1. Sarah Bean Thompson Youth Services Manager Springfield-Greene County Library sarahbean@thelibrary.org

2. WHO AM I? -Librarian for six years at The Library Center -Served on the 2011-2012 Gateway Committee -Currently serving on the 2013 Michael L. Printz Committee -Blog at www.greenbeanteenqueen.com

3. How to Get Started -Look at the equipment you have & determine what type of visit you can arrange. (Conference Call, Chatzy, Skype) -Talk to the teens! Get suggestions for format, authors, questions. -Contact authors.

4. Contacting Authors -It never hurts to ask. -Be polite. -Give a few options of dates/times. Make sure you research time differences! -Never assume it will be free (or cheap). -Stay in contact with the author to confirm the event http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/ http://www.katemessner.com/authors-who-skype-with- classes-book-clubs-for-free/

6. Running the Program -Set up room for everyone to see/hear. -Projector? -Speakers? -Test Skype connection, sound, and video before program -Pick one book to discuss -Plan discussion time beforehand if you’d like -Plan for 20-30 min. for author discussion (or more) depending on the author fee -Come up with questions to ask beforehand in case teens get quiet

7. Benefits of Skype -Easy to set up and use -Minimal Cost (most of the time) -Introduces teens to authors

8. Downsides of Skype -Connection gets lost -Sound and video can be jumpy -Hard to see a larger crowd http://kmessner.livejournal.com/91520.html

10. Facebook Book Club -Created a Facebook page just for the group and invited teens -Had laptops available for teens that attended at the Library -Used the Group Chat feature on the group page -Picked one book a month to discuss

11. -A way to connect teens who might not always be able to make it into the Library-access anywhere -Utilizes technology teens are already familiar with -Promotes Library Facebook pages Benefits of Facebook

12. Downsides of Facebook -Not everyone has Facebook accounts or access to a computer -Low attendance

14. www.Figment.com www.randombuzzers.com www.teenink.com Connecting Teens With Authors & Getting Published

15. Benefits -Free -Easy to Use -Often includes popular authors

16. Downsides -Users must create an account -Not everyone has access to a computer

17. Other Ideas? -Chatzy-Chat Room Talks with authors or book clubs -Twitter Book Clubs -Blog Book Clubs

18. Additional Resources http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673572.html http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissuecurrentissue/ 886352-427/an_author_in_every_classroom.html.csp http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/08/ k-12/connecting-the-plots-figment-is-turning-teenage- angst-into-published-prose/