A talk crowdsourced using Twitter, Facebook and a mailing group about how school librarians engage with parents. Given at the BETT show January 2017

1. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk
At Eltham College I engage parents in these ways:
1. Advertise tips on stress and mindfulness during exam times via Twitter
2. Give out leaflets on recommended reading to stretch the boys on Open Day in
both Senior and Junior Schools
3. Open for an hour and a half on one night a week in the Junior School Library for
parents to attend
4. Advertise the iMLS app allows parents to log in and see which books the school
has before buying copies themselves – saving them money
5. Our last author event with the mountaineer Matt Dickinson had a parents talk as
well – several attended
6. Our new book club in January we wrote home to Year 7 parents inviting their
sons to attend and giving them the details of the book we would like them to
read
7. Having parent volunteers working in both Senior and Junior School Libraries

2. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk
I put the appeal for info out on @HeartOTSchool and got these replies:

3. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

4. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

5. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

6. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

7. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

8. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

9. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

10. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

11. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

12. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk

13. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk
Other school librarians replied that they
1. Lucy Chambers who works in three primary schools in Tower Hamlets ran a
parents reading group for parents to discuss books to read to their own children,
invited Adult Learners of English in to read to primary school children, breakfast
book club where parents share books with their children.
2. Gillian Ward in Fortismere School, Muswell Hill has an insert in the weekly
parental newsletter which includes library news and recommended reading and
also runs a parent/staff reading group
3. Barbara Band used to give a brief talk at Sixth Form parents information evening
telling parents about library resources, both physical and online; a twilight
session on supporting reading for KS3 parents and ran a Dads and Lads reading
group
4. At the end of each term Whitgift School library opens for the morning first day of
the holidays for parents to bring children in to choose holiday reading.

14. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk
You can find all this information in two places. This presentation, updated with any
extra information can be found on my Slideshare account:
http://www.slideshare.net/carolineroche/
I also made a Storify of all the tweeted tips I received, updated with any new ones,
which you can find here:
https://storify.com/CarolineRoche/tips-on-engaging-parents-for-school-librarians

15. Engaging parents
Caroline Roche,MA, MCLIP School Librarian
Email: cmr@eltham-college.org.uk
You can find all this information in two places. This presentation, updated with any
extra information can be found on my Slideshare account:
http://www.slideshare.net/carolineroche/
I also made a Storify of all the tweeted tips I received, updated with any new ones,
which you can find here:
https://storify.com/CarolineRoche/tips-on-engaging-parents-for-school-librarians