School Library Advocacy

QUESTIONS ? DOUBTS? APPREHENSIONS ? ? ? ? ?

“Why does the school library need money for books

when everything is online?”

“Google is digitizing all the books in the world, so why we need libraries?”

“I am not sure about the impact of the school library in my child’s academic achievement ?”

“What these librarians are doing there in the libraries?”

ISCLibrarians, ZIET Mysore, Nov. 2014 S .L. Faisal

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Speak out and influence

ISCLibrarians, ZIET Mysore, Nov. 2014 S.L.Faisal

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Advocacy is the act of pleading or arguing in favour

of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.

-American Heritage Dictionary


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According to the American Library Association, advocacy is "the process of turning passive

support into educated action by stakeholders."


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Who are a Library Advocates ?

• Library advocates believe in the importance of free and equitable access to information in a democratic society.

• Library advocates believe libraries and librarians are vital to the future of an information literate nation.

• Library advocates speak out for libraries.

Library Advocacy Programme

Library Advocacy Network

Action Plan

Speaking Out Communicating your Message


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Users

(Students, faculty, parents )

Librarians

Potential Advocates

Community Leaders

(MPs, MLAs, Officers, Panchayats, Social

Activists, etc)

Institutional Leaders

(Principals, Administrators)


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Library

Advocacy

Network

Larger and Powerful • Library advocacy network should represent a cross

section of your campus, school or community by age, income and ethnicity.

• It should include members of the business community,

distinguished alumni/parents, media persons and legislators (MPs, MLAs, Panchayat Members, Ward/councillors), as well as library users and staff.

• The larger and more diverse your network—and the more powerful its members—the stronger the influence it will wield.


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Library

Advocacy

Network

Users

Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents

Their testimonials about how the library has helped them and how much they need

libraries provide powerful evidence that commands attention from decision

makers.


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Library

Advocacy

Network

Institutional and

Community Leaders

Principals, Academic Officials (Assistant Commissioners, Education Officers),

Association Leaders

Support from such leaders helps to ensure your message will be heard at

the highest levels.


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Library

Advocacy

Network

Potential Advocates

The invisible story tellers

Every library has supporters who may not belong to a library support group or even use the library. But they

may have fond memories of using the library as children, have family members who benefit from

library use or simply believe libraries are important. Some may be highly placed in their institutions or

communities.These potential advocates are often glad to speak out if asked


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Library

Advocacy

Network

Librarians

Librarians, LIS students, Library Professionals working in other institutions

Library people have countless opportunities to build both public understanding and support

through their planned programmes and

support.


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Library

Advocacy

Network


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Building the Network Action Plan

• State your library’s message clearly Message

• Survey the library advocates, find their parent organizations, willingness to speak.

• Do they have helpful contacts with the media, administration ?

Survey

• Names of Advocates

• Contact information

• -Keep the database current Database


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Getting organized-I Action Plan

Identify critical tasks

Forming committees, planning activities, programmes

Assess the situation in targeted areas based on your objectives

Identify barriers, opposition, strengths and potential supporters

Define goals and objectives Identify your desired outcomes, such as, more funding , additional staffing, new

library programmes, greater visibility.


Getting organized-II Action Plan

Document and evaluate results

This is how you learn to do it better next time.

Develop a work plan with tasks, assignments and deadlines

Monitor your progress regularly

Develop a communication plan Defining the key message, Targeting key audiences, Identifying communication

strategies and resources needed

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Step 1. Define the Key

Message

Step 2. Target Your Audiences

Step 3. Identify

Communication Strategies

Delivering the Message

The Communication Plan


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Step 1. Define the Key Message

Your central or key message should be one that is simply and consistently communicated

Eg: “There is no such thing as a good education without good libraries.” “School libraries staffed by qualified librarians do make a measurable difference on student achievement” “Better Libraries, better schools”


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Step 2 Target your Audiences

Who can help you achieve what you want?

Library users, parents, senior citizens, media persons, community leaders, children, teens,

faculty, publishers, business community, etc staff, volunteers, friends, other librarians, etc .

Eg: Teachers and parents are vital to winning support for bigger school library budgets. Children can be especially effective when delivering a message to parents, grandparents and the media.


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Step 3 Identify Communication Strategies

• Outreach to groups (events, speaking sessions, tours, programmes, etc)

• Personal contact (one to one)

• The media (Television, Radio, News papers, Magazines, Internet )

Advertising, Marketing, News releases

Publications (Bulletins, Guides, Brochures, Calendar of activities)

Radio and Television (Interviews, talk shows, reports)

Speaking engagements (go and speak about your library)

Special events, Days, Promotions, Exhibitions

Web and Internet (websites, email forums)

Web 2.0 (Blogs, Wikis, Social Networks, podcasts, vodcasts)

Collaboration with students, teachers and the community


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Reaching out Strategies


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Evaluate the Advocacy Programme

• Has funding improved?

• Did demand for a particular service increase?

• Does the library enjoy greater prestige?


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Librarians, Principals, staff, students and Library Advocates

The most valuable stories are not about what the library does.

They are about the people who use and benefit from our libraries.

Library advocates have their own stories about how the library has made a difference in their lives.

Speaking Out

Who

Telling the Library Story

What you can Do ?

Think about who you know and who can help

support the library.

Recruit advocates at every opportunity.

Call and write members of your advocacy

network periodically to give them

updated information.


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What you can Do ? Keep library users informed of library issues

and advocacy activities. Post action alerts in the library.

Encourage library users to share their “library

stories.”

Write library things on your organization’s journals, newsletters, brochures, etc


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Focus on the collaborative relationships you're building and consider how to promote the ideas of information inquiry, reading, thinking, and communication throughout the school.

What you can Do ? Invite key people—legislative members,

administrators, publishers, heads

of organizations—to the library

Planed media strategy makes wonders.

Participate in influential community

or groups and use this as an opportunity

to tell the library story and recruit library

advocates.


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Advocacy is all about informing and persuading.

It’s about partnering with school librarian and administrators to place your school library media centre in the spotlight at every opportunity.


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It’s about saying and doing the little things on a daily basis that give others positive feelings and an appreciation of your school’s library.


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You have many opportunities to share this information every day.

Seize those opportunities!

Once you start practicing it, you’ll find that talking positively and persuasively about your school library media centre and the value of your job there comes easily and spontaneously.

References

• ALA Library Advocates Handbook www.ala.org/issues&advocacy

• http://www.ala.org/aaslTemplate.cfm?Section=Position_Statements&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=15851


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http://www.ala.org/issues&advocacy


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Thank you


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[email protected] 09447699724

School Library Advocacy

Education

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