School librarians and classroom teachers are used to channeling students toward their public counterparts so they can take advantage of a range of invaluable resources.That kind of collaboration and communication is working on another level these days. One public library in Phoenix, AZ has recently reached out in the other direction with a newsletter designed specifically for teachers. “The idea for it came to me while I was working with teachers in the classrooms as part of the outreach I do,” explains Jacqui Higgins-Dailey, literacy outreach manager for children and teen services at the Phoenix Public Library. “I found that some teachers didn’t know about the amazing information our library provides, including print, databases, and many different e-resources.” Happily, teacher-directed newsletters seem to be trending, with institutions in such diverse locations as Haverhill, MA, Hoover, AL, and Algoma, WI creating similar ones to inform educators of the varied—and often free—public library programs. But to make the collaboration sync, a good relationship between public and school librarians is key. “We’re especially close to the school media specialists since they forward the monthly newsletters and gently nudge teachers in our direction,” notes Katie Morris, outreach librarian at the Hoover Public Library. Amy Teske, youth services manager at the Carol Stream Public Library in Carol Stream, IL, enjoys a similar rapport. “The local schools in our area are happy to post our e-newsletter to the ‘online school backpack,’ which is the district’s main website,” she says. Thinking of setting up a newsletter for teachers in your community? Here’s how Higgins-Dailey and her colleague Kristl Chavez went about it at their library: Design it right. If you come up with a smart format and attractive graphics, you’ll be off to a good start. “The Phoenix Public Library teacher e-newsletter, which started in November of 2015, is written by me, and Kristl handles the images, links, and the other technical aspects,” says Higgins-Dailey. “We send it out once a month throughout the school year and then take a break over the summer.” Use what you have. Several libraries that publish teacher newsletters began the process by building on a previously established document. For example, the librarians in Phoenix had already been sending out a general letter since 2014, so one directed at teachers evolved naturally from there. “It was easy to use the same resources and similar timeline to put out one for teachers,” adds Higgins-Dailey. Customize the content. Higgins-Dailey tries to keep the format consistent, which means the newsletter always includes an outreach feature, a literacy tip, a programming note, and information related to print and e-resources. “We change the programs and outreach components based on our current campaigns,” she adds. In addition, if there are any library-wide pushes or branding, this content is incorporated into the newsletter, but with a special take for educators. “The idea is to make the experience consistent, but not redundant, since many of our teachers are also library customers themselves,” explains Chavez. Target your audience. “Our newsletter is directed at classroom teachers for the most part, but school librarians and other educators are encouraged to sign up, says Higgins-Dailey. Parents, too, are welcome to receive the newsletter. “I get sign-up requests for the newsletter a few times a week and I’m surprised and encouraged by how varied the job titles are of those writing me,” adds Chavez. Be informative. Specifics are key, of course, when it comes to publishing a newsletter, so highlight programs that will appeal to teachers and their students. Teske, of the Carol Stream, IL library, has written about a Lego club, an improvisational theater night, and a Rube Goldberg science event. The offerings in Hoover, AL are similarly varied. “This school year we had articles about comics, musical biographies, literature circles, animal rescue reads, Youth Art Month, and nonfiction double headers,” reports Katie Morris. Build a bond. Once you’ve established a newsletter, continue the outreach on multiple levels. “This summer we’ve been invited by one of the school districts to have a table at the school libraries for their students on days when they’re open over the summer. We’ll staff a table so kids can participate in our summer reading program while at the school library,” says Teske. As a result of the Phoenix publication, many more teachers have reached out about classroom visits to gain information about the public library and to get students signed up for cards. “We also promote the teacher letter on social media channels," says Chavez. The bottom line? Listen to your teachers as if they’re customers (they actually are!). “What are their needs? Does the library have something that might to fulfill them? If you let your teachers lead you a bit in the newsletter’s content, it will always be relevant to them,” concludes Higgins-Dailey. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Jennifer Kelly Geddes is a Manhattan-based reporter and the former research editor of Parenting.