Stakeholders are people or groups of people you must influence and whose support you need. They have a vested interest in the success of the school library program—some more directly than others. Here are the major stakeholder groups and the issues, concerns, priorities, or needs that they care about.
Students |
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Parents |
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Teachers |
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Administrators
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Community members
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Legislators
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Source: AASL. School Library Program Health and Wellness Toolkit. http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslissues/toolkits/slmhealthandwellness
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Dr. Krashen, Professor Emeritus of USC, and world renowned language acquisition expert speaks in support of more libraries and librarians in LAUSD. February 11, 2014.
Seattle Public School Boards Meeting. Librarians speak out! January 23, 2019
Examples of a Benefits Assessment for Identifying Potential Champions
Potential Champion |
Language Arts Department Chairperson/Lead Teacher |
Advocacy Goal
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Third and Fourth graders reading below level will be provided with small group literature circles or book clubs managed by the librarian in collaboration with teachers in order to boost reading achievement. [This will require a revised library schedule.] |
Benefit to SLP
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Increased use of library; improved literacy among those most at-risk; increased collaboration; recognition of the librarian’s instructional role |
Benefit to Champion
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Additional reading support for below level readers without additional staff; targeted students likely to improve reading scores; enhances teacher’s evaluation portfolio |
Political Capital/Influence |
This teacher is a school leader; good rapport with principal and superintendent; on local public library board and close friends with a school board member |
Potential Champion |
PTA President |
Advocacy Goal
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As the student population has become increasingly diverse, the library’s collection needs culturally relevant, high interest, lo-level, and bilingual books to meet the needs of students. [This will require a collaborative grant writing project.] |
Benefit to SLP
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Gains parental support; collection more responsive to student diversity; increased circulation; recognition of librarian’s leadership; added to librarian’s evaluation portfolio |
Benefit to Champion
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PTA becomes an engaged partner; learns more about the library program; fulfills the PTA’s mission to advocate for all children; worthy project that will be good PR and likely boost PTA membership |
Political Capital/Influence |
Respected in the community and with school board; well connected to social services in the region; husband is president of the Chamber of Commerce |
Source: Kachel, Debra E. "School Library Champions." Teacher Librarian, April 2016, pp 55-57.
2017 National School Library Standards and resources