Recently I saw a post on a Facebook group where a school librarian from an affluent area was budgeted about $500 for a private school of nearly that many students–so about $1 per student. The librarian seemed to think that… Read More ›
advocacy
Rethinking School Library Fines
How does everyone feel about school library fines for late and lost books? Until recently, I’ve been mostly okay with the concept, especially in middle and high schools, but now I find myself questioning the effectiveness of library fines. Our… Read More ›
Advocacy in the New Year
Through the hustle and bustle of the ending semester and winter holidays approaching, I can’t help but think of next semester. I’m a planner. This time of year I begin to plan activities and collaborations, New Year’s Resolutions, and advocacy… Read More ›
The Time for Advocacy Is Now: Why Telling Your Story Is So Important.
Having been a lifelong reader and library user, I had all sorts of assumptions about school libraries in general. First, I thought that stakeholders would instinctively know the value of an effective school library. Secondly, I had always been under… Read More ›
This Is How We Help Future School Librarians
Several years ago when my co-librarian switched from working in a law library to working in a public school library, her internship was something like our school district saying, ”We’re desperate. You’re hired.” A few years after that it was… Read More ›
The Glass Half Full: Focusing on the Positive
Recently, I was able to attend my state library conference, the MAME Conference, for the first time. While there we heard from speakers like Colby Sharp, John Shu, and author Jewels Rhodes Parker. Needless to say, it was two days… Read More ›
Are you an advocate for school libraries? Consider applying for the ALA Policy Corps.
In 2017, I applied to be part of ALA’s inaugural Policy Corps, and honestly, I didn’t think I’d get selected. Although I’d been involved in advocacy locally and had made some fledgling attempts at the state level, I had very… Read More ›
Action Research: Building a Pathway Between Large Research and Local Anecdotes
Action Research: Building a Pathway Between Large Research and Local Anecdotes Over the past year, I have given a lot of serious thought to school library advocacy. I admit my original catalyst was a AASL 2017 National Conference session and… Read More ›
Show Some Library Love
Advocacy is a single word, but it means so much to the library and librarian profession. As Archibald MacLeish said, “What is more important to a library than anything else–than everything else–is the fact that it exists.” Over the past… Read More ›
Are You a Reader?
Are you a reader? Most people assume that teachers and librarians love books and reading, but, surprisingly, that isn’t always the case. My colleague, Teri Lesesne, and I decided to take advantage of the teachers and librarians we had in… Read More ›