Advocacy

to develop an Library Advocacy Plan at EFHS.

 * Rationale || Opportunities || Resources || Goalsetting || Timeline || Bibliography ||

Although I advocate for my library program, I do not have a formal plan in place. Having worked on the advocacy issue for this course, I have realized that building school library promotion into an annual schedule will make advocacy a habit instead of something haphazard. There are some significant steps I will have to take, including upgrading the school library website, planning programs and presentations to various school community groups, and a willingness to take a hard look at user feedback.
 * Rationale:**

1. School Board Meeting. Plan to share an overview of library services, using the webpage as a starting point. Will provide Titlewise Analysis data to show collection improvement. 2. Leadership Team. Link library program to school improvement initiatives. 3. Open House, other school events. Invite parents into the library; provide resource brochures with passwords, etc. 4. Town Library. Have collaborated in the past, continue to seek connections.
 * Opportunities:**

__**Online resources**__ AASL Advocacy School Libraries Count! YALSA online resources __**Local Resources**__ District Technology Dept.--technical assistance Enosburgh Public Library--collaborations, resources, linked services Local Media: County Courier, St. Albans Messenger VSLA Northwest Region One--colleagues close at hand!
 * Advocacy Resources:**


 * Advocacy Goal-Setting:**

1. Make the school community aware of the resources available at the school library. 1a. Identify current points of contact and add additional points of contact. Here is a matrix of methods of communication with each group. I began highlighting what I already do in blue, but the process was moving items out of their table cells. Could not continue without ruining the table! I already utilize email, website, and face-to-face with many groups. I have not followed through on communicating with certain groups such as the board or the community. I don't have a regular column in the school newsletter. Our local paper nearly went out of business, and I haven't added much there since they now require payment to //submit// content. These are all traditional means of communicating. Part of the plan would be to develop more points of contact, including podcasts, video, smartphone apps, and a blog or wiki where I could receive comments and feedback. Meet quarterly or semi-annually || quick updates or requests; || Updates; announcements; events; || announcements; events; || updates; announcements; events; || Fac. mtgs.; || updates; links; resources; scheduling; new materials; requests; || services; links; pathfinders; || Regular articles; || Updates; announcements; events; || class groups; around school; || book requests available; announcements; || events; announcements; services; pathfinders; book sharing; surveys; || announcements; homework help; services; regular articles; || Updates; announcements; events; || events; || Open house ; Sports events; || N/A || announcements; services; || announcements; homework help; services; regular articles; || Updates; announcements; events; ||
 * Members || F2F || email || website || school newsletter || news media ||
 * Admin || Meet for IPDP;
 * Teachers || Faculty room;
 * Students || point of need;
 * Board || Board meetings; || N/A || events; data; || regular articles; || Updates; announcements;
 * Parents || Parent Support Group;

__** 1b. Participate in Library Snapshot Day DONE **__
 * Our VSLA region is planning a Library Snapshot Day.
 * Use ALA primer and toolkit
 * Select a week in December or January to hold Snapshot Days in our school libraries
 * Promote the day; users will be surveyed
 * Use VSLA wiki page to report data and showcase the event
 * Link wiki page to local school library webpages--not yet.

2. Bring attention to areas of improvement and areas of need.
 * Collect and analyze data on the following areas:
 * Collection development (Titlewise Analysis) [|titlewise]
 * Library usage, including scheduled classes, scheduled computers, laptop cart, reserve shelves
 * Non-library use of the facility, including coverage, meetings, testing, events, or special closures
 * Circulation reports, including grade-by-grade
 * Online database usage reports (VOL)
 * Collect input from students and faculty regarding library wants and needs
 * Use Library Snapshot Day surveys
 * Use survey tools, such as the Student Library Survey, Faculty Library Survey and Reading Interest Survey (Valenza, 2004)
 * Respond to results by reporting to the school community, providing requested materials, and planning for requested change.

**EFHS Library and Laptop Lab Record** ** ﻿ ** **Timeline:** **2010-2011 School Year.**
 * Participate in Library Snapshot Day with my VSLA Region
 * Share results with school community
 * Respond to suggestions on Library Snapshot Day survey
 * Purchase book/material requests by Fall 2011
 * Share resource requests with principal, with an eye to next year's budget (expand/redirect goals and plan)
 * Meet with principal to update IPDP goals
 * Familiarize with school library guidelines in //Empowering Learners// (ALA 2009)
 * Revisit NEASC requirements in anticipation of 2012 school self-study
 * Schedule presentation with school board.
 * Gather information and prepare presentation
 * Use board feedback to adjust plan (expand/redirect goals and plan)
 * Begin redesign of library and resource webpage to allow user interaction
 * 2011 Summer**
 * Draft Library Mission Statement and Library Goals
 * Draft Advocacy calendar for school year
 * Draft Library brochures for students, parents, faculty (Valenza 2004)
 * 2011 Fall **
 * Meet with principal to set IPDP goals
 * Share draft of mission and goals
 * Hold Faculty Open House in library to introduce/review resources and services. Faculty brochure.
 * Survey faculty and students regarding library services (during 1st Quarter orientation sessions)
 * Build requests for additional resources--as per user surveys--into budget development process (Oct.)
 * Open House presentation in library. Giveaways as incentive for visiting during open house. Parent brochure. (Nov.)
 * Bookfair. Offer parent brochures. (Dec.)
 * 2012 Spring**
 * Redesigned webpage should be active
 * Move advocacy initiatives beyond school walls (students/faculty/admin) to greater community (parents, community)
 * Review plan (expand/redirect goals and plan)


 * Advocacy Bibliography**

[| Advocacy Project], EDLI2000L1

Creating a culture of literacy: a guide for middle and high school principals (2005). Reston, VA: National Association of Secondary School Principals.
 * //Not// recommended: This book is in our professional collection, donated by a former administrator. It says NOTHING about school libraries and adolescent literacy! Libraries, librarians, media centers, school library media centers--not included in the index!

Empowering learners: guidelines for school library programs (2009). Chicago: American Library Association.

Valenza, Joyce Kasman (2004). Power tools recharged: 125+ essential forms and presentations for your school library information program. Chicago: American Library Association.
 * Just bought it, since I'm going to the VT ASCD conference featuring Joyce Valenza next week!