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Description

Entries that do not meet these criteria will be revised or returned for editing. Whenever possible, use descriptions from past calendar entries.

Order of Details

  1. Brief description
  2. Age (or school grade) range of intended audience (required for all Children and Teen events)
  3. Registration information, if needed

Writing Style

Describe what to expect at program – set user expectations about the event. Begin descriptions with what the guest will do and/or discuss. Avoid long passages of names or credentials—a single sentence is sufficient. Use short sentences that convey one idea apiece.

Focus on a call to action/invitation.

- YES: Come make a pine cone birdhouse with us, then take it home with you.
- NO: Participants will learn to make a birdhouse out of pinecones. Participants will take their birdhouses home with them.

Use appropriate calls to action (CTAs), and vary them appropriately. Don’t use “Join us...” for everything.

- Visit, Don’t miss, Drop by, Come see, Learn, Make

Use present tense in descriptions, not future tense. Present tense is appropriate in the online events calendar contexts. 

- YES: We dance, play, and sing.
- NO: We will dance, play and sing.

- YES: Jane Doe presents
- NO: Jane Doe will present

Use active voice; avoid passive voice whenever possible.

- YES: Tori demonstrates how to make a kite.
- NO: Kite making is explained by Tori.

- YES: Our guest speaker discusses the history of music in Nashville.
- NO: The history of music in Nashville is discussed by our guest.

Use good keywords. Name items to be discussed. All book sales should have the words "book sale" in the description.

- eBooks
- Microsoft Word
- Gardening

More Style Guide

Refer to the NPL Style Guide for writing style rules governing all library communications.

Required Content

Main Library Childrens

Make sure “no groups” language is included on MN story times and all MN children’s programs.

Group accommodations are not available for this show time. Shows for groups are on Thursdays. Call (615) 862-5785 to ask about programs for groups of 10 or more.

Main Library Teens

Use “teens” language for all Teen events at Main Library

For teens in grades 7-12 at the end of all event descriptions.

Online (NPL Universe)

Put this language at the end of the event description

Visit library.nashville.org/universe to see all NPL events you can stream from home.

Seed Exchange

Append this Seed Exchange pitch to all gardening events.

This program is brought to you by Nashville Public Library Seed Exchange. Borrow seeds, grow plants, return seeds. Seeds are available for check out at select branches. For more information, go to Seed Exchange website.

Add to Event URL: https://library.nashville.org/event/seed-exchange

Common Errors

  • Don't include a recurrence pattern (e.g., “Every Tuesday”) in your event descriptions.
  • Don't include event times in the description field.
  • Don't include the branch name or phone number in the description field, e.g. “please call the Boisterous Branch to register” or “Come to the Boisterous Branch…”. This is redundant information in web events calendar context. The phone number is listed on every event from the Contact field.
  • Don't use "Call for more information." If there is any more information about the event, include it.
  • Don’t use special characters in titles. (& ` ~ @)