(NOTE: These resources in these four lessons (29-32 ) are very library-centric. But the ideas and strategies will work in any teaching setting.)

INTRODUCTION

This topic was inspired by a webinar from the 2014 Connected Librarian Day virtual conference. In that webinar, Heidi Neltner (Johnson Elementary, Ft. Thomas KY) talked about the many ways she was using technology (and more!) to reach out to her community and make them aware of the ways the school library can collaborate and serve the community. Since our Cool Tools workshop has a tech tools focus, this was such a perfect fit!

Watch the webinar below!

Connected Librarians Day 2014 – Heidi Neltner : Your Stakeholder Connected Librarian Toolkit “In the 21st Century, there are many options for staying connected to our school library stakeholders that include technology and good old fashioned face-to-face connections. I’ll share some low-budget – mostly free!- tech tools and strategies you can use with ease to mindfully communicate your programming and success related to stakeholder priorities.” Even though this is a few years old now, it’s still very relevant. 

RESOURCES

You’ve been working on Evidence Based Practice ideas in the previous 2 lessons and thinking about ways to demonstrate the value the library program adds to student achievement. This lesson focuses on ways to get that message out to others in your school community. Do you have trouble putting these things into words and working them into conversations? Read some of the following articles and explore the resources. Practice and perfect a variety of “elevator speeches” that you can use to connect on the fly. As always, no need to explore everything! Pick and choose what appeals to you.

Read & Watch:

• AASL’s new advocacy ‘one-pagers’ for reaching out to stakeholders. A great place to start with those elevator speeches.
• Four Ways To Lead From The School Library – Build Relationships, Listen, Take Action, Collaborate.
• Four Steps to self-advocacy: Self-advocacy and the art of tooting your own horn!
• Are You Wishing or Planning in 2016? Article by Debra Kachel from the School Library Advocacy website. Lots of other great articles and resources.
• 10 things classroom teachers need to know about modern school librarians – Great points to keep in mind when talking about what you and your library can do for your students and staff.
• Three Strategies for When the Going Gets Tough | Take the Lead – Leslie Yoder describes how to get through some tough times.
• School Libraries Transform Learning – (PDF download) The AASL and American Libraries magazine collaborated on this special issue in 2014. Designed to get parents, colleagues and policymakers talking about the many ways school libraries can transform learning.
• Cape Optional: Leading from the Library : Jennifer LaGarde’s 2014 webinar for the LibraryLinkNJ. Recording available for free.
• Study Ties College Success to Students’ Exposure to a High School Librarian
• Inviting Legislators Into School Libraries by Debra Kachel
• Connected Principals – This blog is written by a group of leading school principals who are working hard on transforming education. Read what they have to say to get a view of the issues from your administrator’s point of view. It can help you figure out what you can do to help them.
• The Teacher-Librarian/Administrator Relationship – post from Connected Principals blog.

Advocacy resources and ideas:

• Cool Tools Posts – posts on this topic from previous years. Full of great ideas!
• Why Schools Need Teacher Librarians – Growing collection of resources from Donna Baumbach.
• Frugal School Librarian wiki – Great collection of resource from Sara Kelly Johns.
• Presentation on ways to Market Your Library and School – Slidedeck with lots of great ideas for marketing.
• 10 Ways Librarians Can be a Marketing Genius Like Lady Gaga from Gwyneth Jones
• Survive and Thrive! An Advocacy Toolkit for School Librarians – Resources from the Colorado Assn of School Libraries “Speak out! It’s time for school librarians to step out and enlighten their communities about all the ways their libraries impact students’ education”

Don’t miss out on lots of great ideas, join the NYLA Section of School Librarians Facebook page to connect with other school library advocates. And consider joining NYLA/SSL! What an amazing, energetic and powerful group of school library advocates we have in NYS!

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1. Watch the webinar: Your Stakeholder Connected Librarian Toolkit through Blackboard or YouTube
2. Explore some of the articles and resources listed above.

Your Blog Post

1. Share what you learned from the readings and webinar. Do you now have a new elevator speech?
2. Share what advocacy & marketing you are already doing.
3. What can you do to amp up your outreach & advocacy?

*TURNING IN YOUR ASSIGNMENT

• Write & publish your blog post.
• Copy the URL (webpage address) for your post.
• Return to the Google Classroom assignment page, find the assignment page for the lesson you just completed and follow the directions for turning in and sharing your work.

*Only for students participating in the workshop for PD credit hours through the Google Classroom.

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Many thanks to Sara Kelly Johns who posted a call for advocacy ideas on Facebook for a book chapter she was writing. I shamelessly stole resources others posted there.

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