Thing 21: Taking the Lead: Connecting with your Stakeholders

 Thing 21 was the perfect topic for me this week!  The other two library media specialists and I requested to do a presentation for our Board of Education in early February (during budget season) to highlight our contributions to student learning. So the content was particularly of interest as I read through for supportive information and ideas to include in our presentation.

The following are some highlights and notes I took from the Thing 21 resources:

#1)      Four Steps to self advocacy By Hannah Byrd Little

Quote: “We must speak up for our positions and our students’ need for a school library and school librarian.”

“...look at your school’s test data,  focus on your school’s areas of improvement or gaps in instruction.”

Helpful:

Scholastic list of grants for libraries –  http://www.scholastic.com/librarians/programs/grants.htm

Self nominate for library related awards (examples listed)

Ideas I love:

• Make an advertisement for your library. It can be an info-graphic, a brochure or a bookmark.
• Market your library and yourself online – websites, social media and online newsletters
• Have talking points – “these are six things our library does well at Local High School.”

#2) 10 things classroom teachers need to know about modern school librarians

Nice summary of school librarian role; helps break some of the stereotypes that are sometimes associated with the job description. Particularly liked the sections referencing how we network and are an “ever-changing profession”.

#3)  Three Strategies for When the Going Gets Tough | Take the Lead  By Leslie Yode

A- Be clear about the “WHY” of school libraries in our district

Quote: “School libraries are key to equitable access to quality resources and ensuring that all students have the skills to find and use those resources. We are equity. School librarians are the original personalized learning specialists; they ensure access to current resources aligned to student interests and needs. Most importantly, the information skills that we teach are crucial for college, career, and future readiness. We prepare all students.

Good school libraries offer opportunities and increase achievement for students. They are a part of a good education and thus are a civil right. All students deserve this.”

B- Find out WHO our library supporters are - reach out for support

C- Take care of myself to be the best leader and support for students and colleagues that I can be

#4) Four ways to advocate for school libraries  by Laura Devaney

Quote: “If school librarians want to make a case for library funding, they must demonstrate how they help students learn and prove that they build collaborative instructional partnerships with classroom teachers. Libraries often suffer financially when school administrators are forced to make budget cuts, often because administrators might still have outdated views regarding what the school library actually does.”

Four areas of expertise where librarians can demonstrate to school administrators that they directly contribute to student learning:

1. Instructional partnerships role
   Quotes:
   “School librarians play an integral role in developing materials that help teachers understand and unpack the Common Core, and they work to create documents and warehouses of collaborative materials and research projects.”
   
   “Librarians teach teachers, through direct instruction and through classroom experiences, how to use technologies.”

“Librarians offer unique services when they enter a teacher’s classroom and help the
teacher become more independent not just in technology use, but also in developing and
teaching research skills and other important skills students will need when they go to
college or join the workforce.”

2. Leadership role
   “Librarians play a crucial role in leading teachers through technology training and helping teachers become comfortable using technology tools—and as research proves, if teachers are not comfortable with technology, they won’t use it, and students won’t benefit from those tools.”
3. Information specialist role
   “This expertise concerns resource development and management, such as maintaining an adequate collection of current and relevant databases, or moving to new database services based on state decisions about vendors.Creating a library collection, and being able to meet the learning needs of the community, are essential. An information specialist role also helps connect students to learning opportunities.”
4. Library administration and space creation role
   “Librarians, as educators, create and maintain a welcoming and enriching physical space that welcomes students, staff, and community members, and it is important administrators realize this. Having a space where students can access personalized learning opportunities is especially important in today’s schools.”

#5)  2014 AASL Infographic: Great to use for Board of Ed presentation http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/advocacy/AASL_Infographic_FINAL.pdf

#6) Survive and Thrive! An Advocacy Toolkit for School Librarians
https://sites.google.com/site/caslsurvive/home

Amazing curation of resources and toolkits for advocating to a variety of audiences, including administrators, businesses, legislators, parents, school board,  and teachers.  Although geared towards Colorado school libraries, the information can easily be applied to other states as well. Love this graphic from the article:

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I also viewed the slidedeck presentation & Lady Gaga marketing slideshow and they seemed interesting at first, but I found them too long to actually go through all the way. 

To further amp up my marketing, I hope to increase my Twitter & Instagram following. I've been using the two social media tools for a couple of years, but haven't built them up to the following within my District that I would like. Most are teachers, parents, and related professions. I want to increase my student following by posting more "student centered" content. 

Overall, I felt that this "thing" was very helpful, and loved having so many advocacy tools curated for me all in one place. Thank you!