Hey, hey . . . librarians who are interested in making posters for library decor or to give to teachers for classroom decor . . . or other promotion ideas . . . here are some ideas for you.

So, you are creative . . . and you want to make your own posters.

Below are some ideas for reading posters that can be created by the librarian, the reading teacher, a library club, student library aides, or a technology class. They can be produced by students in grades 5 up, for sure. After you read through my list, I’m sure you can add ideas of your own.

You will need the cooperation of teachers. I suggest using your teachers as your “stars” because that lets you avoid permission problems with students. You will have to be sure to get permission from the adults, too, but that is usually easier.

You will need a digital camera (preferably 4+meg type) and some easy props, many of which may be around the school, and of course you will need some books. Choose books that are larger and more colorful as possible.

You will need a color printer to make 8.5x11 size posters on white card stock from Walmart, for example. If your camera produces photos with resolution that is high enough, and you have such a printer on campus, you can make legal size posters or even larger. Check to see if your Region ESC has a poster printer you can use, or you can also take your smaller poster prints or your digital files to a printer to get larger posters made. I used Kinko’s.

You will need a photo editing software program. I highly recommend that you use Photoshop Elements. Your school should have a copy somewhere. If not, or if you want to work on these at home, you can get a free photo editing program, Gimp 2.2+. Download this from: <http://www.gimp.org/downloads/>. Download tutorials for these from: <http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/>. Additionally, Picasa from Google will give you some basic editing abilities. Download this from: <http://picasa.google.com/>. You can also experiment with MS PowerPoint to produce these.

Now, more info about the ideas . . .
I suggest a large photo covering most of the paper with black text, and easy to read font, and using red caps for the READ on each poster. Below some of the numbers below, you will see the "scene" that my students and I set up for each shot. In most cases you have a simple setup, but sometimes you may need to "combine" two photos to make a good scene. If you need more info, you may contact me by using the email link below. Be sure to make your pics as close up as possible - zero in on the scene.

1. A good book will never let you down. READ.
Teacher up on a ladder while reading a book.

2. Treat yourself to a good workout, READing is great exercise for the brain.
Teacher on an exercise machine in the gym while reading a book.

3. Spend your time with some great minds, READ.

4. We welcome you to a feast for the mind, food for thought served here. READ.
Use editing and combined pics to get a teacher reading a book in front of bookshelves in your library, with the teacher's head "cracked" open and many small books "pouring" into her head.

5. Get bitten by the book bug, READ!

6. Light up your mind, READ.
Teacher seated at her desk while reading with a bright light hanging over her head.

7. Books have the power to transform, become something new, READ.
Teacher in some kind of a costume, "acting" in front of a mirror, while reading a book.

8. Boost your brainpower, READ.

9. Take your mind on a magic carpet ride, READ.
Teacher seated on a small carpet (fringed is best), while reading a book. Then edit the pic to make the carpet "wave" a bit and place it into a pic of the school grounds so that the teacher/carpet is "flying" through the sky over the school area.

10. Get better mileage from your head, READ.

11. Quench your thirst for knowledge, READ.

12. Support your local brain cells, READ.

13. There is intelligent life in the universe. It’s right here on Earth. Be part of it, READ.

14. Knowledge is power. READ. SUCCEED.

15. Take me to your READers.

16. READ. Reading prevents brain rot.

17. THINK of one decent job that doesn’t require good reading skills. READ. SUCCEED.

18. A book is a present you can open and READ again and again.
Use editing to create a collage of several photos of the same teacher reading a book in several different positions in several different locations.

19. READ a moving story.
Teacher seated in a chair in the back of a pickup truck, while reading a book.

20. BOOKS, the other channel.
Teacher sprawled comfortably in front of an enlarged TV, while reading a book, with the caption placed on the TV screen.

21. Chill out and READ.
Teacher sitting on a block of ice - or sitting in front of an open refrigerator - while reading a book.

22. Follow your leaders, READ.
Teacher leading about 4 students into a classroom, all reading their books.

23. Control your world, READ.
Use editing and combined pics to get a teacher reading a book while "sitting" on top of a globe.

By now you get the idea, and I hope you can see how much fun you can have doing this.

© 9/28/06