Patsy Divver is the School Librarian at Millis Middle/High School
Whenever I ask school librarians about programs, ideas, students, or plans, I am overwhelmed by their creative and innovative undertakings. Yet, in further discussion, it’s also one of the greatest challenges we have, promoting what we do. Advocating for our school libraries is an important facet for our professional survival. So the question has become: what’s an easy way to do this?
Several librarians offered simple suggestions for “showing our stuff”:
Lisa Bertram from Carver Middle/High School has a superintendent who loves to Tweet. As she notes, “I have sent him pictures of new displays, a class coding with Ozobots, students listening to book talks...he always tweets them out!” Using Twitter and Instagram, as well as school Facebook pages, is a quick way to connect with your administrators and the community, too. If you don’t have accounts, now’s the time to start one.
Lani Blechman, librarian at Fort River Elementary in Amherst, shared her elementary librarians’ “snapshots” and video about their students. These snapshots offer a visible, vibrant “data and usage report” and were sent to building and district administrators as well as each school’s parent organization. Parents and community organizations are super cheerleaders for our libraries. Keep them informed and involved!
The Amherst team also personalized a chart showing how they followed the “Future Ready Librarians” program. This offers the community an overview of the Amherst Regional Public Schools and the librarians integration into the components of this program (https://futureready.org/program-overview/librarians/). Parents and community organizations are super cheerleaders for our libraries. Keep them informed and involved!
Publishing your Long Range Plans, updating or creating library websites, emailing a newsletter, and presenting at School Board meetings highlight your greatness with ease. Need more support? Use the resources available through the Massachusetts Library System. Steve Spohn, MLS Resource Sharing Director, offers this amazing tool, https://www.masslibsystem.org/value/. Highlighting the value of your role as a School Librarian (and a member of MLS) emphasizes the need for maintaining your position. At a time when many budget cuts begin in school libraries, this is crucial.
When we think of advocating to administrators and parents, don’t forget to encourage students to “shout out” about programs and activities, too. Sheila Geraty, Library Director at Brookwood School in Manchester, MA, runs book fairs in both the fall and spring. During those events, she invites students for breakfast, music and books before school. It’s a great way to advertise the fair and gain student support. If you don’t already have a student library group, whether for a book discussion or to help with projects, it’s extremely valuable. Student voices keep our libraries current and elevate the impact of annual reports, as well as NEASC visits.
Although these ideas all seem viable and easy, sometimes it just takes a bit of “courage” to speak up. Earlier this year, Massachusetts Department of Education Commissioner Jeff Riley came to visit Millis Middle School. Even though the round-table discussion was held in the library, the visit focused on core-subjects classroom activities, thus the library wasn’t directly involved. So, I had to step up and make some noise.
So don’t be shy - it’s not effective. Don’t be obnoxious - you won’t be heard. Be proud of what you are doing, what you’ve accomplished, and what you have planned. You’re not alone - even as a singleton. Reach out, then speak out. What you have to share may be the exact idea another colleague needs to succeed. Good luck!
When we think of advocating to administrators and parents, don’t forget to encourage students to “shout out” about programs and activities, too. Sheila Geraty, Library Director at Brookwood School in Manchester, MA, runs book fairs in both the fall and spring. During those events, she invites students for breakfast, music and books before school. It’s a great way to advertise the fair and gain student support. If you don’t already have a student library group, whether for a book discussion or to help with projects, it’s extremely valuable. Student voices keep our libraries current and elevate the impact of annual reports, as well as NEASC visits.
Although these ideas all seem viable and easy, sometimes it just takes a bit of “courage” to speak up. Earlier this year, Massachusetts Department of Education Commissioner Jeff Riley came to visit Millis Middle School. Even though the round-table discussion was held in the library, the visit focused on core-subjects classroom activities, thus the library wasn’t directly involved. So, I had to step up and make some noise.
- Step 1: Planning for the event. As soon as I heard the Commissioner was coming into my library, I contacted people involved in advocacy. (Thank you, Anita Cellucci, Robin Cicchetti, Judi Paradis and Amy Short for your advice and help!) Both Judi’s talking points (https://libguides.salemstate.edu/ld.php?content_id=43691457) and the Massachusetts School Libraries study gave me ideas for a quick connect with Commissioner Riley (https://mblc.state.ma.us/programs-and-support/youth-services/school-libraries-study.php).
- Step 2: Shove the “shyness” away - and go face to face. I introduced myself as guests arrived. Then, after listening to discussions and interjecting where I could, I waited. As soon as the group broke for lunch, I approached the Commissioner and identified myself as the school librarian (he acknowledged and admired the library). I shared that I was active in MSLA (he was familiar with our group). Had he read the Mass Library Study? Yes, he had, and (to paraphrase), in light of the need for students to be aware of our resources and fully understand them, he agreed that the role of the school librarian is critical in our schools.
- Step 3: Send out follow-up thanks! Keep that connection alive and be sure to copy your principals and administrators. Direct interactions may be brief, but the connection can be lifelong. (Two of the accompanying state representatives on this visit greeted me by name - from a reading event we’d done twenty years earlier!)
So don’t be shy - it’s not effective. Don’t be obnoxious - you won’t be heard. Be proud of what you are doing, what you’ve accomplished, and what you have planned. You’re not alone - even as a singleton. Reach out, then speak out. What you have to share may be the exact idea another colleague needs to succeed. Good luck!