AUTHORS TO ALASKA
This web site will serve as a clearinghouse of information on visiting authors to Alaska.
| Committee members of Authors to Anchorage | Author Visits (planning the visit, the visit, after the visit information) |
Alaskan Authors Plus (This list of authors interested in making school visits was originated by Chrystal Carr Jeter in 1995, updated and expanded in 2000 by Lois A. Petersen and added to as contacts are made by interested authors) |
| New!! A website to bring authors and libraries together (a link between publishers and librarians) |
Links to web sites on authors and illustrators | Publishing houses | Storytellers: Jack Dalton |
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Alaska Reads September 17, 2003 September 18, 2003 A visit with the author on September 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the library at East High School is scheduled. You may each select a student from each school to attend this event. Parent(s) of the each child is welcome, also. The library will be a "cozy" setting. Maybe you can recommend that this be a "special treat" for someone from your school. Please let Ruth Jean Shaw know who is coming for the evening chat at East Library from your program and/or if you will be there. Mardell Kiesel will be facilitating the evening chat with the author. |
WHAT IS AUTHORS TO ALASKA?
Authors to Alaska : Making the Author Connection.
The Alaska Library Association has a roundtable of members called "Authors to Alaska" (A2A, for short) made up of public, school and other librarians interested in coordinating author visits to Alaska. A current list of Alaska authors is available from Carol Race, the A2A Chair. Also, the Youth Services Librarians at the Anchorage Municipal Libraries and Children's Librarians at the North Star Borough Public Library in Fairbanks can usually give you information about planned author visits for any given year. Reading coordinators of the large school districts are also usually active participants in bringing authors to Alaska. The Alaska Center for the Book frequently supports author visits as well and includes members from booksellers who also sponsor visits.
Unless you are experienced at arranging visits and have contacts with authors and publishers yourself, it would probably be best to rely on, or at least coordinate with, one of these groups for scheduling visits by authors from outside Alaska.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS - AUTHORS TO ANCHORAGE
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Committee Information The Authors to Anchorage Committee works to promote awareness of author visits to Anchorage. For more information, contact chair or any committee member. Committee Chair: Sue Hagedorn |
AUTHOR VISITS
(Section A-6 of the Handbook for Alaska K-12 School Libraries, 2000)
Inviting authors to visit your school is a great motivator for reading. Students of all ages love to meet authors and authors generally like to stay in touch with their readers. Making arrangements for author visits in Alaska may be more challenging than in other states but many schools arrange author visits each year. In this section we have included names of groups to contact regarding author visits as well as tips for hosting an author in your school.
Making the Author Connection.
The Alaska Library Association has a roundtable of members called "Authors to Alaska" (A2A, for short) made up of public, school and other librarians interested in coordinating author visits to Alaska. A current list of Alaska authors is available from Carol Race, the A2A Chair. Also, the Youth Services Librarians at the Anchorage Municipal Libraries and Children's Librarians at the North Star Borough Public Library in Fairbanks can usually give you information about planned author visits for any given year. Reading coordinators of the large school districts are also usually active participants in bringing authors to Alaska. The Alaska Center for the Book frequently supports author visits as well and includes members from booksellers who also sponsor visits.
Unless you are experienced at arranging visits and have contacts with authors and publishers yourself, it would probably be best to rely on, or at least coordinate with, one of these groups for scheduling visits by authors from outside Alaska.
Alaska Authors for Children and Youth.
Alaskan authors are frequently easier to work with, since they have fewer travel problems and are usually well acquainted with the differences which make Alaskan visits unique. At the end of this section is a list of Alaskan authors who have made visits to schools. You can contact these authors yourself to set up visits. Please remember that all the tips given for planning and managing an author visit apply to our own celebrities as well as those who come from Outside.
I. Planning the Author Visit
Begin planning far in advance. (Busy authors book at least a year in advance.)
Be willing to be flexible in terms of dates and authors.
Be very careful with budgeting. Generally travel expenses, hotel, meals plus an honorarium are expected. Some authors will only travel first class, or may have to have special diets, or require a traveling companion. All these details need to be specifically set out in your contract. Firm sources for your funds have to be verified and reliable. (Do not plan to use money from books sold or charges collected while the author is there as part of your budget. What if there's a disaster and no one comes?) PTAs, school budgets, bookstores and other local businesses may all be sources for funds.
Coordinate with a public library, other schools, districts or groups to share expenses.
Publicize the event.
[A preparation checklist for author visits can be found on the San Diego County Office of Education School Library Services page.]
1. Many publishers have promotional materials such as biographies, posters, photos, study guides; some provide free books.
2. Displays
3. Newsletters
4. Press releases and/or interviews for newspapers and radio may be arranged.
Prepare your students for the author's visit.
Promote books, involve your teachers, have contests with books or pictures.
Rehearse your students for behavior, appropriate questions, etc.
Consider selling the author's books in a Book Fair-type plan (see entries under Vendors/V-1 and Book Fairs/B-5) containing a schedule for autographing.
[Some good ideas for preparing your class for a visit can be found on the San Diego County Office of Education School Library Services page.]
Many authors like to be involved in the planning for presentations and would appreciate some options. At the least, authors should know well in advance details on the following:
Age of students in groups
How many groups; general schedule for the visit
Setting (what kind of room will be used; what kind of equipment is available)
Length of time for each presentation
What you expect in the presentation (question/answer, presentation about writing, reading from book, learning activity with children, etc.)
II. The author visit:
Be sure that the author is met on arrival and transported to his/her accommodations.
Make arrangements for transportation while the author is with you (let some of your teachers share this chore/pleasure).
Think through mealtimes and menus to assure that the author is physically comfortable during his visit.
If at all possible, set up some arrangements for the author to see the sights that make your location unique and to meet interesting people. Remember, this may be the author's first (or only) impression of Alaska.
Do not expect the author to be "on" while on break or at lunch. Down time is very important for re-grouping and preparing for the next presentation.Author expectations:
Clear understanding about expenses and fees, usually with immediate payment.
Adult presence (the teacher and/or the librarian) to help with discipline and maneuvering kids through autograph lines.
Reasonable schedule.
Feedback on the success (or lack) of the visit.
Possible questions for an author to address:
o How he/she got started writing children's books.
o Why he/she writes children's books.
o Where ideas come from.
o How long does it take to write a book.
o Stories behind the books.
o Method of writing the books (pencil, typewriter, computer, etc.).
o Family make-up and hobbies outside writing.
Write a personal letter to thank the author and encourage children to do the same.
Share feedback, e.g. evaluation, student comments, with author.
Evaluate the visit with your own on-site committee and with the visit coordinator if you have worked through an outside agency. This kind of de-briefing will help you improve the next visit.
[A sample invitation can be found on the San Diego County Office of Education School Library Services page.]
Organizations and Groups:
Alaska Bookstores and Alaska Booksellers
Alaska Center for the Book. Barbara Brown, Chair email http://www.sinbad.net/~akctrbk/ 3600 Denali St., Anchorage, AK 99503-6093
Alaska Reads, http://litsite.alaska.edu/uaa/akreads/akreads.html, encourages people to make connections through literature and reading.
Anchorage Municipal Libraries, Youth Services Department, Youth Services Coordinator (907-343-2840)
Anchorage School District, Mardell Kiesel, Coordinator of Literacy
Authors to Alaska Roundtable, Alaska Library Association, Chairperson, Carol Race.
Association of Booksellers for Children. A good list of children's bookstores.
Authors to Alaska webpage. Contact Ruth Jean Shaw.
Battle of the Books, Anchorage
Vicki McCall / Janell Larson, Anchorage School District
Children's Book Council, http://www.cbcbooks.org/ 568 Broadway, Suite 404, New York, New York 10012. For information about author visits.
Cook Inlet Literacy Council of International Reading Association, Pam Lloyd, President, (907-349-8286)
Litsite, a web community promoting literacy, cultural diversity, and well-being throughout Alaska.
Sisters in Crime, http://www.sinbad.net/~aksinc
Bibliography:
"The Author Connection" The Unabashed Librarian. Number 91 pp. 29-31.
Maifair, Linda Lee. "Author! Author!" Elementary School Librarian's Desk Reference. pp. 8.93-8.94.
Kern, Jean. "Cooking Up A Successful Author Visit." School Library Management, 4th Edition. Worthington, OH: Linworth, 1998.
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updated 09/10/03 by s. hutchison