The document discusses potential partnerships between schools and the Blount County Public Library to share resources and better serve students. It provides examples of existing partnerships like distributing library calendars to schools, joint events, and classroom visits from children's librarians. The library seeks input on how to improve these partnerships and additional ways to collaborate, such as sharing summer reading lists, providing digital resources to schools, and coordinating informational workshops for students and teachers. Overall, the document aims to explore new opportunities for collaboration between schools and the library.

1. Schools & Public Library Partnerships:
What works? What could use improvement?
for Blount County School Media Specialists – October 12, 2015
By JoanVanSickle Sloan
Public Relations Manager
Blount County Public Library

2. Intro –What does PR do?
• Manages & conducts publicity for library services and events.
• Manages & conducts events & exhibits.
• Establishes & maintains community partnerships & relationships.

3. How can the library staff
help you at your school?
• What partnerships already exist between schools and library?
• To better help you, what do we need to add, change and/or
improve?

4. What Partnerships Already Exist?
Think about:What do we need to change / improve?
• Email Distribution of Library Calendars, Events &
Services –Thank you for forwarding!
• Partnering for some events at the library or at schools.
• Library participation in Parents / Grandparents Days
at schools.
• Books / Materials from FOL Book Sale can go to School
Media Centers.
• Library participation in monthly media specialist meetings.
• Children’s Librarian visits to schools.
• School class tours of the library.
FOL Book Sale
Library Calendar of Events

5. More Current Partnerships
Between Schools & Library:
• Disability ResourcesTransition Fair (April 14, 2015).
• College Fair (November 2014).
• Reading / Language ArtsTeacher In-ServiceWorkshops.
• TEL workshops.
• Holiday concerts by school choral groups and band ensembles at the
library.
• Art Exhibits by students--coordinated by art teachers--at the library.

6. More Partnerships at the Library (from past years):
• The Big Read -- 2009 (Grapes ofWrath), 2010 (Bless Me, Ultima).
• Teen Twilight party after-hours – just prior to release of the first Twilight
movie.
• Teen Mystery Nights – after-hours event at the library for several years.
• Teen Poetry Reading/Slam with teens, plus a featured adult published poet.
• Teen Photography,Writing & ArtWorkshops (with professionals).

7. Exhibits (School / Informative) at the Library:
• High School Student 2-D Art Exhibits – each high school annually.
• Elementary & Middle School 3-DArt Exhibits – one month annually.
• Banned Books Exhibit.
• Informational Exhibits.
Some Banned BookTitles
George Gallup Exhibit (Gallup Poll)
Student Art Exhibit

8. Some Information the LibraryWould Like to
Share with Schools –– services & resources:
• Hot Spot rental – to give Internet access in remote locations or while
on vacation.
• List of Regional Authors & Books
• Resources available through the library website at
www.blountlibrary.org :
• R.E.A.D.S. – access to e-books.
• One-Click Digital – access to downloadable audiobooks.
• Online Databases – e.g., online courses, business research,
languages, job search, newspapers & more.
• Zinio – online digital magazine collection.

9. Some Information the LibraryWould Like to
Share with Schools –– some special events:
• Mini-ConComic Convention
• Summer Reading Programs
• KSO Quartet
Musical Story Hour

10. Children’s Events:
Plus
*STEAM Kids,
*LEGO Robotics
(for Kids &Teens) &
*Teen Chess

11. Computer Lab
Computer lab is used for
• GAINS Career Courses,
• Computer courses,
• Job Search & online application
assistance.
• AARPTax Preparation
assistance,
• Registration forAffordable Care
Act Healthcare plans (assisted
by trained volunteers).

12. Coming soon: Learning Lab

13. Informational Programs / Performances
Performance of Shakespeare’s “Much
Ado About Nothing” by theTennessee
Stage Company at the library
Free Legal Advice Clinic –
Sat., Oct. 31, 9 a.m.- 12 noon

14. Special Events: Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Coming up: Entries Due—Mon., Oct. 26, 4-7 p.m.

15. Special Events: Festivals
e.g., Native American Festival
WWII Navajo CodeTalker,
Mr. Samuel Holiday

16. Special Events: Concerts
The GoodThymes Ceilidh Band
The Standards / Spencer’sOwn
2014 Harp EnsembleConcert,
directed byWilliam Lovelace

17. So what information do we need to share?
Some Examples:
• Summer Reading Lists for students from the schools – to the
library.
•Electronic Materials – from the library to the schools:
• E-Book / E-Reader workshops for teachers & students.
• Database workshops for teachers & students.

18. Some ways we can share information:
• Notify each other (schools & library) when there are new
resources available.
• Keep updated email contacts lists – for schools and for library.
• Keep updated phone number contacts.
• Websites – schools & library (www.blountlibrary.org)
• Social Media posts –
• Facebook (Blount County Public Library)
• Twitter (Blount_Library)
• Pinterest,Tumblr.
• School Online Newsletters / Library’s Monthly Calendar of Events
& News Releases

19. In what other ways can we partner
to help all of us be more effective?

20. Joan VanSickle Sloan
Blount County Public Library
Email: jsloan@blounttn.org
Phone: (865) 273-1408
www.blountlibrary.org