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COMPETENCY:
Candidates demonstrate the ability to Advocate.
SUBTOPIC #1 - Candidates use research and educational policy to advocate for the library to a variety of audiences.
In the context of a school library organizational setting, advocacy calls for school librarians to build relationships with key decision makers and utilize data to support their cause. There are a variety of influential audiences that should be targeted such as School Site Councils and department chair meetings, schmoozing with providers of funding like Title I representatives, and being relentless in demonstrating the worth and relevance of our libraries to all stakeholders, including students, parents, and the greater voting community. Stenström (2022) explains that advocacy is about “moving from ‘what is’ to ‘what should be’. We must paint that vision to our stakeholders. I couldn’t agree more when Stenström states the single most significant advocacy tool is the “ability to develop meaningful relationships with decision makers”. I feel advocacy is my strength as I have gone out of my way to go above and beyond for key decision makers, which has led me to receive a a surplus of additional funding, gaining influence at my school, and bringing about much positive change in my short two years.
Advocating to School Site Council to Transform the Library Space and Services
This was a budget proposal I presented to my School Site Council which is compromised of students, parents, and administrators who determine major school spending. By arguing that many other schools had these resources and our students inequitably do not, I was able to secure an additional $20k for the library that was spent on establishing a Lit Circle collection, Makerspace, and lounge furniture.
Advocating to Principal to Gain Additional Staffing Support
In an ongoing effort to convince my administration to provide me more staffing support, I created a district library comparison survey to provide data to show the impact of having a fulltime assistant or not. See the Simplified Data tab to see significant gaps in service. In conjunction with my Library Tech Sales Pitch to my principal, this data has helped me gain temporary support of two office assistants.
Advocating to Superintendent for Improved Book Reconsideration Policy
My fellow district librarians and myself fear an inevitable influx of book challenges and would like to prepare our district to protect intellectual freedom. Along with my colleagues, we have organized for administrators to attend a PD on LGBTQ challenges and are advocating to improve our book reconsideration procedures that have not been updated since 1994. On behalf of the district librarians, I have been the point person in advocacy efforts and have met personally with the superintendent and attempting to create an action plan with top administrators.
REFERENCES
Stenström, C. (2022). Advocacy. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction (pp. 343–353). Rowman & Littlefield.
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