Seven Things - Web 2.0 What does it mean to advocate for your library?

We've been asked to blog about what advocating for our school library means. After reading a few articles, my answer would have to be to develop awareness of the great services school librarians provide, or, can, should, will, must provide to students, faculty, staff, and community members at our schools. We need to become more vocal at the local, state and federal level, before we are leveled!

According to an article by the School Library Journal staff, some of the common questions heard are: "Why do school libraries need money for books when everything is online? Why do we need a library when students can do their research online? Why do we need librarians if all they do all day is check out books?" Karl Harvey, an elementary school librarian in Indiana, believes in involving the entire school, including parents and central office, through  e-mails, web page, blog, Facebook page, and newsletter to inform and connect everything to his program, whether it's an author visit or a special schoolwide event. He collaborates with his teaching colleagues, using web 2.0 tools for professional development lessons. He emphasizes developing a good relationship with his administrator, who can "determine the library's success or failure."

Connie Williams, a high school librarian from California adds, "...everyone needs to see and participate in what you do," from the book carts you supply to classrooms to the vast resources you provide, "The invisibility factor for libraries is high," she warns. "So you need to remind people that you are here. It needs to be continual because they will forget you." The article adds, "...Williams likes to send what she calls a "Wow Letter" to her teaching colleagues, which includes all the wonderful instruction and resources her library provides, including tips on cyber safety. "They'll come up to me and say, 'Wow, I didn't know you did that.'"
Williams also stresses it's important to, "...make your presence known. That means sitting on committees, attending district and county office meetings, and showing up for school board and PTA gatherings. When you do, never go empty handed; show them how you make a difference...Be active participants."

Emily Ford's article defined advocacy as follows:“'Public support for a course of action or way of doing things.' (Longman Dictionary)." Following this defintion, she states, "Library advocacy is therefore interpreted and practiced in a variety of ways. Numerous initiatives in the library would use the word advocacy to describe what they are doing and trying to accomplish. At our recently convened ALA Annual Conference, I saw a poster session by Emerging Leader groups that focused on teen services advocacy with local communities and Libraries Build Communities. Another example includes ALA President Molly Raphael’s advocacy initiative focused on empowering communities, and the list goes on. Legislative advocacy demonstrates our library/librarian values to lawmakers. This kind of advocacy usually includes communicating with elected officials via phone calls, in person visits, e-mails, and online action forms."

A useful PDF file, "Speaking Up for Library Services for Teens: A Guide for Advocacy," can help you determine what course to take. Staistics for school libraries are shown on pp. 26-27, "Advocacy Resouces," on pp. 29-33, and an "Action Plan," on pp. 20-25. Find it at:  http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/advocacy_final.pdf.  The YALSA wiki "Advocating for Teen Services in Libraries," also useful, can be found at: http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Advocating_for_Teen_Services_in_Libraries
 
None of this information should be new to us. We should all be aware of the things that need to be done, not only at this time, but all the time. Your choices are only limited by your creativity and desire. Some pretty great things have been accomplished by DISD librarians. Post and tell everyone the great ideas you have done so far.

Sources: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/890038-312/webcast_advocating_for_your_library.html.csp
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/advocacy_final.pdf
http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Advocating_for_Teen_Services_in_Libraries