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CHICAGO – In preparation for School Library Month and its theme “Create Your Own Story,” the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) will offer a complimentary webinar series on crafting strategic stories. Presented by Nancy Dowd, “How to Create Strategic Stories to Gain Support for Your Library” is designed to help school librarians create stories to win support from parents, government officials, administrators and other stakeholders. Webinars will be held at 6 p.m. EDT on Wednesdays, March 15, 22, and 29. Registration and course information can be found on the . Listen to an .

“These webinars are timely, not only for School Library Month, but because of the need for school librarians to engage and motivate school library supporters during this time of budgetary cutbacks and job loss,” said Nancy Everhart, AASL president. “When AASL leaders met with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (during the 91´«Ã½ 2010 Annual Conference), he encouraged school librarians to ‘use their loud librarian voices’ and tell the stories of how they are changing students’ lives.”

Appropriate for all school library settings and positions, this three-part interactive workshop includes an overview of techniques; how to tell your library's story using the "Three-Act Storytelling Method"; tips, tricks and techniques. Attendees will learn how to identify the structure of a compelling story and how to adapt those stories for the type and size of their audience.

Presenter Nancy Dowd, director of marketing for the New Jersey State Library, is the author of 91´«Ã½'s bestselling book “Bite-Sized Marketing, Realistic Solution for Overworked Librarians” and The M Word blog. Dowd has spoken around the world helping libraries improve their marketing and advocacy efforts and her statewide marketing campaign, Tell Us Your Story, was one of six campaigns awarded the 2010 John Cotton Dana Award.

Visit AASL’s School Library Month page now, for more information on Nancy’s presentation, other monthly activities and resources to celebrate School Library Month in your school, district and state.

The American Association of School Librarians, , a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.