Table of Contents

• School Visits
  • Summer Reading Visit Script
  • Classroom Read Alouds
  • More School Visit & Assembly Ideas
  • More Resources
• Community Pop Up Events
  • Fun Activities for Any Outreach Location
  • Activities for Sports Events
  • Activities for Parks or Nature Centers

School Visits

What’s the best way to inform children and their parents about the public library? Meet them where they’re at! For children, that means in the classroom, and believe it or not, getting into your local schools may be easier than you think. If you’re not already visiting your schools regularly, call one of their main offices to see if you need permission from the principal to schedule visits or if you can contact the teachers directly. Be sure to ask if any flyers you hope to distribute must be reviewed by the principal or superintendent. ​

Spring is the most common time to visit schools, but you don’t have to wait until the end of the year to promote the joys of the library. Stop by throughout the year to share the latest and greatest library happenings. For example, in the fall, we visit each first grade classroom to encourage kids to get their very own library cards. We call this outreach “First Grade Library Stars” and give each child a letter to take home to caregivers, informing them that if they return that letter to the library and get their child a library card (or show an existing card), they will earn a prize (a library logo lanyard for their shiny new card!). Plus, a free book is awarded to the teacher with the most students visiting the library.

Summer Reading Script

Below is a standard script for visiting classrooms to promote summer reading, but it can easily be adapted for any season or theme. For example, ask teachers if there is a specific theme or subject they’d like you to focus on (fairy tales, how to treat books, etc.). However, if you don’t have time to create multiple subject-specific presentations, don’t offer that as an option! Simply tell the school or teacher you have a 25-minute presentation that will get kids super excited about reading and using the library.

You can do this presentation in 25 minutes, but easily shorten or extend it (add more book talks!) based on the needs of each teacher or school:

INTRODUCE YOURSELF & THE LIBRARY
Hello! My name is Marta and I’m a youth librarian at __________. Raise your hand if you have been to the ________ Library. What did you visit the Library to do? Raise your hand if you’re willing to tell us!…
You can do all those things and more at the Library! I’m here to tell you what’s going on at the Library this summer.

READ ALOUD FOR GRADES K-3
This summer’s theme is “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!,” so we’re exploring sports, being active, and exercising your mind. Do you have a favorite sport you like to watch or play? I’ve brought along one of my favorite books about…[Read an awesome picture book]

TRIVIA GAME FOR GRADES 4-8
I’ve brought along some sports trivia to test your knowledge. I’m going to split the room into 2 teams and we’ll see which one knows the most…[Ask 3-5 questions per team, allowing students to raise their hand if they know the answer. Each team gets a point per correct answer. You’ll want to have a couple extra questions ready for tie breakers.]

DESCRIBE HOW YOUR SRP WORKS
The best part of summer is our Summer Reading Club, and here’s how it works. Stop by the library or go to our website to create a reading log. Record the number of minutes you read and you’ll automagically get your named entered into the grand prize drawings for every 30 minutes. So the more you read the better your chances of winning! This year’s grand prizes include gift cards to some great places. I’m going to hold up a picture of each store’s logo, guess which store it is…

Everyone who participates will get a free book each month and a coupon for things like ice cream sundaes or laser tag/roller rink. The best part is that you can read anything you want!

SHOW NEW BOOKS AND/OR BOOK TALK
Raise your hand if you like Dog Man. Awesome! We have the newest Dog Man! [Show book].
Raise your hand if you like Elephant & Piggie. Awesome! Then you’ll love this book…etc.
What books have you enjoyed reading or do you want to read this summer?
If you need more ideas here are some great options…[4-5 book talks or simply show the covers of some awesome new books] ​

PROMOTE UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
In addition to the Summer Reading Program, there are fun events and activities at the Library every week. Programs just for kids your age include…[Give titles, dates, and very brief descriptions of 3-5 events.]

PROVIDE A HANDOUT
I am giving your teacher flyers to send home that look like this [show flyer]. It lists all the programs I’ve just mentioned plus information about how to sign up for Summer Reading Club. It also includes the Library’s contact information. Share this flyer with your adults so they know what’s going on! Everything is FREE to attend, including getting a library card to borrow materials. We start the summer with a kick-off party on June 1 at 10:00 am!

QUESTIONS?
Ok, now you know all about what’s going on at the Library this summer. Do you have any questions about the Library or the Summer Reading Club?

In addition to distributing flyers, create bookmarks that list any titles you promote. You would be surprised how many kids from even the most unenthusiastic classes (I’m looking at you, 8th graders) show up at the library asking for those books! ​

Classroom Read Alouds

Here are my favorite read alouds guaranteed to capture the attention of any classroom.

More School Visit & Assembly Ideas

Check out the following blog posts from The Youth Desk’s Outreach category for more read alouds and ideas:

More Resources About School Visits

My Top 5 Tips for a Successful School Visit by Jennifer Petereson from the ALSC Blog
Class Visit Basics by Chelsey Roos from the ALSC Blog

Community Pop-Up Events

Where else do people in your community congregate, or where could they? Bring the library to them by popping up in unexpected places. Excellent locations include sporting events, shopping centers, laundromats, parks, and nature areas. Bring along a table, materials for checkout, crafts, coloring sheets, movement activities, and promotional materials. Contact the people in charge of the location for permission, pick a block of time, and show up!

We never know how many people we’ll see or when they’ll stop by, so I plan various passive activities that can easily be done on the fly for however many people happen to be there. My favorites can be found below.

Fun Activities for Any Location…in Addition to Reading a Book

The Giant Dice Game

Nothing catches a child’s attention like a giant die being tossed around. You can buy large foam dice at 5 Below or make your own by wrapping a box in paper, drawing or adding paper dots, and then “laminating” the sides with clear acrylic tape (aka book tape). Create a list of things the kids must do if they land on a certain number. For example, if you roll a number:

1. Sing a song or nursery rhyme
2. Tell us the title of your favorite book
3. Listen to a short story or silly poem
4. Dance like a robot
5. Do 5 Jumping Jacks
6. Sing “The More We Get Together” using Sign Language (which means you have to teach it to them!)​ ​

Catch & Do Beach Ball Game

Like the Giant Dice Game, but with a beach ball. Ask the kids to do an exercise or activity based on whichever color lands up, or use a Sharpie to write actions in each colored panel, such as:

• 5 Jumping Jacks
• Touch Your Toes
• Clap Your Age
• Roar Like a Lion, etc.
• ​Favorite Book?

Sports Events

Are sports popular in your area? If so, check with your local recreation department or sporting associations to find out when games are taking place and if you can operate a space onsite. Whether it’s youth soccer, Little League, or football, there are bound to be little ones mulling around while their older or younger siblings play. Make life a bit easier for the parents by setting up a library booth (within eyesight of the fields but far enough not to be a distraction) for kids to enjoy between or during games.

In addition to the movement activities listed above, offer coloring sheets and a fun craft, such as: ​

Sports Pennant Craft

Set out markers/crayons and stickers to decorate cardstock triangles. Duct tape a chopstick, kebab, or paint stick on the back, and you’re ready to show team spirit. It’s a dream come true when you see kids waving them on the sidelines while cheering on their family and friends. More tips for this craft can be found at Crayola.com. ​

Parks or Nature Areas

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Pass out scavenger hunts at parks or trailheads and offer incentives, such as a free book, library logoed item, stickers, etc., if they return the completed sheet to the library. You could even leave a few tacked to trailhead signposts…if so, be sure the sheets include your library logo and contact information. ​

Butterfly Finger Puppet Craft

Cardstock butterflies with two horizontal slits cut through the middle for your finger. To decorate your butterflies, offer markers, stickers, and/or nature items like flower petals and leaves. More tips for this craft can be found at the blog While Wearing Heels.