The Student Crew is a group of student volunteers from your school who work with you to help make the Book Fair more successful.

The control is still yours, but you gain a lot of back up in the form of fresh ideas, energy, and enthusiasm. The Chairperson supervises the work and has the final say in all matters.

A Crew can be big or small. It can be involved in every aspect of your Fair, or concentrate on one particular area. A Crew can be a handful of people or an entire classroom.

"Benefits of Using a Crew" Video
Be sure to watch all four segments to learn all there is to know about this exciting program.

What is a Student Crew? (Flash)
What Does a Crew Do? (Flash)
Student Crew = Results! (Flash)
How to Find a Crew
(Flash)

Recruiting Your Student Crew
Begin with a crew size that is most comfortable for you. Get started about 4 weeks before your Fair. Here are some tried-and-true recruiting ideas:

• Hand-pick responsible students, such as library helpers.
• Post recruiting posters and make morning announcements.
• Send a note to teachers and ask them to nominate students.
• Approach student leadership or career development groups.

To assist your recruiting process, use the following tools:

• Recruitment Poster (PDF Form 136KB)
• Student Crew Application (PDF 54KB)
• Sample Interview Questions (PDF 39KB)
• Student Crew Contract (PDF 17KB)
• Student Crew Volunteer Name Badge (PDF Form 72KB)
• Certificate of Appreciation (PDF Form 175KB)
• Community Service Hours Documentation (PDF 19KB)

We have created some basic job descriptions. Customize them to fir your needs. We encourage you to create roles and responsibilities of your own!
• Assistant Managers
• Promotion Specialists
• Advertising Specialists
• Merchandising Specialists
• Inventory Specialists
• Customer Service Specialists
• Theme Team
• Security Team
• Music Coordinators
• Archive Team

Assistant Managers
Assistant Managers help recruit volunteers; help coordinate work schedules; follow up on assigned tasks; help train others; help with customer service.

Assign as many Assistant Managers as you need. Usually 2-3 will suffice.

Promotion Specialists
Promotion Specialists organize contests and giveaways; help seek prizes or privileges for contest winners; approach faculty to participate in challenges; maintain a contact list of contributors and write thank-you notes.

Assign 3-4 Promotion Specialists.

Advertising Specialists
Advertising Specialists help generate awareness; create posters and signs; develop and deliver PA and TV announcement; create table-toppers and flyers; show the Author Video.

Assign 3-4 Advertising Specialists.

Merchandising Specialists
Merchandising Specialists help arrange and display products on tables and cases; help create a shopper-friendly atmosphere; make sure all event signage is in the proper place; support the theme chosen with décor and merchandising.

Assign 3-4 Merchandising Specialists.

Inventory Specialists
Inventory Specialists help restock shelves; help attach labels to promote titles on the AR list; keep books, shelves, tables, and displays neat; place "last copy" stickers on fast-selling items and notify the Chairperson to initiate reorders.

Assign 2-3 Inventory Specialists

Customer Service Specialists
Customer Service Specialists assist with price checks, memorize prices of popular items; help call customer concerns to the attention of the Chairperson; remind shoppers to support Classroom Wish List and One for Books; invite students to enter contests.

Assign 6-8 Customer Service Specialists to serve rotations so your event is covered at all times by at least two student volunteers.

Theme Team
Theme Team members determine student and community interests; develop theme ideas and propose them for consideration; help develop thematic activities, décor, and support.

Assign 3-4 Theme Team members.

Security Team
Like any store, it is possible for a Book Fair to experience a small degree of loss. Using all members of your Crew to serve as your security team will minimize opportunities for theft.

Here are some proven methods for curbing theft at your event:

• Schedule Crew members to walk the floor and make themselves visible. Ask them to approach shoppers behaving suspiciously, not to accuse, but to offer assistance. If students know they are being watched, they will be less likely to steal.
• Strategically position Crew members near products or displays that offer the greatest temptations to theft. Direct Crew members to use good customer service practices.
• Assign someone to ask student shoppers to check in backpacks, coats, and purses prior to entering the Book Fair. This person should also watch over items checked to ensure that they remain safe and secure.

Music Coordinators
Music Coordinators help create a student-friendly atmosphere by choosing a play list that will appeal to the middle school audience. It is part of the Music Coordinator's responsibility to choose music with lyrics appropriate to a school environment.

Assign 2-3 Music Coordinators.

Archive Team
Archivers document your Book Fair by taking photographs, notes, and comments; they create a scrapbook or journal to capture Book Fair moments and successes for the future.

Assign 2-3 Archive Team.

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