Toolkit for School Library Media Programs - American Library ...

Calendar of Promotional Opportunities
Taking advantage of special observances to plan schoolwide
promotions is one way to put your library in the
spotlight. If you’re clever, you might end up on the 6
o’clock news. Some events, like National Library Week or
School Library Media Month are the equivalent of our
national holidays. There are many other literacy and
literary events that are naturals for libraries, plus
thousands more that lend themselves to showing how
library media programs support learning on almost any
topic . . . everything from Chemistry Month to Be Kind
to Pets Week. Many of these observances come “ready
made” with publicity materials and ideas for activities.
February
Library Lovers Month
This is a time for everyone, especially Friends of the
Library and other library fans, to express their feelings.
There is a lively list of activities for libraries and their
lovers, including visits from costumed book characters
and fundraising ideas. Online postcards and
downloadable art for bookmarks, banners and buttons
also are provided at www.librarysupport.net/librarylovers.
Job Shadow Day, February 2
National Job Shadow Day is a nationwide effort to
introduce young people to the world of work by giving
them an up-close look at the workplace and to answer
questions like “Why do I have to learn this?” or “Why
would I want to do this?” AASL and other ALA divisions
have endorsed this national initiative as an opportunity
to recruit future librarians. A Job Shadow Day Planning
Notebook and other information can be found at
www.ala.org/aasl/jobshadow.html.
March
Read Across America, March 2
Started in 1998 as a way to get kids excited about
reading, the National Education Association’s Read Across
America has become the nation’s largest reading event.
The year-round program culminates each year on or
near Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Promotion ideas and a “Cat-
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alog!” of Seussian paraphernalia can be found at
www.nea.org/readacross.
Freedom of Information Day, March 16
This annual event is observed on or near the birthday of
James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution” and the
foremost advocate for openness in government. To send
online postcards to your favorite teachers and administrators,
go to www2.postcards.org/go/c/0318. Also see
the ALA Washington Office’s Web site at www.ala.org/
washoff. In the left navigation bar, click on Events under
Washington Office.
April
National Poetry Month
Launched in 1996, National Poetry Month brings
together libraries, schools, literary organizations and
others to celebrate the role of poetry in American culture
with readings, festivals, book displays, workshops and
other events. The Academy of American Poets sponsors
the event. For more information, see www.poets.org/
npm/index.cfm.
National Volunteer Week
The purpose of this week is to recognize and celebrate
the efforts of volunteers at the local, state and national
levels. The Volunteer Centers National Network and
Points of Light Foundation are sponsors. If you have
volunteer helpers and supporters, there’s no better time
to salute them for what they do. National Volunteer
Week will be celebrated April 18–24, 2004
School Library Media Month
School libraries celebrate the month of April as School
Library Media Month. Sponsored by AASL, it has the
same theme as National Library Week. For tips and
suggested activities, see www.ala.org/aasl/slmmonth.html.
National Library Week
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a
national observance sponsored by the American Library