Sample Press Release

Get Real! @ your library® during Teen Read Week 2005

Area teens will be reading for the fun of it as [insert name of library or school or bookstore] celebrates the eighth annual Teen Read Week, October 16 – 22, 2005. They join hundreds of other libraries, schools and bookstores across the country who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year’s theme, "Get Real! @ your library®." Teen Read Week is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. This year’s theme encourages teens to explore the world of nonfiction books, such as biographies, self-help books, strange but true stories, and more.

Pam Spencer Holley, YALSA’s president, feels that "today’s teens seem to have less and less free time, and there are increasingly more activities to 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(http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard), 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. [describe the programs and provide contact information for readers who want to learn more]

Parents of teens are encouraged to celebrate Teen Read Week 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 www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.
• Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.

Teen Read Week 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 Press Release

WWE® Creates Special Rey Mysterio® Poster for Teen Read Week

STAMFORD, Conn., October 13, 2005 - World Wrestling Entertainment® today unveiled the special Rey Mysterio reading poster it has created with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) to commemorate this year’s Teen Read Week from October 16-22.   Teens and younger can obtain the poster by going to their local library and presenting their library card or applying to receive a library card. 

WWE SmackDown® Superstar Rey Mysterio is serving as spokesperson for Teen Read Week.   Sponsored by YALSA, Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative to encourage teens to take time to ‘read for the fun of it.' This year's theme is “Get Real! @ your library.”

Throughout the week, library and school events nationwide will encourage teens to explore the world of nonfiction books, such as biographies, self-help books, strange-but-true stories and more. Teens also can vote for their favorite books during Teen Read Week by logging online and checking out recommendations from the Teens Top Ten: www.ala.org/teenstopten. 

Since its inception in 1998, Teen Read Week has focused on the importance of teen recreational reading. Teen Read Week's objectives are to give teens an opportunity to read for the fun of it, allow teens to select their own reading materials and to help teens get in the habit of reading regularly and often.

As a spokesperson for Teen Read Week, Rey Mysterio recognizes the importance of reading. “Reading helps me be more creative, it helps my imagination and I like the fact that it gives me some quiet time." Some of Rey's favorite books are the Bible, “Harry Potter,” and “The Cat in the Hat.”

Rey Mysterio isn't just a supporter of Teen Read Week, he also has been involved with WWE's ongoing literacy campaign called Get R.E.A.L. Read. The campaign promotes reading and the core values respect, education, achievement and leadership through Superstar visits to schools and libraries.

Exploding onto the national sports entertainment scene in the mid 1990s, the colorfully masked Rey Mysterio quickly redefined the way the game was played in the ring. From his awe-inspiring West Coast Pop™ to his trademark finisher, 619™, Mysterio is a definitive high-flying Superstar that fans of all ages have grown to respect and love.

I've often said that the most interesting people also are readers and Rey Mysterio exemplifies that concept. All of us in YALSA are pleased that Rey Mysterio is a spokesperson for Teen Read Week; he understands how quiet reading can be the perfect relaxer for teens or anyone, whether it comes after a night of wrestling or after a couple hours cramming for an exam,” said YALSA President Pam Spencer Holley.

YALSA is the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA).

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.   Information about their Get R.E.A.L. program is located at: http://getreal.wwe.com. Parents interested in learning more about World Wrestling Entertainment television programming can log on to http://corporate.wwe.com/parents/overview.

Trademarks:   The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

  Sample PSA

:30 seconds

GET REAL! @ your library®! October 16-22, [insert name of school, library, bookstore] is alive with Teen Read Week-related books and programs about biographies, self-help books, strange but true stories, documentary films, and much, much more. Stop by today and see what’s real at your library, or 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

GET REAL! @ your library® during Teen Read Week, October 16-22. Drop by today for a page-turner 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 16-22, 2005, 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.

  Sample Letters to the Editor

See sample letters from a teen and a parent.

  FROM 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 16th to 22nd is Teen Read Week. 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 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 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 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 16th to 22nd is Teen Read Week, 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 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.