In 2016-17 and 2017-18, Montclair Community Library hosted a YA Digital Book Trailer Contest for students in grades 9 through 12. Students read a YA book, then created and produced a trailer to inspire others to read the book. The trailers could be live action, animation or stop-action, with voiceover, music, narration and special effects.
Trailers were aired on the library webpage, social media and in the school. Library users voted online to determine the top three trailers, and prizes were awarded at an award ceremony. All students participating received volunteer recognition certificates and community service hours for providing reader’s advisory.
We collaborated on this contest for our Virginia Library Leadership Academy project. We realized that students from nearby Forest Park High School (FPHS) used our group study rooms to work on assignments. Although FPHS and Montclair are located in an affluent area, some of the students lacked after-school access to technology necessary to complete assignments. Montclair was awarded a $5,000 Best Buy Foundation Ignites Teen Potential through Technology grant that sponsored the contest. It also enabled us to purchase additional materials for our digital media lab, including a PS4 system, portable speakers, microphones, a GoPro, color printer, scanner, webcam, digital tablet and DVD player, in addition to the green screen and iMac desktop we already had.Â
Students read a YA book, then created and produced a digital trailer to inspire others to read it.