Advocacy

//**ADVOCACY FOR THE SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAM**//

= **CONNECT**, **COMMUNICATE**, and **COLLABORATE**  =

1. **CONNECT to and EDUCATE your ADMINISTRATION** Communicate what you do, and can do, to the school administration and school council. SHOW management your value and worth in language that they understand. Here are two journal articles related to this topic:
 * Principal Support: What does It Mean to Teacher-Librarians?by Dianne Oberg
 * The Principal's Perceptions by G. Hartzell

2. **CONNECT to, COLLABORATE with and EDUCATE your PEERS** Show your worth; be open and visible to all staff members. Here is a journal article related to this topic:
 * A Theoretical Understanding of Teacher and Librarian Collaboration by P. Montiel-Overall

3. **CONNECT to and COMMUNICATE with your STUDENTS** Show them how thinking works. Here is a blog at edutopia that is relevant to working with and supporting student learning.
 * Do You Write with Your Students? by Rebecca Adler

4. **CONTINUE to EDUCATE YOURSELF - stay current**
 * Tales of a School Library Media Specialist - The book bug blog
 * @http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/category/school-library/ - ALSC blog
 * Follow Joyce Valenza ‏ @joycevalenza on Twitter

5. **ATTEND CONFERENCES -** Last year, I attended the International Association of School Librarians in Jamaica, and the wonderful experience opened my eyes to the passion and commitment of teacher librarians from around the world! Not for everyone, but worth it!
 * **International Association of School Librarians**
 * **School Library Information Portal**

6**. CREATE A "FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY" GROUP (AASL, 2012) -** invite others to advocate on behalf of the school library. Have them help with advertising of programs, events, and other services of the library. "Friends" can be the extra set of hands helping you to achieve your goals with advocacy.
 * Friends of Canadian Libraries


 * 7. GATHER DATA -**Gather data to support the affect your library program is having on student learning and the development of the skills necessary in the 21st century. Share the data with all stakeholders so they are aware of the impact the library media program has on the student body.
 * Dzikowski, J., Tiedemann, M., & Ashworth, J. (2010). THE DATA-DRIVEN LIBRARY PROGRAM. //Library Media Connection//, //29//(1), 10-12.

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