Using Generative AI for a School Library Newsletter: Help or Hindrance?
AI-generated content can be a great starting point, but it often takes off in its own direction. I found that while AI helped structure my school library newsletter efficiently, I had to go back and ask for specific details I wanted included. It’s useful, but it still needs a human touch to ensure accuracy, engagement, and personalization.
To begin, I provided AI with a prompt that outlined the basic elements I wanted in my newsletter. I included details such as library policies, upcoming events, and featured books. Below is the exact prompt I used:
Prompt 1:
"Create a Library Newsletter for Refugio Elementary School. The newsletter should include library hours, book checkout policies, upcoming events, a featured book of the month, and a section encouraging students to submit book reviews."
AI then generated a well-structured newsletter, incorporating all the requested elements while maintaining a professional and engaging tone.
Step 2: Enhancing the Newsletter with Additional Features
After reviewing the initial version, I wanted to add elements that would further engage students, parents, and teachers. I refined my request to include Read Across America Week, a student spotlight, teacher tips, and current events.
Refugio Elementary School Library Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2 | [Month, Year]
Welcome Back to the Library!
We are excited to welcome students, teachers, and families back to the Refugio Elementary School Library! This year, we have new books, engaging programs, and exciting reading challenges to encourage our students to develop a lifelong love for reading.
Library Hours & Policies
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Students may check out up to 2 books at a time.
Books are due two weeks from the checkout date.
Remember to return books on time to avoid overdue notices!
📚 Read Across America Week - March 2-6
Join us in celebrating Read Across America Week with special events, guest readers, and fun reading challenges! Each day will have a different theme, so dress up and join the fun!
Monday: Crazy Hat Day (Read The Cat in the Hat)
Tuesday: Pajama Day (Cozy up with a good book!)
Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday (Mismatch clothes and read Wacky Wednesday)
Thursday: Favorite Character Day (Dress as your favorite book character)
Friday: Flashlight Friday (Read with flashlights in the library!)
🌟 Student Spotlight
This month, we are celebrating [Student Name] for their love of reading and enthusiasm in the library! [Student Name] has checked out the most books this month and is always eager to discover new stories. Keep up the great work!
📖 Teacher Tips for Encouraging Reading
Set aside time each day for independent reading.
Create a cozy reading corner in the classroom.
Share your favorite books with your students.
Encourage students to talk about what they are reading.
Use audiobooks for students who prefer listening to stories.
📢 Current Events & Library Programs
🎉 Book Fair - Coming Soon!
Get ready for our upcoming Book Fair! A fantastic selection of books will be available for purchase, and proceeds will support our library programs. Stay tuned for dates and details!
🎭 Storytelling Assembly - April 10th
We are excited to host a special guest storyteller who will bring books to life with engaging performances! Don’t miss it!
Featured Book of the Month
🔹 The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
A touching story about friendship and hope, perfect for all ages!
Library Resources & Technology
Ebooks & Audiobooks: Available through our school’s digital library! Ask your librarian for login details.
Research Help: Need help finding information for your projects? Visit the library for guided research assistance.
Virtual Learning Commons: Explore educational games, research databases, and reading recommendations online.
Student Book Reviews
Students, we want to hear from you! Submit a short book review, and you might see your recommendation featured in next month’s newsletter!
Library Reminders
📌 Keep books in a safe place to avoid damage.
📌 Use a bookmark instead of folding pages.
📌 Encourage reading at home by setting aside at least 20 minutes per day!
Contact Us
📍 Refugio Elementary School Library
📧 librarian@refugioisd.org
📞 (123) 456-7890
Happy Reading! 📚✨
Prompt 2:
"Revise the previous Refugio Elementary School Library newsletter to include Read Across America Week, a student spotlight, teacher reading tips, and library-related current events such as an upcoming book fair and a storytelling assembly."
With this second request, AI seamlessly integrated these additional components, making the newsletter even more dynamic and informative.
Refugio Elementary School Library Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2 | [Month, Year]
Welcome Back to the Library!
We are excited to welcome students, teachers, and families back to the Refugio Elementary School Library! This year, we have new books, engaging programs, and exciting reading challenges to encourage our students to develop a lifelong love for reading.
Library Hours & Policies
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Students may check out up to 2 books at a time.
Books are due two weeks from the checkout date.
Remember to return books on time to avoid overdue notices!
📚 Read Across America Week - March 2-6
Join us in celebrating Read Across America Week with special events, guest readers, and fun reading challenges! Each day will have a different theme, so dress up and join the fun!
Monday: Crazy Hat Day (Read The Cat in the Hat)
Tuesday: Pajama Day (Cozy up with a good book!)
Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday (Mismatch clothes and read Wacky Wednesday)
Thursday: Favorite Character Day (Dress as your favorite book character)
Friday: Flashlight Friday (Read with flashlights in the library!)
🌟 Student Spotlight
This month, we are celebrating [Student Name] for their love of reading and enthusiasm in the library! [Student Name] has checked out the most books this month and is always eager to discover new stories. Keep up the great work!
📖 Teacher Tips for Encouraging Reading
Set aside time each day for independent reading.
Create a cozy reading corner in the classroom.
Share your favorite books with your students.
Encourage students to talk about what they are reading.
Use audiobooks for students who prefer listening to stories.
📢 Current Events & Library Programs
🎉 Book Fair - Coming Soon!
Get ready for our upcoming Book Fair! A fantastic selection of books will be available for purchase, and proceeds will support our library programs. Stay tuned for dates and details!
🎭 Storytelling Assembly - April 10th
We are excited to host a special guest storyteller who will bring books to life with engaging performances! Don’t miss it!
Featured Book of the Month
🔹 The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
A touching story about friendship and hope, perfect for all ages!
Library Resources & Technology
Ebooks & Audiobooks: Available through our school’s digital library! Ask your librarian for login details.
Research Help: Need help finding information for your projects? Visit the library for guided research assistance.
Virtual Learning Commons: Explore educational games, research databases, and reading recommendations online.
Student Book Reviews
Students, we want to hear from you! Submit a short book review, and you might see your recommendation featured in next month’s newsletter!
Library Reminders
📌 Keep books in a safe place to avoid damage.
📌 Use a bookmark instead of folding pages.
📌 Encourage reading at home by setting aside at least 20 minutes per day!
Contact Us
📍 Refugio Elementary School Library
📧 librarian@refugioisd.org
📞 (123) 456-7890
Happy Reading! 📚✨
One of the biggest takeaways from my social media learning is that content should provide value and build trust. While the AI-generated newsletter included all the basics,: new book arrivals, upcoming events, and reading tips, it lacked depth. It didn’t offer engaging elements like parent reading tips, student book reviews, or interactive content that could make it more appealing.
Social media plays a huge role in reaching audiences, and the newsletter didn’t optimize for engagement. Adding hashtags, encouraging students to share book photos, or using calls to action for library social media pages would have made a big difference. I also learned about tools like Canva and Mojo, which could enhance visuals and video content, something AI didn’t incorporate. The module stressed how important it is to grab attention with strong visuals, but the AI version was mostly text-heavy.
I also realized how useful a content calendar could be in planning social media posts for the library. Facebook Creator Studio makes it easy to schedule and track engagement, which could help maintain a consistent online presence. AI is great for generating ideas, but strategic scheduling and multimedia elements require human input.
Despite its flaws, AI was a huge time-saver. It gave me a foundation to build on, and with some tweaking, it turned into something more meaningful. I see AI as a helpful assistant rather than a replacement for creative thinking. That being said, it’s easy to see how some might misuse it, passing off AI-generated work as their own. At my school, AI is firewalled due to student misuse, and I can understand why.
This assignment introduced me to tools I hadn’t used before, like Mojo for video content. The other day, we had a Royal Ball in kindergarten and wanted to make a short video for our school’s Facebook page. I ended up using TikTok because it was the only platform I knew, but Mojo would have been a better fit. I also see the value in creating a library Facebook or Instagram page, students love social media, and meeting them where they are could open up a whole new world of engagement.
Overall, this was a helpful exercise in balancing AI-generated content with strategic, engaging, and visually appealing communication. AI can assist in the process, but creativity, personalization, and thoughtful planning still require a human touch.
You're findings are the same as others. It's great for the 50,000 ft. view, but needs a human to make it personal.
ReplyDeleteMonica,
ReplyDeleteCreating a newsletter is always a time-consuming task for. AI could be a real game-changer! Thanks for sharing this!
Monica, Your newsletter looks JUST like the newsletter that my principal sends out to parents. I'm not curious if she is using AI to help generate her messages to parents.
ReplyDeleteMonica,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your thoughtful critique. I had a similar experience where the AI gave me a great starting point, but it took extra effort to make the content engaging and personalized. You’re so right that adding those human touches like interactive elements and strong visuals really makes all the difference. Thanks for sharing your insights!