Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1610691873 ISBN 13: 9781610691871

Publisher: Libraries Unlimited, 2012

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

Deborah D. Levitov, PhD, is managing editor of School Library Monthly and editor of Libraries Unlimited's Guide for Developing and Evaluating School Library Programs.

Reviews

Based on research, experience, and actual implementation of award-winning programs, this book offers solid information to guide school librarians in one of their most valuable roles, that of advocate. Seven engaging and informative chapters, all written by various successful practitioners, offer solid suggestions. The first chapter identifies numerous characteristics important to promoting the library, such as focusing on the students, providing equality of services, teaching 21st-century learning skills, helping students learn in meaningful ways, etc. Chapter two emphasizes the importance of student learning, assessment, and evaluation. Remaining chapters address activism, being proactive, developing leadership, connecting, collaborating, and establishing advocates from within the faculty. Suggestions for creating an advocacy plan; ways of promoting it within the school, community, and business; acquiring legislative support; involving parents; and connecting and involving administrators, board members, and teachers are included. If they are heeded, library programs will flourish. Frequent text boxes and figures support the information. Most articles include a summary, with references and additional resource lists at the conclusion of each chapter. The appendix also includes additional tools for developing, planning, and assessing the plan. An extensive index concludes this valuable resource.-Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NEα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This collection of seven essays focuses on activism rather than just advocacy. The essays (by well-known school librarians such as Gail Bush and Ann M. Martin) cover the theoretical foundation of activism; teaching and learning as the heart of advocacy (a reprint of a 2006 School Library Media Activities Monthly article); advocacy to activism; developing a culture of advocacy; school library legislative advocacy; working with parents and community groups; and building champions in the school community. The appendix consists of 14 “Use This Page” black-line masters from various issues of SLMAM. Topics covered in the appendix include “Assessing the Research Process,” “Creating a Parent Advocacy Plan,” and “The Annual Report Guide.” An index rounds out the book. Levitov provides solid advice for those not already in the trenches advocating for school libraries. --Esther Sinofsky

Edition details

• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1610691873
• ISBN 13: 9781610691871
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 140
• Editor: Levitov Deborah D.