Get Publicity

How Can You Help?

Your efforts can help 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.

Looking for tips? Listen to a podcast with ALA Media Relations Manager Macey Morales and YALSA Communications Specialist Stephanie Kuenn.

Sample Press Release

For Immediate Release: [Date]

Contact: [Name and phone number]

Celebrate Books with Bite @ your library® during Teen Read WeekTM 2008

Area teens will be reading for the fun of it as [insert name of library or school or bookstore] celebrates the eleventh annual Teen Read Week(TM), October 12 – 18, 2008. They join thousands of other libraries, schools and bookstores across the country who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year’s theme, "Books with Bite @ your library®." 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. This year’s theme encourages teens to read a wide variety of books and graphic novels, from animals to vampires to cooking, just "for the fun of it."

[Insert librarian #1's name here], feels that "today’s teens seem to have less and less free time, and there are increasingly more activities for them to take part in during what little leisure time they have. That is why it’s important to encourage teens to set aside some time to read." Literacy is a topic of both local and national concern, and falling test scores and lower graduation rates among teens today are a serious issue. Here in [insert name of hometown or state] standardized reading test scores for teens are [insert latest scores—check your state department of education’s web site].

Studies show a regular reading habit increases reading proficiency, and area librarian [insert full name of local librarian #1] agrees. "One of the most important ways teens acquire the habit is by watching adults they respect" says [insert last name of librarian #1]. Being around adults who are avid readers can counteract the latest statistics from The Nation’s Report Card, which indicate that in homes across America the number of different types of reading materials has decreased, and a smaller percentage of seventeen-year-olds saw adults reading in their homes.

[insert full name of local librarian #2] hopes to increase teen literacy locally by offering a series of programs for teens during Teen Read Week(TM). [describe the programs and provide contact information for readers who want to learn more]

Parents of teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Read Week(TM) at home. [insert name of local librarian #2] offers these ideas:

Visit the local 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.
Surf the Internet with your teen to learn about new books or authors. A good place to start is YALSA's Booklist's page.
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 hear on the news and read in the paper a lot about teens doing bad things. But I want to say that not all teens are like that, and I wish the newspaper would print more stories about the good things that teens do. One of the places where teens can go and not be in trouble is the library. I use the ____________ (insert library name here) for more than my homework and school projects. They have cool programs like ______________(insert name of event you’ve been to here) and they’re free. The other thing I like about the library is that they have all kinds of stuff to read like magazines, newspapers, stories, graphic novels, how-to books 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 in the library, you’ll find something good.

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 12 to 18 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. It’s nothing like it was when they were growing up.

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, surf online and all that. 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 sure won’t be doing any of that nasty stuff you read about in the newspaper or see on the news.

From a Parent:

As a parent of a teenager, all the negative stories I hear on the news and read in the paper about teens troubles me. I know that most teens do not engage in illegal behavior like the ones portrayed in the news, but I worry about my teen being exposed to some of the dangers that are so prevalent in today’s society. I would just like to state that there is at least one place in our community where teens can go and are encouraged to engage in positive activities, and that’s the local school and public libraries. My teen uses the ____________ (insert library name here) for more than homework and school projects. They also provide interesting and age appropriate programs like ______________(insert name of event you’re teen has been to here) and they’re free. The other thing I like about the library is that they offer a wide choice of reading to my teen, like 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 12 to 18 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 place where teens can engage in positive activities.

My librarian, ____________________ (insert name here) informed me that the theme for Teen Read Week(TM) is "read for the fun of it." I’m concerned that teens today have more demands than ever on their free time. 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 Bite @ your library®! October 12-18. Stop by [insert name of school, library, bookstore] during Teen Read Week to indulge your biting curiosity and check out books and graphic novels on animals, technology, cooking and even vampires! Stop by today and pick up 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 Bite @ your library® during Teen Read Week, October 12-18. Drop by today and take a bite out of a book @ your library. Pick up a page-turner and read for the fun of it! Sponsored by [name of library, school or bookstore].

En Espanol

:10 segundos

¿Tienes apetito? Durante Teen Read Week, del 12 al 18 de octubre, miles leerán libros “que alimentan”. Infórmate visitando el sitio ala punto org barra oblicua teen read.

:20 segundos

Padres, inviten a su hijo adolescente a leer para divertirse, visitando su biblioteca durante Teen Read Week, del 12 al 18 de octubre. Miles de jóvenes participarán en programas especiales y eventos en las bibliotecas para explorar libros “que alimentan”. Infórmense visitando el sitio ala punto org barra oblicua teen read.

:20 segundos

¿A su hijo adolescente le interesa la cocina? ¿La computación? ¿Los ruidos nocturnos? Durante Teen Read Week, del 12 al 18 de octubre, miles de jóvenes visitarán bibliotecas públicas y escolares para leer libros “que alimentan”. Infórmese visitando el sitio ala punto org barra oblicua teen read.

:30 segundos

¿Qué tienen en común tu plato favorito y un buen libro? Pues, “que alimentan”. Visita la biblioteca más cercana durante Teen Read Week, del 12 al 18 de octubre, para participar en programas y eventos especiales enfocados en libros “que alimentan”. Desde 1998, Teen Read Week invita a los jóvenes a leer para divertirse. Es entretenido, gratuito y se puede hacer en cualquier parte, y en cualquier momento. Infórmate visitando el sitio ala punto org barra oblicua teen read.ala punto org slash teen read.

Download Audio PSAs

Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson, created three audio public service announcements to use for Teen Read Week 2008! 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 TRW Promotional Partner 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 12-18, 2008, 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 needed 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.