Author Visit Payoffs
Examples of Author Visit Programs & Resources for Planning an Author Visit
Examples compiled for the California School Library Association (CSLA 2009) by:
Author Visit Payoffs for the Library, the Students and the School
An Author Visit can:
- Create greater visibility for the library & opportunity for community PR
- Forge a personal connection between kids and book creators
- Cause a surge in library use
- Reinforce specific content connections with educational standards
- Motivate kids to read, write and express themselves
- Motivate kids to revise and rewrite their own works
- Motivate kids to persist in their dreams and not give up when goals are challenging
- Contribute to improvements in reading scores
- Improve school-wide morale
- Forge partnerships with community charities & result in greater community “buy-in” to library issues and concerns.
- Show potential funding partners that your school has a viable, specific program that will directly benefit kids.
Examples of Author Visit Programs
For a summary grid, click here.
One author, one school, one day
Example: Simi Valley Friends of the Library DAY-WITH-AN-AUTHOR |
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One author at a time at several schools
Example: Visalia Unified School District AUTHORS IN SCHOOLS |
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Several authors, one school, one day
Example: Assistance League of Glendale DAY WITH AN AUTHOR |
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Several authors, one location, many days
Example: Santa Barbara AUTHOR-GO-ROUND |
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Several authors, many schools, many days
Example: Visalia & Tulare County READ FOR LIFE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR FESTIVAL
Example: Kern County YOUNG AUTHORS FAIR |
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Finding Children’s Authors & Illustrators
Seeing an author or illustrator in person in addition to reviewing their books is the best way to decide if they are the right choice for your school. Word-of-mouth recommendations are also helpful. Here are some other resources for finding children’s authors & illustrators.
http://www.scbwi.org/Speakers-Listings.aspx
The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators is a rich source of information on published authors & illustrators. This international organization has a database of speakers searchable by name, position, location and book title.
http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Regional-Chapters
Many individual SCBWI regions have their own Speakers Bureau lists with additional information for geographically-specific listings.
http://www.childrensliteraturecouncil.org/speakers_list.htm
This site lists websites of authors and illustrators who are members of the Children’s Literature Council.
http://www.californiareaders.org/websites/index.htm
http://www.californiareaders.org/interviews/index.php
California Readers is building a database of California authors & illustrators along with informative interviews.
Hosting an Author
http://childrensauthorsnetwork.com/CAN_Review/hostinganauthor.html
This page gives several links including questions to ask before hiring an author, a step-by-step process for hosting a visit, how to find funding for your event, and how to get students involved in the planning process to maximize the impact of the author visit.
Finding Funding
http://www.leeandlow.com/p/administrators_grants.mhtml
General school grants, library grants, literacy programs and grant-writing resources are included on this page.
Click to view a sample letter of request for funding.
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