

:10 Seconds

Picture It @ your library during Teen Read Week, October 16-22. Drop by today! Pick up a book and read for the fun of it! Sponsored by [name of library, school or bookstore].

Audio PSAs

Josh Robert Thompson, voice of Geoff Petersen on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 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 Josh Robert Thompson and Galaxy Press for making these PSAs!

PSA #1 (mp3)

PSA #2 (mp3)

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 16-22, 2011, 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.