Notes from Julie Todaro on Library Advocacy for #txlchat on April 7, 2015
with links to resources
What is library advocacy?
What is advocacy for school libraries?
What are some of the ways a librarian can advocate?
Besides crafting messages to present on how the library supports student engagement/student success
How do you continually promote the library for stakeholders?
What online resources are there?
National
http://www.ala.org
State
http://www.txla.org
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with links to resources
What is library advocacy?
- The act or process of advocating or supporting a cause or proposal
- The act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending
- The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy
- Active support
What is advocacy for school libraries?
- Advocacy is the on-going process of building partnerships so that others will act for and with you, turning passive support into educated action for the library program.
- Advocacy begins with a vision and a plan for the library program that is then matched to the agenda and priorities of stakeholders.
What are some of the ways a librarian can advocate?
Besides crafting messages to present on how the library supports student engagement/student success
- Gathering content on their school library contributes to test scores
- Gathering content on how a school library supports student engagement/student success
- Asking stakeholders what information THEY need (teachers, administration, district staff, parents, student groups
- Integrating data on value into school library communication
- Training/teaching faculty how the library supports them specifically
How do you continually promote the library for stakeholders?
- Design a year-round marketing program
- Illustrate – from last year’s budget - what was purchased and how it supported students, faculty and staff as well as families
- Consider an advisory or advocacy board for the library or for the district
- Create an ongoing wish list for advocates to carry forward
- Determine your “six degrees of separation” for reaching your decision makers
- Collect success stories
What online resources are there?
National
http://www.ala.org
- Left side links to “advocacy, legislation and issues”
- Left side links to “advocacy university”
- See “resources by topics”
- Lift side links to “School Library Resources”
- See “popular”
- · See “data and tools” and link to “school libraries”
- Dozens of pages of school library infographics!
- Specific content as well as significant data on tech, learning, etc.
- Resources for School Librarians see “the importance of school libraries”
- School Library Monthly (great April article on advocacy!)
State
http://www.txla.org
- Extensive survey data specific to Texas school libraries
- Under “advocate” see “advocate for school libraries
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