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Advocacy without Awkwardness

Learn how to advocate for your school library program with confidence and effectiveness. Discover strategies for connecting with stakeholders and showcasing the impact of your library.

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Advocacy without Awkwardness

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  1. Advocacy without Awkwardness Maria Muhlbauer, Iroquois Middle School Librarian SLAWNY Fall Sharing, October 19, 2019

  2. Why have this discussion? “AASL Advocacy Toolkit: Educated Support for School Libraries and Library Professionals.” AASL, Feb. 2018. http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/toolkits/AASLAdvocacyToolkit_180209.pdf Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

  3. Why have this discussion part 2… “AASL Advocacy Toolkit: Educated Support for School Libraries and Library Professionals.” AASL, Feb. 2018. http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/toolkits/AASLAdvocacyToolkit_180209.pdf Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

  4. What is Advocacy? • Ongoing process of building partnerships so that others will act for and with you, turning passive support into educated action for the library program • It begins with a vision and a plan for the library program that is then matched to the agenda and priorities of stakeholders • It requires ongoing marketing and public relations efforts “What is advocacy?” AASL. http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/definitions. Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

  5. Library ProgramMission Statement “Subject: Selecting and Evaluating the Collection of the School Library Media Centers.” Iroquois Central School District Library Media Centers Policies, Regulations and Supporting Documents, 1997.

  6. Identifying Stakeholders • Teachers: Educators within the school community who may collaborate with the school librarian • Administrators: Decision makers in the school or district. Usually the people who allocate resources to meet district educational priorities • Students: Learners in the educational setting. They are directly impacted by the school library program • Parents/Guardians: Adult family members of students • Community Members: District residents, elected officials, members of the school board, and community business owners. Community members support school libraries through school budget votes “AASL Advocacy Toolkit: Educated Support for School Libraries and Library Professionals.” AASL, Feb. 2018. http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/toolkits/AASLAdvocacyToolkit_180209.pdf Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

  7. Connecting with Stakeholders: Crafting an Elevator Speech • Brief and Clear: Summarize your message in concise, easy to understand language • Tailored Message: Speak to the specific concerns of your stakeholder • Highlight Benefits: Explain how the library program addresses your stakeholder’s concern • Call to Action: Tell your stakeholder how he/she can support the library program • Invite Future Conversations: Follow up in a thank you email, provide a business card, plan to meet again, etc. Whitmore, Jacqueline. “7 Essentials for an Elevator Speech that Gets People to Listen.” Entrepreneur, 21 Aug. 2015. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249750 Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

  8. Ideas for Ongoing Advocacy Efforts

  9. Keeping a Public Calendar • Calendar kept up to date on library website • Includes classes, study halls, special events, and librarian’s professional development activities • Shows teachers when the library is in use  leads to a sense of urgency to get on the library schedule! • Administrators see how frequently the library is being utilized • Families can see when their students are utilizing the library

  10. Tracking Study Hall Visitors • Paper passes show numbers of students visiting and how they are utilizing the library • Numbers from passes are kept in an Excel spreadsheet to track library usage • Study hall data shows administrators and other stakeholders how the library is utilized by students during their free time (could help to support the need for additional library staffing)

  11. Taking Photos during Library Activities • Most importantly: be aware of students listed as “no media” within your district • Photos can be used to connect with ALL stakeholders • Students: via library Instagram and library website • Staff/Administrators: via library website, monthly reports, blog • Parents/Community Members: Blog, District Facebook, library website, Twitter

  12. Library Instagram District Facebook Page Library Website with Scrolling Photos Twitter Students, Educators, Administrators, Parents, Community Members Educators, Administrators, Larger Education Community Educators, Administrators, Parents, Community Members Students, Educators, Parents, Community Members

  13. Monthly/Yearly Reports • You have done the hard work already! Compile information from your calendar, study hall spreadsheet, circulation data, and photos taken throughout the month/year • Use free infographic sites such as Canva or Piktochart • Reports posted on library website so they are accessible to all stakeholders • Educators: shows collaboration with others • Administrators/BOE Members: shows how the library program is fulfilling part of the district’s overall mission

  14. Sharing Reports with Administrators

  15. Keeping a Library Blog • Highlights library visits and library program initiatives • Posted on library website, email signature, Twitter, library Instagram • Educators: showcases collaborative efforts, alerts them to ways the library program could help with their curricular needs • Administrators/Parents/Community: displays how the library program is meeting student needs • Helpful as a portfolio tool (grant writing efforts)

  16. Using Blog Posts for Advocacy Efforts Sharing with Other Educators Sharing with Community Members

  17. Targeted Efforts for Specific Stakeholders

  18. Students! • Survey students at the beginning of the year to gather feedback on library purchases and programming • Allow students the opportunity to ask you questions, and then respond! • Create opportunities for student voice through online book reviews, library volunteer program, and maker/STEM activities • Provide ways for students to connect with others through literature (Global Read Aloud, book club sets, Battle of the Books, author visits)

  19. Educators • Hold special events in the library just for school staff • The yearly Book Bistro at Iroquois Middle is a party, but also highlights how the library helps staff members • Attend team/department meetings and outside conferences • Provide access information for library resources • Be social when possible 

  20. Administrators/Policymakers/BOE Members • Ask to have the SLMPE Rubric discussed as part of your evaluation • Rubric evaluates the effectiveness of the library program, shows how administrators can support the program, and provides resources to assist in goal setting and program growth • Attend and present at Board of Education meetings • Invite stakeholders to library lessons or special events

  21. Parents/Guardians and Community Members • Use Open House as an opportunity to connect with families • Consider running a special event (ex. how to connect to OverDrive) • Allow the library to be a showcase for student projects during art shows • Ask community members to share their expertise as guest speakers • Call home with good news • Consider running events open to the entire district (Family Reading Nights, Family STEM Nights) • Connect with PTA organizations for assistance on getting the word out about libraries • Often, PTAs will be able to assist with financing special projects!

  22. Next Steps

  23. SLAWNY Advocacy Initiatives: Don’t Go It Alone! • 79 SLAWNY members received two copies of Game Changer • Use this book to gather ideas and start an advocacy conversation with an administrator • Attend the book club later in the year to discuss ideas sparked by the book • Formation of a SLAWNY Advocacy Group (meeting dates coming soon!) • Create a crisis toolkit for when a WNY librarian job is threatened • Make connections with local school administrator programs to alert new administrators to the value of an effective school library program • Celebrate our local school library successes – use the hashtag #SLAWNYleads on Twitter to share WNY library program news • Anything else the participants deem worthy 

  24. Advocacy Resources • AASL Advocacy Resources • http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy • Library Twitter Chats Collection • https://etechlib.wordpress.com/2018/08/09/library-twitter-chats-collection/ • NYLA Advocacy Resources • https://www.nyla.org/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=72&MenuKey=advocacy • NYSED School Library Media Program Evaluation Rubric • http://www.nysed.gov/school-library-services/nysed-school-library-media-program-evaluation-rubric

  25. Sources “AASL Advocacy Toolkit: Educated Support for School Libraries and Library Professionals.” AASL, Feb. 2018. http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/toolkits/AASLAdvocacyToolkit_180209.pdf Accessed 5 Oct. 2019. Muhlbauer, Maria. Iroquois Middle School Library Happenings, 2019. https://iroquoismslibrary.blogspot.com/. Accessed 10 Oct. 2019. Muhlbauer, Maria. “Iroquois Middle School Library.” Iroquois Middle School, 2019. https://www.iroquoiscsd.org/Page/2337. Accessed 16 Oct. 2019. “Subject: Selecting and Evaluating the Collection of the School Library Media Centers.” Iroquois Central School District Library Media Centers Policies, Regulations and Supporting Documents, 1997. “What is Advocacy?” AASL. http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/definitions. Accessed 5 Oct. 2019. Whitmore, Jacqueline. “7 Essentials for an Elevator Speech that Gets People to Listen.” Entrepreneur, 21 Aug. 2015. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249750 Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

  26. Thank you! Maria Muhlbauer Email: mmuhlbauer@iroquoiscsd.org Twitter: @muhlbs83, @SLAofWNY Instagram: @iroquoismiddlelibrary Website:https://www.iroquoiscsd.org/Page/2337 Blog: iroquoismslibrary.blogspot.com

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