Create a Regular School Library Newsletter – Library Newsletters can be a great advocacy tool. Newsletters can be shared with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and others to keep them informed about the great things going on in the school library and to keep them abreast of available resources. There are several great KQ Blog posts about library newsletters including posts by Margaret Sullivan (https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/communicating-with-parents-through-newsletters/) and Kelly Hincks (https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/using-newsletters-advocate/)
Thanks to Michael Zetterberg, student in EDU 6030 LIBM, for this elevator speech
Some Talking Points for Administrators:
SOURCE: Garcia, Lily Eskelsen. "Libraries lead and librarians transform." NEA's Lily's Blackboard 4/9/18
From this article:
"The best library stories have six structural elements:
A real person. Too often, we tell our story in generalities. Libraries serve “children” or “seniors” or “small businesses.” But to connect with an audience, we must be more specific. A real person can be captured in just a few phrases: “Caiden was 3 years old.”
A real problem. The hook of the story is a life problem. “Caiden stuttered.” At this point, notice that we are not talking about an institution. We are talking about one person. This captures people’s emotional attention.
A library intervention. Now we introduce a supporting character—a library staff member, program, or service. “One day Caiden noticed a dog in the library. A little girl was reading to it.” The library points out the path to resolving the real person’s problem. But it’s important to keep the focus on the original character, and not let the library take over the story.
A happy ending. “After reading to that endlessly interested and patient dog for many months, Caiden didn’t stutter anymore.” The library has provided a solution to a real person’s problem.
A single fact. “In our state alone, more than 112 libraries offer a ‘read to dogs’ program.” A brief statistic like this underscores the magnitude of both the problem and the solution.
A tagline. This is a message that provides the frame for a picture that can stick in the mind of an audience. Based on OCLC’s research into what activates support for libraries and bolstered by other studies and investigations, ALA has adopted four key messages:
The Racism Behind Firing Librarians and Closing School Libraries
How Students Are Hurt By Replacing School Librarians and Libraries with Computers
How is School Choice “Freedom” When Students Lose School Libraries and Librarians?
Maker Movements Should NOT Endanger School Libraries, Librarians, and Reading
Created by Louisiana school librarian Kelsye Baudoin. Check out her graphics on the LASL Resource page.
I consider these two article to be my "classics" in terms of advice I give to librarians who contact me with "HELP! I think they are cutting my job!"