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| Richmond Sockeys signing autographs |
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| Scokeyes reading with students |
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| Sockeyes answering questions |
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| And more autographs |
Improvement/Rational - Over the past few years I have brought in a number of visitors. This list includes: the fire department, the public library, the coast guard, the local recycling truck driver, World War II veterans, and the local jr hockey team. The above pictures are of the hockey club over a couple of different visits. The students loved it and started going to the games. This is the power of guest speakers.
I have brought in all the above speakers as they visitors love to visit and it is always free. However, I have never brought in an author to speak. But like I mentioned, this has mostly been because of cost. I could never justify spending up to $500 for someone to speak for a couple hours. When I mentioned this project to my principal he suggested bringing in guest authors to speak.
Concerns - The cost is a concern. I know some schools do partner up in this to help the cost. But my principal has told me that this could work for us.
Improvement - Start looking at authors and see who might be willing to come in and talk to the students. Browse author webpages, email them and ask for quotes and timelines as to when they might be visiting the area or perhaps they are a local author. After I get a number of quotes I can discuss with my AO and we can come to an agreement on who we are willing to bring in and at what cost we are willing to spend.
Communication Plan - Once I settle on an author I will have to discuss this author with staff and students. I will have to start promoting this author's work more, reading the books to the kids or making sure the students are taking out the books from this author so when the visit happens the students are totally in love with this author. Using my library blog to promote this author and the work they have produced. The kids can make posters on the author's works. Talking with the staff too on the size of the visit. Will it be in the library or in the gym?
Timeline - This is something that will have to wait until the next school year because of the costs involved and our budget is almost done for this year.
Challenges - Making sure the students are in love with this author. Picking an author that will fit with the school. Do I pick a novel writer or a picture book author? Which part of the student body will be best suited for a visit? This will take a talk with the teachers and maybe poll the students to see who their top 5 authors are. This could easily be done on my library blog with a few poll questions and the students would not even know it is being done for a reason.
Challenges - Making sure the students are in love with this author. Picking an author that will fit with the school. Do I pick a novel writer or a picture book author? Which part of the student body will be best suited for a visit? This will take a talk with the teachers and maybe poll the students to see who their top 5 authors are. This could easily be done on my library blog with a few poll questions and the students would not even know it is being done for a reason.
