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I& #39;m thinking about bring an author to our school. Where do I start? A hopefully helpful thread for librarians, parents, and teachers. #authorvisits
1. Make a list of potential authors. They may be authors of books the kids love or books about things the students are learning. Or both! You may also have heard them speak or heard about them from other librarians. Or they may have reached out to you if they are coming to town.
2. Go to those authors& #39; Web sites. They& #39;ll likely have information about their school visits and maybe even their prices.
3. Once you& #39;ve gathered some information, talk to your colleagues about the idea of bringing an author. You may also want to coordinate with other schools in your district or neighboring towns.
4. Determine your funding source: PTA, library budget, book fair or b-day book money, or a source outside the school. Some towns offer grants. Dollar General also offers literacy grants. The Missouri State Library has author visit grants, and maybe other states do, too.
5. Determine your budget and narrow down your list of authors. Ask for a quote from the author that includes travel fees.
6. Invite your author of choice and determine a date or dates that work for you both.
7. Ask for information from the author about the visit (technology they will need, the number of presentations and students, etc.,) and share with them any paperwork the school or district needs. At this point the author will also send a contract and/or invoice.
8. Prepare students for the visit by reading the author& #39;s books to them, or providing those books to the classroom teachers. You may also have the students make a sign or artwork to help get them excited.
9. If possible, coordinate with your local bookstore or the author to do book sales. This gives kids a chance to order a signed copy of the book. If it is in the budget, you may want to buy additional books for your library, as they will be in demand after the visit.
10. It& #39;s also nice to print a bookmark with the author& #39;s signature so that everybody gets something to take home, and the kids will have the authors name if they& #39;d like to check out their books from the library.
11. Determine the location of the presentation--library, cafeteria, gym, etc., and coordinate the schedule with school personnel.
12. Before the visit, let the author know the schedule for the day. Provide time for lunch. Often schools provide lunch, but I& #39;m always happy to buy my lunch in the school cafeteria, too.
13. Usually the presentations are 45 minutes, followed by book signing (or book signing happens at one designated time.)
Sample schedule:
8:30am author arrives
9am K & 1st grade presentation and signing
10:15 2nd grade "
11:30-12:30 lunch
1pm 3rd grade "
2:15 4th and 5th grade "
Sample schedule:
8:30am author arrives
9am K & 1st grade presentation and signing
10:15 2nd grade "
11:30-12:30 lunch
1pm 3rd grade "
2:15 4th and 5th grade "
14. Access the check from the source. Usually the author is paid the day of the visit, unless the district requires a different system.
15. Please don& #39;t worry! Authors love school visits! We also know that schools are busy places full of hard working professionals and KIDS. I can& #39;t really think of anything that would phase me during a school visit.
16. The day of the visit, set up technology as soon as the author arrives so that you can work out any kinks. Review the schedule with the author one more time and then relax and enjoy the day!
