Day 12: Send a Friendly Email to Teachers
Day 12: Send a Friendly Email to Teachers
The beginning of the school year is full of introductions.
- Teachers introduce themselves to students.
- Students introduce themselves to classmates.
- Administrators introduce new staff members.
As the school librarian, this is also the perfect time to introduce—or reintroduce—yourself to the teachers you’ll be serving all year long.
Today’s Quick Win is wonderfully simple. Take a few minutes to send one friendly email to your teaching staff. Not a long newsletter. Not a list of rules.
Just a warm message that reminds teachers you’re excited to work with them.
Why It Matters
Teachers are busy. Really busy.
During the first few weeks of school, they’re juggling lesson plans, classroom procedures, parent communication, meetings, assessments, and countless other responsibilities.
Many simply aren’t thinking about the library yet. A friendly email gently reminds them that they don’t have to do everything alone. It lets them know there’s someone in the building who is ready to help.
Sometimes one email is all it takes to begin a collaboration that benefits students for the rest of the school year.
Your 20-Minute Challenge
Write a short email that does three things:
Introduce Yourself
Even if you’ve worked at your school for years, it’s nice to begin the year with a fresh greeting. Share your excitement about the new school year. A warm opening helps set a positive tone.
Offer Your Help
Instead of listing everything the library has, focus on how you can support teachers.
For example, mention that you can help with:
- Classroom book collections
- Research projects
- Book talks
- Read-aloud suggestions
- Curriculum support
- Digital resources
- Library lessons
- Reading promotion
- Makerspace activities
Keep it simple. Teachers don’t need every detail today. They just need to know you’re available.
Invite Collaboration
Close with an invitation.
Something as simple as: “If you’re planning a unit this semester, I’d love to help find resources or brainstorm ideas with you.”
Or: “Please don’t hesitate to stop by the library if there’s anything I can do to support your classroom.”
Those invitations let teachers know the library is a partner, not just a place.
Try This Today
As you finish your email, ask yourself one question: Does this email sound helpful—or overwhelming?
A long list of services may be impressive, but it can also feel like one more thing for teachers to read.
Aim for warmth and clarity.
A few sincere sentences are often more effective than several paragraphs of information.
If you’d like, include one or two photos of a new display, your “First-Day Favorites” cart, or a cozy reading corner.
A visual reminder of the welcoming library waiting for students can be a nice finishing touch.
Bonus Tip
Don’t let your email be your last communication with teachers. Look for opportunities throughout the year to share:
- A new book that connects with classroom topics.
- A helpful database or online resource.
- An upcoming author visit or library event.
- A seasonal book list.
- A successful lesson another teacher might enjoy adapting.
Short, occasional messages keep the library on teachers’ minds without overwhelming their inboxes.
Building relationships doesn’t happen all at once.
It happens …
- One conversation at a time.
- One helpful suggestion.
- One shared lesson.
- One carefully selected stack of books.
- One encouraging email.
Not every teacher will respond immediately. That’s okay. Some are simply trying to make it through the first week of school. Others may reach out later—weeks or even months from now—because they remembered your willingness to help. Keep extending the invitation.
Your kindness, professionalism, and genuine desire to support others will speak louder than any list of library services ever could.
Reflection Question
Think about one teacher you’ll work with this year.
- What is one specific way the library could make that teacher’s job a little easier?
- Could you mention that possibility in today’s email?
For more in the August in the Library series, click here.
For more Library Administration posts, click here.
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