Step 1

Visit the library of your neighborhood high school and/or middle school.

• Call the principal to make an appointment. Make sure you get the correct spelling of the names of the school librarian and principal.
• Explain that you are a strong advocate for education and the public schools and that you would like to make a donation of media materials to the school library.  Acknowledge the responsibility of educators to select appropriate materials for their library. Assure them that once you see what the school has to offer, you will send them a list of items that you would be willing to donate and ask them to select one or more items from the list. If the librarian or principal suggests that a financial donation would be preferred, simply state that our group is prepared to offer media materials only.
• Notice how the current events materials are displayed and how much room is available for additional materials.  Make a list of magazines and newspapers that the school provides for the students.  Keep this list for future use. Many schools will consider limited space a reason for rejecting your offer. If display space is limited, you may offer additional display supplies.
• Send a letter to the principal offering your suggestions for donations.  You may use this sample letter, or you may make changes which represent your experience, or you may write your own letter. Keep the letter short, positive, and professional. In every case, remember that educators deserve to be treated with respect.  Assume that they will appreciate your generosity.  This is the first step in getting to know the principal and some staff members from your local school in a very constructive, cooperative way. Making this a positive experience will make our next step a lot easier.

Good luck and thank you for joining our mission. Your time, effort, and generosity toward your neighborhood school are valuable to the success of this project.

Step 2