This book provides practical strategies and step-by-step plans for developing advocacy initiatives for school libraries. School libraries provide an essential service to the community, but without proper funding few libraries stand a chance to maintain the resources they offer—or to survive at all. School librarians can play an instrumental role in the survival of their programs. This how-to book provides school librarians with effective advocacy and activism strategies for promoting and improving their library programs. Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival offers straightforward, practical approaches for creating advocacy programs. This guidebook examines the characteristics for becoming an advocate, explores the meaning of advocacy/activism as an effort that is ongoing and proactive, and provides the steps required for initiating a successful program. The contributors address the various types of advocacy and activism, including legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels; school and district level programs; and community-based initiatives. The book includes expert advice from successful advocates and provides helpful reproducible tools.

In a rapidly changing world with myriad conflicting voices, the library's role as a place of safety and inclusion and as a repository of knowledge cannot be overstated. Librarians must serve as community leaders with a mission to educate and inform, ready to model the principles they support. The question for many is: how? Experienced librarians offer ideas and guidance in seeking new creative paths, working to support change in library organizations and reexamining principles that may be taken for granted. Theoretical foundations are discussed, along with practical ideas such as the creation a book groups for the intellectually disabled and partnership with social workers or advocates for employees with disabilities.

School librarians are prepared to be leaders and can use their strengths to advocate for policy that benefits school libraries. This book will teach you how to engage elected officials to effect change that extends to your library. Education and information policy has a direct impact on school libraries and is shaped by decisions at the local, state, and federal levels. School librarians are positioned uniquely to leverage their inside knowledge of effective school library programs to make a difference in education through civic engagement; however, a thorough understanding of both the explicit and "hidden" rules of government is necessary to be an effective advocate. This compact book serves as a guide to advocating for effective programs, filling a gap in the practitioner literature regarding the policies that affect school library programs. Drawing on research-based best practices and the author's experience as the chairman of the ALA Legislation Committee and in political advocacy, this book explains the political process through concrete examples of both success and failure and analyzes these examples to show how librarians can move education policy in a positive direction.

A structured approach to advocacy for K-12 school librarians focuses their energy on an active path that showcases library programs and resources and expresses the essential role librarians serve in school and student success. Keeping a library program vital requires regular reflection about current practices and a willingness to implement changes that will position the library and library staff should they be threatened with elimination. Simply Indispensable: An Action Guide for School Librarians helps librarians do just that. The book begins with an explanation of the need to act and then offers a systematic approach to taking action. Each chapter is devoted to an active path: attracting patrons; interacting with teachers, parents, administrators, and the community; communicating; reacting to "situations;" working for reinstatement if the worst happens, and more. The book covers advocacy—from the subtle exercise of developing excellent programs to the overt outreach of Legi-Days. Additionally, there is specific information about what to do when the RIF notice or pink slip arrives or if cuts are made, including how to properly close a library. After putting these actions into effect, school librarians will have a cadre of supporters ready to speak for them should the need arise.

The seventh edition of this comprehensive school library management text expands upon the role of the school librarian, especially in the ever-growing digital realm, and highlights the importance of school librarian leadership and outreach. In an era of budget cuts, reduced staffing, and a global pandemic, it's more important than ever for new LIS professionals and established school librarians and administrators to demonstrate the value of school libraries to decision makers. This revised and updated edition of a classic text adds two well-known authors to help lead readers through the many essential management tasks and skills required to administer the successful school library program. It emphasizes the importance of the school librarian in providing digital access to information for teachers and students, describes how facilities are being modified to accommodate new resources and programming, and offers new ways to use AASL standards to evaluate programs. All chapters are updated, and the text addresses such timely subjects as providing information resources when students, teachers, and librarians are interacting online. A new chapter highlights the importance of the school librarian's leadership in schools, districts, and communities. This invaluable textbook teaches practical skills for school library management and offers inspiration and guidance for growing LIS careers.

This title offers pre-service, newly practicing, and seasoned school librarians opportunities for reflection as well as inspiring strategies for enacting four core values of the profession. The school library profession has been in "crisis" for more than a decade. Educational decision-makers have not been made aware of or sold on the core values of school librarianship and its value to students, classroom teachers, administrators, and the entire school community. Budgetary priorities often do not include school librarians, resulting in a lack of funding and the elimination of many positions, which can cause many school librarians to feel vulnerable and afraid. Guideposts are needed to offer today's school librarians a chance to connect or reconnect with their passion for literacy, learning, and serving that led them to the profession. Core Values in School Librarianship: Responding with Commitment and Courage provides preservice, newly practicing, and seasoned school librarians with opportunities for thoughtful reflection alongside inspiring strategies for gathering courage and enacting four core values of the profession. It is an important and visionary book that all school librarians should read as they develop in their role as leaders in their schools.

This book illuminates school librarian and teacher librarian education and training in light of the 2015 IFLA School Library Guidelines, second edition. The Guidelines provide a framework for effective service delivery to ensure that students and teachers have access to quality library services delivered by qualified librarians and information professionals. The book focuses on moving professional practice forward, translating the Guidelines into actions ensuring effective education and training and improved practice. The book highlights issues and concerns related to school librarian and teacher librarian education and training. What attitudes, skills and knowledge are required to inspire students and support teaching and learning effectively? What curriculum content is required? How are field and practical experiences integrated appropriately into face-to-face and online educational and training programmes? How are leadership skills developed effectively? Case studies and innovative educational and training programmes from around the world illustrate the diverse ways of preparing librarians for the roles identified in the Guidelines. Topics covered include: delivering school librarian credentialled programmes; improving school librarian services; providing professional development; preparing and delivering educational and/or cultural programmes and services; managing human resources; collection development of digital and print resources; innovative aspects of technology use; promotion and advocacy; and evaluation and assessment.

By working through these cases and the accompanying learning exercises, both pre-service and practicing school librarians will strengthen their readiness, expand their perspectives, and build confidence for solving problems and making informed, thoughtful decisions in their school libraries. In their preparation for school librarianship, library students learn foundational ideals and observe best practices that center and guide their work. However, discussions of aspirational versions of school librarianship often leave out sufficient practice in managing the many challenges and decisions school librarians face on the job. In this book, veteran educator Rebecca J. Morris uses stories of day-to-day librarianship to empower school librarians as they navigate and manage the complex interactions, decisions, and opportunities of their work. The book's alignment with the AASL/CAEP standards makes it helpful to school library educators planning curriculum, syllabi, and course activities. Perfect for reading or study groups, graduate classes, and professional development, these stories invite reflection and lively conversation.

Explains how to become an indispensable school librarian, discussing how to understand what others in the school need and want, demonstrate importance, plan strategically, and master important tools.

This excellent collection of articles selected from Emergency Librarian addresses such issues as analyzing and assessing programs, strategies for change, program advocacy (including using outside groups as advocates), marketing the library and its programs, and the benefits of a strong commitment to high-quality programs.