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Your Institution Profile

Your institution profile helps authors understand your school or library before accepting booking requests. A complete profile leads to better matches and smoother visit planning.

Why Profiles Matter​

Authors receive booking inquiries with minimal context. Your profile helps them:

  • Understand your student population and grade levels
  • Prepare appropriate presentations
  • Set correct expectations for the visit
  • Assess logistics and facilities
  • Decide if your institution is a good fit

Better profiles lead to better visits.

Profile Sections​

Basic Information​

Essential details about your institution:

Required:

  • Institution name — Your school or library's official name
  • Type — School (public, private, charter) or Library (public, school, private)
  • Address — Physical location for travel planning

For Schools:

  • Grade levels served — Pre-K through 12th grade

For Libraries:

  • Library type — Public, school, or private

Optional:

  • Institution logo — Helps with recognition
  • Contact person — Name and title of the primary coordinator

Student/Patron Demographics​

Help authors tailor their presentations:

For Schools:

  • Approximate student count — Total enrollment
  • Title 1 status — If applicable (may qualify for discounts)
  • Demographic notes — Optional context (e.g., "diverse urban school," "rural community")

For Libraries:

  • Typical program attendance — How many usually attend author events
  • Community notes — Optional context about your patrons
Title 1 Schools

If you're a Title 1 school, be sure to indicate this. Many authors offer discounted rates for Title 1 institutions.

Facility & Logistics​

Help authors know what to expect:

  • Presentation space — Gym, library, classroom, auditorium, multipurpose room
  • Available A/V equipment — Microphone, projector, screen, speakers
  • Maximum audience capacity — How many can attend at once
  • Parking/access instructions — Where to park, how to check in
  • Special logistics notes — Anything else authors should know

This information reduces back-and-forth during booking and helps authors prepare.

Preferences & Interests​

Get better author recommendations:

  • Preferred topics — STEM, fiction, poetry, diversity, history, etc.
  • Content preferences — Age-appropriate content levels
  • Budget range — Your typical budget for author visits
  • Visit preference — In-person, virtual, or both

These preferences help bqqk surface relevant authors and improve your search results.

Past Booking History​

Your completed platform bookings display on your profile automatically:

  • Shows previous author visits with dates
  • Demonstrates that you're an active, engaged institution
  • Builds trust with prospective authors
  • Authors can see you have experience hosting visits

Verification Badge​

Verified institutions display a badge indicating legitimacy:

How Verification Works​

  1. Request verification from your profile settings
  2. Verification is typically confirmed via email domain (e.g., .edu, .gov, .k12)
  3. If you don't have a standard domain, alternative verification is available
  4. Verified badge appears on your profile

Why Get Verified?​

  • Builds author confidence
  • May improve your visibility in search results
  • Demonstrates institutional legitimacy
  • Shows you're a serious, professional institution

Profile Completion Tips​

  1. Be thorough — Complete profiles attract better matches
  2. Stay current — Update when information changes
  3. Be specific — Details about your space and audience help authors prepare
  4. Add your logo — Visual identity helps with recognition
  5. Indicate Title 1 — If applicable, this opens doors to discounted rates

Team Management​

If multiple people at your institution manage author visits:

Inviting Team Members​

  1. Go to Institution Settings
  2. Click "Invite Team Member"
  3. Enter their email address
  4. Select their role (Admin or Coordinator)
  5. They receive an invitation link

Managing Members​

Admins can:

  • View all team members
  • Change member roles
  • Remove members from the institution
  • Transfer admin ownership if needed

Leaving an Institution​

If you need to leave:

  1. Go to Institution Settings
  2. Click "Leave Institution"
  3. Confirm your decision
Admin Transfer

If you're the only admin, you must transfer ownership to another member before leaving.