Sample Press Release

IT’S ALIVE! @ your library®during Teen Read Week 2004

What’s big and read and is for 12-18 year olds?   It’s the intersection of horror, suspense, black and white movies from the ‘50s, and even modern concepts like genetic engineering.  It’s programming and reading and ways to increase adolescent literacy all rolled up into one week-long celebration known as Teen Read Week.  Teens will be reading for the fun of it as [Name of library or school or bookstore] celebrates Teen Read Week, October 17 – 23, 2004.  They join hundreds of other libraries, schools and bookstores who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year’s theme, “IT’S ALIVE! @ your library®.” 

Literacy is a topic of national concern, and falling test scores and lower graduation rates among teens today are still a serious issue.   However, according to the National Education Association Web site, a 2001 poll conducted by Peter D. Hart & Associates indicates that “Teenagers, age 12 to 18, rated reading, math, and writing as the first, second, and third most important things people need to learn to be successful in life. Young people put this to practice, demonstrating a healthy amount of reading.”  Not only do they read, but the poll also indicates that they describe the experience as “relaxing … rewarding … stimulating.”

A reading habit increases reading proficiency.   One of the most important ways teens acquire the habit is by watching adults they respect.  Being around adults with a reading habit can counteract the latest statistics from The Nation’s Report Card (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard), that 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.

  So celebrate Teen Read Week with teens.  [Name of spokesperson] says there are lots of ways for teens and their librarians to discover that It’s ALIVE! @ your library®:

• Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.
• Attend a program where science fiction and modern science converge.
• Stage a mystery night at the library.
• Host an intergenerational B movies night for teens and their families.
• Read what you want to read, just for the fun of it.

Local [or insert the name of the town/city/school] programs and events include:

[list your programs and events here]

Teen Read Week is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association.   [An updated sponsors and supporting organizations list can be found at the Web site, www.ala.org/teenread.]

Sample PSA

:30 seconds

IT’S ALIVE! @ your library®!   October 17-23, [insert name of school, library, bookstore] is alive with Teen Read Week-related books and programs about horror, mystery, forensics, genetics, movies and much, much more.  Stop by today and see what’s alive at your library, or pick up a spine-tingler that you can read or listen to just for the fun of it!

Sponsored by [name of library, school, or bookstore].

:10 Seconds

IT’S ALIVE! @ your library® during Teen Read Week, October 19-25.   Drop by today for a spine-tingler and read for the fun of it.  Sponsored by [name of library, school or bookstore].

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 17-23, 2004, Teen Read Week in (name of city, state) and encourage teens to read for the fun of it.

Using the Logo

The 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, 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.