Our Library newsletter, Browsing, comes out quarterly with program descriptions, registration information, and news for our community. In Youth Services, we wanted to create something for our specific segments of the community and have found great success in two newsletters: Preschool Pages and Selections, Jr.
Preschool Pages
Back in February of 2022, my colleague, Megan S., and I launched Preschool Pages. As its name suggests, this newsletter is geared toward families with children under 5 years of age, their caregivers, and the educators who work with that population. The format has changed slightly in the 4 years of its existence, but it continues to provide an important service to our community. In each monthly digital issue, we recommend books, highlight a specific author/illustrator, and share ideas for activities based on the recommended books. In the past, we have shared library news as well as early literacy tips.
The workload to create the newsletter is fairly manageable. We each write blurbs about three books and create one activity to share. We trade off who writes the spotlighted author/illustrator each month. Created in Canva, we then send the newsletter along to our wonderful Communications team. They post it on our website and sometimes highlight it on social media. We keep physical copies at the desk. Finally, I share the link with our early childhood educators as well.
The newsletter has been very well received. The book cover images are clickable links to our catalog, so that patrons can easily put books on hold. Each month, we get about 83 online views. That’s in addition to the physical copies we distribute at the desk.
Selections, Jr.
Our Adult Services Department staff has offered Selections, a newsletter with suggestions for great books, media, and even items from our Library of Things. Emily K., our Assistant Manager, had the great idea to create a similar newsletter for Youth Services, Selections, Jr. She solicits recommendations from the entire Library staff and highlights everything from board books to non-fiction. A Google Form makes it easy for staff to make suggestions at any time. Just like Preschool Pages, a digital version is available online, and we offer physical copies at our service desk.
It’s always fun to see what other people, especially non-Youth Services staff members, are recommending! My To-Be-Read list just keeps growing and growing!
Do you offer department newsletters? Share your ideas in the comments below.
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: I. Commitment to Client Group; II. Reference and User Services; IV. Collection Knowledge and Management.