South Dakota State Library: Library Development e-Newsletter

School Libraries

Book trailers market books with music, pictures and text

How do you decide which movies to see? If you’re like most people, you see the trailers released by the film studios, a short commercial that lets you decide if that particular movie would interest you.

Publishers and authors are trying similar marketing campaigns by creating book trailers. Book trailers are similar to booktalks in that they are short, usually less than five minutes long, and provide enough information about the book without giving away the ending. The differences between a book trailer and a booktalk come down to production values. When performing a booktalk, you are limited to simply talking about the book. A book trailer allows for the use of music, pictures, text, and more. Another advantage of the book trailer is the ability to reach your audience where they are. Rather than waiting for an invitation to speak, the book trailer is available on select Web sites for people to view at their leisure.

While publishers, authors, and other organizations are creating and disseminating their own book trailers, amateur and fan created book trailers are incredibly popular. While professional companies charge thousands of dollars to create these videos, you don’t have to break the bank to create a book trailer for your favorite book.

In fact, because creating a book trailer can be done inexpensively, it is a common activity for teens. The professionals use high-end video software for editing and pay for the use of models, actors, and other professionals, but those things aren’t necessary for the creation of a quality book trailer.

Windows Movie Maker is sufficient for the creation of your trailer and is available as a free download. Mary Geary of Dakota State University recommends Photo Story 3 which is also a free download. If you don’t want to create your own music and images, there are copyright-free resources available on the Internet.

Once you have created your trailer, you will want to make it available for others. They can be uploaded on your Web site, blog, and/or made available on social networking sites. YouTube has a page set aside for book trailers, plus there are several other sites that exist just to showcase book trailers.

There are also numerous contests for the creation of book trailers. They can be sponsored by publishing companies, authors, libraries, and more. This summer libraries in Massachusetts, Arizona, and Ohio are asking teens to express themselves with book trailers.

While book trailers vary in production values, there are some things that all book trailers have in common:

• Book trailers are short. Most are between one to five minutes.
• Book trailers do not tell the story, they only give a taste.
• Book trailers conform to existing copyright laws.
• Book trailers include the title and author.

If you would like more information about book trailers, check out the following resources:

Examples of Book Trailers:

• Digital Book Talk
  This site is sponsored by the University of Central Florida. Undergraduate students create book trailers meant to encourage reluctant readers to find and read books. If you register on the site you also get access to lesson plans, guidance on creating your own book trailers, and the ability to add your own book trailers to their database. Registration is free.
• Book Trailers
  This site offers authors and publishers a place to promote their books. They offer book trailers for a variety of different age groups and genres.
• Watch the Book
  You can browse trailers by genre and release date.
• COS Productions' YouTube Channel
  This YouTube page is specifically for book trailers.
• Book Trailers – Movies for Literacy
  This page represents the beginning of a website of short movies (generally 30 to 45 seconds) designed to increase student motivation to READ!

Create a Book Trailer:

• We CAN! promote our books: Make a Book Trailer FREE!
  This is an easy to follow tutorial for the creation of book trailers on a budget.
• Tech & Learning: Making Book Trailers with Photo Story 3
  Here's a handy tutorial for using Microsoft's free Photo Story 3 to create "Book Trailers" – and other projects using photos to tell a story.

Library Programs:

• Pima County Public Library: Teen Zone
  Summer Video Shootout - That’s My Take 2009
• Book Video Contest
  Stow-Munroe Falls Library, Stow, Ohio - Teen Book Trailer Contest
• Pembroke Public Library: Summer Reading
  Pembroke Public Library, Pembroke, Massachusetts - You’re the Star Book Trailer Contest

 

Presenters announced for the 7th Annual Festival of Books

The Festival of Books, "Where Readers and Writers Rendezvous," brings together more than 50 of the top national, regional and South Dakota authors as they share their life and work. This year's festival is scheduled for October 2-4 in historic Deadwood, SD.

Presentations focus in the areas of fiction, non-fiction, history/tribal writing, children's literature, writers' support and poetry. Featured authors include Rick Bass, Pete Dexter, David Cross, Marilyn Chin, Gary Schmidt, Linda Hasselstrom, Craig Johnson, Quincy Troupe, Ann Daum, Susan Power, Craig Childs, and more!

For a complete listing of presenters and a full schedule of events, log onto www.sdbookfestival.com

 

More resources in the news:

IMLS: Library Statistics Publications
The National 2007 Public Library Report is now available.

National Center for Education Statistics: Institute of Education Sciences
Characteristics of Public and Bureau of Indian Education Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Centers in the United States:
Results From the 2007–08 Schools and Staffing Survey
(pdf download)

50 Free Resources That Will Improve Your Writing Skills

VoiceThread: an interactive online tool to connect readers and learners

YALSA’s Ultimate Teen Bookshelf
Highlights must-have teen materials for libraries.

Library of Congress: Teachers
Library of Congress primary source materials and more for teachers

Fifty Books for Our Times
Newsweek Books

books, Deadwood, video, websites

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