Campus Librarian's Handbook
Campus Librarian's Handbook
Embedded Files
Establishing a Campus Library Advisory Community
Establishing a Campus Library Advisory Community
How is a CLAC unique?
How is a CLAC unique?
How many committees are you on within your campus? In your professional community? More than you care to admit? Perhaps you’re new and haven’t yet been asked to serve. It’s just a matter of time before you’re on 101 committees! In school communities, everyone juggles a lot of roles and a lot of meetings.
Instead of another committee, create a Campus Library Advisory Community (CLAC) to support your campus library. The goal of an active CLAC is to provide a two-way forum for information exchange between students, parents, faculty, administrators and other stakeholders from each school community on the one hand and the campus library on the other hand. In addition to school-based individuals, a CLAC can include external colleagues (such as local public librarians), publications and professional groups you turn to for strategies, advice, and best practices to support you in library administration, instruction, and planning.
Face to face meetings where library issues are discussed are the ideal venue for CLAC feedback, but sometimes you need more immediate input on a question or issue. To contact your CLAC, you can use email, discussion groups, phone calls, and one-on-one conversations to get advice you need and stay connected to your professional community. You can access them when you need them most instead of waiting for a meeting time.
Before deciding who to invite to join your CLAC, analyze the library’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to determine where you need the CLAC’s counsel.
Self-Assessment: Use a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) Analysis
Self-Assessment: Use a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) Analysis
In order to make your CLAC work for you, the first step is self assessment. What are your strengths? What are your greatest challenges? The goal of self-assessment is to identify your special skill as well as places where you need help. To self-assess, we suggest a simple SWOT analysis. The SWOT analysis graphic organizer will help you explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that face you as a campus librarian. Use this tool to help you brainstorm elements that fit each category.
Strengths: What are some advantages that your library has? What makes it unique? What do you do better than other people? What are your special talents? What are your passionate interests?
Weaknesses: What are library tasks that you aren’t good at, or that you really dislike? What could you improve about your library? Are there challenges you face as a librarian?
Tip:
When thinking about Strengths and Weaknesses, think about you and the library: your special talents, skills, and what makes you unique, and the library’s special traits. It can be helpful to ask close colleagues who know you well, and know your library to help you brainstorm your strengths and challenges.
Tip:
When looking at Opportunities and Challenges, look outside the library at your schools, campus, and the larger landscape of public education in NYC and New York State.
Opportunities: Are there opportunities for libraries/librarians you would like to take advantage of (for example, professional development workshops, grants, groups)? Are there trends, events, or changes in the culture or community that the library could benefit from or join? Consider your strengths; are there opportunities related to them?
Challenges (aka Threats): What obstacles do you face? Are there tensions in your building or professional community? Consider external factors such as educational policy, funding, changing technology, etc.
NYSED School Library Media Program Evaluation Rubric
NYSED School Library Media Program Evaluation Rubric
In preparation for your SWOT analysis, consult the School Library Media Program Evaluation (SLMPE) provided by NYSED. As the NYS Education Department notes, “the rubric is recommended for use to create Library Media Program self-assessments that include qualitative and quantitative evidence and aid in the development of action plans for program improvements.” Reviewing the rubric will help you prepare to identify your strengths and weaknesses in the context of NYS school library media program expectations.
NOTE: (Nov 2019): NYSED SMPLE will be replaced by the NYSED School LIbrary Program Rubric; please check http://www.nysed.gov/school-library-services for updates.
Creating a CLAC
Creating a CLAC
Based on your strengths and challenges, what kind of support do you need? Who might you reach out to for such support. Consider the following spaces of support:
- In your building: Are there building level concerns in your SWOT? Who from your building can help support these needs?
- NYC Local: What librarians, Library Services coordinators, local educators, or other experts can help with the concerns revealed in your SWOT?
- Professional Community: Professional organizations for librarians are a great source of support, ideas, and camaraderie. Engage with the American Library Association (ALA), New York City School Librarians Association (NYCSLA), and other professional organizations for support.
- The New York City School Library System maintains a list of networking resources you can use to connect to professional organizations via listservs, conferences, and events. http://nycdoe.libguides.com/librarianguidebook/networking
- Print/Digital Resources: What publications do you find helpful? Are there librarians of national prominence you follow on social media, or have seen at conferences? Can keeping up with their writing and advice help with your needs?
- The New York City School Librarian Information Sharing Tool (NYCSLIST) is an email listserv with over 1000 participating librarians.
- Mentors: Rich relationships with mentors is a crucial part of campus librarianship. Experienced librarians who work in stand-alone schools or on campuses, professionals from other spaces in the education and library fields, and other experts in literacy and technology may be important advisors.
As you identify supportive people and organizations, use the SWOT organizer to depict the kind of help you might seek from each one. When you have a question or issue, refer to the table to help you remember that you do have support, and to figure out the best person to ask or resource to consult.
Invite people to join you in your effort, noting that communication will mostly be asynchronous. You can create a google group or an email list, or have a section on your library site where CLAC members can contribute. Or, reach out to individuals on an as needed basis.
Finally, don’t be discouraged by any initial lack of interest in a CLAC. Start small, meet quarterly, and expand both membership and topics addressed as your community develops a commitment to your program.
BEST PRACTICE: Use your CLAC to help advise you in big and small tasks. For example:
- Having a tough time with a budget issue? Email another librarian on your CLAC to vent and get some constructive ideas.
- Revising that mission statement? Email a draft to your CLAC colleague who is a fantastic editor.
- Need programming ideas? Check your CLAC list of professional resources. Peruse School Library Journal and send an email to the NYCSLIST!
Resources and links
Resources and links
- SWOT analysis graphic organizer
- NYSED School Library Media Program Evaluation (SLMPE)
- NOTE (Nov 2019): NYSED SLMPE will be replaced by the NYSED School LIbrary Program Rubric; please check http://www.nysed.gov/school-library-services for updates.
- New York City School Library System Networking Guide
- New York City School Librarians' Association
- New York City School Librarian Information Sharing Tool (NYCSLIST)
Go to the next section: Developing Policies, Rules, and Guidelines
Report abuse