Templates, Instructions for Creating News Releases, Newsletters, Brochures

Instructions for Writing News Releases

Effective writing is key to getting your message out. Writing must be clear, simple and concise for the public to understand. Facts must be accurate and correct. Here are some basics of writing a new release.

Content:

• Written in newspaper style from the perspective of your library
• The first sentence or two should identify who, what, when, where, why, and sometimes how.  (E.g., The Best Public Library, 111 Main St., will have a children's story hour at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 3.  Story hours are important in helping children learn to love books and reading at an early age.)
  
• Use the inverted pyramid style.  Place the most important information first, with less important information near the end.
• Use declarative sentences.
• Clearly identify quotes by name and title/position/expertise.  (E.g. Youth Services Coordinator Jane Doe said, "......"
  
• Keep quotes short and avoid library jargon.
• Write at an 8th grade level.
• Check your news release carefully for typos, misspelled names, etc.
  

Format:

• Double-space with two-inch margins.
• Use one side of 8-1/2 x 11 inch paper, either plain or letterhead.
  
• Try not to exceed two pages.
• Identify a contact person at the top of the page:  Name, title, phone number, e-mail address.
  
• Identify at top of the page "for immediate release."
• Include a headline in larger type than the body of the newsletter.
  
• At the bottom and center of the end of the news release, use "-END-" or "-30-" to indicate that's all there is.
  
• Use "-More-" at the bottom of the first page if the release continues to a second page.

Be ready for telephone and in-person follow-ups from the media. Do not refuse calls. Always return calls promptly and designate an alternate if you have to leave the premises.

Brochures

Brochures:  Purposes, targets, etc.  (Community Tool Box)

Great tips for designing a brochure

Instructions for creating a brochure with Microsoft Word

Creating a brochure in Microsoft Publisher

Instructions for Creating a Newsletter

A newsletter template (Gale Group)