This week, our group collaborated to create an AI-assisted newsletter for our library. It was an interesting learning adventure that we had together. We had yet to use AI before working on this newsletter, and it was a big learning curve for all! Overall, we were shocked at how much was generated from a simple prompt. What a time saver! We also found that we needed to be specific without prompts and edit our newsletter to ensure it conveyed a personal connection. Our team critique and newsletter are below.

Team Critique and Newsletter:

        The AI tool we chose to use for this assignment was ChatGPT.  As a team, we created a newsletter that advertised a significant event at the library in the springtime. One common event most schools have is a book fair.  We selected the topic of book fairs because they are a primary source of funding for many libraries and are something we can expect to experience as librarians. As seen above, we went through several iterations of the newsletter using ChatGPT until we found one we were happy with.

While the results were generated quickly and were accurate and descriptive, we found the more specific we were with the prompt, the higher the quality of the newsletter.  One example is from our first prompt, where we stated, “Create a newsletter for an elementary school library that discusses the upcoming spring, a week-long book fair in March that has reminders about the events while enticing people to come. Include dates.”  With this result, we found the newsletter to be a bit vague as it did not include specific details about activities, and we felt it was a general newsletter for any campus and not one we worked at.  To remedy this, we added the directions for ChatGPT to include the activities in our following prompt.  We were pleasantly surprised and happy with the new newsletter and the suggested activities because they were relevant and engaging for our desired audience (we wanted the newsletter to be for an elementary).

To make the newsletter feel less like an advertisement and more personalized and encompassing, we asked ChatGPT to include a reminder about upcoming STAAR preparation workshops and a new book recommendation. The STAAR workshop announcement was added, and we thought it was fine, but one thing we did notice was the book recommendation.  After some quick Google searches, we realized the recommended book was fictitious!  Additionally, the author did not exist either!  So, we learned we could not trust ChatGPT to give book recommendations (though, as librarians, we should be fully capable of providing recommendations without AI).  Our last suggestion for the newsletter was to write it as a librarian, which changed the overall tone and point of view while making it feel more personal. We found that ChatGPT does not generate images but does give specific descriptions about images to use possible themes and justify why those images should be used at the end. To create the finished newsletter, we used the text created by ChatGPT and transferred it to a Canva template.

Overall, we were impressed with the tools AI offers. While creating a newsletter may take hours, AI has made it possible to create one in seconds.  Deciding to spend a day only creating newsletters and scheduling them to be sent ahead of time will help you manage your time better while also working smarter, not harder.  We liked that ChatGPT easily adapted to our changes and was able to create a newsletter that still felt personal despite the computer writing it.  AI is not a foolproof plan; going back into the newsletter to proofread it is critical, as AI is not perfect.  We found issues such as the newsletter being impersonal, too vague, and giving non-existent book recommendations during our use. AI is a useful tool to support and supplement our needs, but at the end of the day, it is still artificial. It cannot provide or convey authentic human connections and emotions. It is the connections and emotions that we as humans offer that will entice the community to stop by the library and read.

First Newsletter:

ChatGPT Prompt - Create a newsletter for an elementary school library that discusses the upcoming spring, a week-long book fair in March that has reminders about the events, while enticing people to come. Include dates

**Springtime Spectacle: Elementary School Library Newsletter**

**Welcome, Readers!**

Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes a burst of excitement in our school library! We have a delightful week-long event planned that you won't want to miss: our much-anticipated Spring Book Fair!

**Save the Dates**

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable week of literary adventures:

- **Book Fair Dates:** March 10th - March 14th, 2024

- **Special Events:** Exciting activities and surprises throughout the week!

**What to Expect**

Our Spring Book Fair promises something for everyone:

- **Wide Selection:** Browse through a diverse collection of books for all ages and interests.

- **Exciting Themes:** Explore themes that spark imagination and curiosity.

- **Interactive Fun:** Engage in activities that bring books to life!

**Get Involved**

There are many ways to participate and support our school library:

- **Volunteer Opportunities:** Help make the Book Fair a success by volunteering your time. Contact [Library Coordinator] for more details.

- **Spread the Word:** Share the joy of reading with friends and family. Invite them to join us for this special event!

**Stay Updated**

Keep an eye out for more information as we get closer to March. We'll be sending out reminders and sneak peeks of what's in store!

**Join Us!**

Let's celebrate the arrival of spring together through the magic of books. We look forward to seeing you at our Spring Book Fair!

Happy Reading!

Second Newsletter:

ChatGPT Prompt  - same prompt, with the added directions of “Include what the activities are”

 

**Springtime Spectacle: Elementary School Library Newsletter**

**Welcome, Readers!**

Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes a burst of excitement in our school library! We have a delightful week-long event planned that you won't want to miss: our much-anticipated Spring Book Fair!

**Save the Dates**

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable week of literary adventures:

- **Book Fair Dates:** March 10th - March 14th, 2024

- **Special Events:** Exciting activities and surprises throughout the week!

**Activities to Enjoy**

Our Spring Book Fair promises a week packed with engaging activities:

- **Storytelling Sessions:** Listen to captivating stories told by teachers and special guests.

- **Creative Workshops:** Participate in hands-on workshops where you can create bookmarks, crafts inspired by books, and more!

- **Author Visits:** Meet and greet with local authors who will share insights into their creative process.

- **Book Character Dress-Up Day:** Show your love for books by dressing up as your favorite literary character!

- **Reading Challenges:** Take part in fun reading challenges with prizes to be won.

**Get Involved**

There are many ways to participate and support our school library:

- **Volunteer Opportunities:** Help make the Book Fair a success by volunteering your time. Contact [Library Coordinator] for more details.

- **Spread the Word:** Share the joy of reading with friends and family. Invite them to join us for this special event!

**Stay Updated**

Keep an eye out for more information as we get closer to March. We'll be sending out reminders and sneak peeks of what's in store!

**Join Us!**

Let's celebrate the arrival of spring together through the magic of books. We look forward to seeing you at our Spring Book Fair!

Happy Reading!

Third Newsletter:

ChatGPT Prompt - Same as second prompt while adding “Include a reminder at the end of the newsletter about the upcoming STAAR preparation workshops taking place after school and a new book recommendation from the librarian”

**Springtime Spectacle: Elementary School Library Newsletter**

**Welcome, Readers!**

Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes a burst of excitement in our school library! We have a delightful week-long event planned that you won't want to miss: our much-anticipated Spring Book Fair!

**Save the Dates**

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable week of literary adventures:

- **Book Fair Dates:** March 10th - March 14th, 2024

- **Special Events:** Exciting activities and surprises throughout the week!

**Activities to Enjoy**

Our Spring Book Fair promises a week packed with engaging activities:

- **Storytelling Sessions:** Listen to captivating stories told by teachers and special guests.

- **Creative Workshops:** Participate in hands-on workshops where you can create bookmarks, crafts inspired by books, and more!

- **Author Visits:** Meet and greet with local authors who will share insights into their creative process.

- **Book Character Dress-Up Day:** Show your love for books by dressing up as your favorite literary character!

- **Reading Challenges:** Take part in fun reading challenges with prizes to be won.

**Get Involved**

There are many ways to participate and support our school library:

- **Volunteer Opportunities:** Help make the Book Fair a success by volunteering your time. Contact [Library Coordinator] for more details.

- **Spread the Word:** Share the joy of reading with friends and family. Invite them to join us for this special event!

**STAAR Preparation Workshops**

Don't forget about our upcoming STAAR preparation workshops! They will be held after school to help students prepare effectively.

**New Book Recommendation**

Looking for your next great read? Our librarian recommends "**The Adventures of Max and Molly**" by Emily Johnson. It's a delightful adventure story that will inspire young readers.

**Stay Updated**

Keep an eye out for more information as we get closer to March. We'll be sending out reminders and sneak peeks of what's in store!

**Join Us!**

Let's celebrate the arrival of spring together through the magic of books. We look forward to seeing you at our Spring Book Fair!

Happy Reading!

Fourth Newsletter:

ChatGPT Prompt - The change was to “Write this newsletter as a librarian.”

**Springtime Spectacle: Elementary School Library Newsletter**

**Dear Students and Parents,**

As spring approaches, the excitement in our school library is palpable! We're thrilled to announce our upcoming Spring Book Fair—a week-long celebration of books and reading that promises something special for everyone.

**Save the Dates**

Please mark your calendars for the Spring Book Fair, which will be held from **March 10th to March 14th, 2024**. Throughout the week, we have planned a variety of engaging activities and events that we're sure you'll love.

**Activities to Enjoy**

Get ready for a week filled with literary adventures:

- **Storytelling Sessions:** Join us for captivating tales spun by teachers and special guests.

- **Creative Workshops:** Explore your creativity with hands-on crafting inspired by our favorite books.

- **Author Visits:** Meet local authors who will share their stories and inspire budding writers.

- **Book Character Dress-Up Day:** Show off your favorite book character costume and join the fun!

- **Reading Challenges:** Participate in friendly competitions and win exciting prizes.

**Get Involved**

We invite you to be a part of our Spring Book Fair:

- **Volunteer Opportunities:** Help us create a memorable event by volunteering your time. Contact me at [Your Contact Information] to sign up.

- **Spread the Word:** Share your enthusiasm for reading with friends and family. Encourage them to join us for this literary extravaganza!

**STAAR Preparation Workshops**

In addition to the Book Fair, we're hosting STAAR preparation workshops after school to support our students in their academic success. Please look out for more details coming soon.

**New Book Recommendation**

This season, I'm excited to recommend "**The Adventures of Max and Molly**" by Emily Johnson. It's a charming story about friendship and discovery that I believe our young readers will adore.

**Stay Updated**

As we approach March, watch out for more updates and sneak peeks of what's in store for our Spring Book Fair!

Thank you for your continued support of our school library. Let's make this spring a season to remember through the magic of books!

Warm regards,

When asked to generate images for the newsletter, this is the response we received: 

I'm unable to generate images directly, but I can suggest some ideas for images that would complement the newsletter:

1. **Spring Theme:** Use an image of blooming flowers, green grass, or sunshine to signify the arrival of spring.

   

2. **Book Fair:** Include an image of a colorful bookshelf filled with books of different genres and sizes, perhaps with a banner announcing "Spring Book Fair" or "Join Us!"

   

3. **Activities:** Show images related to the activities mentioned:

   - For storytelling sessions, an image of a teacher reading to a group of engaged students.

   - For creative workshops, kids engaged in crafting or drawing inspired by books.

   - Author visits could feature a local author interacting with students.

   - Book Character Dress-Up Day could show students in creative costumes based on their favorite book characters.

   

4. **STAAR Preparation Workshops:** An image of students studying together or participating in academic discussions.

   

5. **New Book Recommendation:** Display the cover of the recommended book ("The Adventures of Max and Molly" by Emily Johnson) alongside a brief description.

These images can help visually enhance the newsletter and capture the attention of the readers, reinforcing the themes and events being highlighted.