Advocacy

Advocacy for school library media programs and school library media specialists.

bullet point Advocacy Definitions
Developed by the AASL Advocacy Special Committee.

bullet point AASL Advocacy Toolkit
A collection of ready-to-use tools to conduct an advocacy campaign-large or small-for school library media programs.

bullet point School Library Funding
Funding issues and resources for school library media programs.

State-level advocacy for school library media matters
The following links provide information and resources on advocacy for school library media programs at the state level:

State Department Inquiry Task Force's Report
This is a report from the State Department Inquiry Task Force whose charge it was to gather, prepare and disseminate information on how a state affiliate can advocate for positions of State Department Consultants/Coordinators and District Supervisors of Library Media Programs.
State Department of Education contacts for school library media matters.
Affiliate Assembly presidents contact information for school library media matters.

bullet point Instructional Classification Toolkit
Ready-to-use tools to advocate for the role of school library media specialists as teachers.

bullet point School Library Media Month
Many school library media programs celebrate the month of April as School Library Media Month in conjunction with National Library Week.

bullet point Library Promotional Events

bullet point @ your library School Library Campaign
Developed in collaboration with AASL, the school library component of the American Library Association's @ your library® campaign seeks to increase public awareness of the significant contributions made by school library media specialists through school library media programs to further the academic achievement and lifelong learning of students; strengthen a belief in the value of school library media programs and school library media specialists; and position school librarianship as a desirable career opportunity.

bullet point ALA Resolution: School Libraries and Librarians are Critical to Educational Success (adopted June 22, 2003)
As stated in the resolution, the ALA President and Executive Director have sent a letter "to convey to Governors, State Boards of Education, National Association of School Administrators, Chief State School Officers, National Association of Independent Schools, National Council of PTA, National Educational Association, American Federation of Teachers, and National Association of School Boards of Education the urgent need to support and maintain school library programs and certified school librarians and encourage them to pass this concern along to their state affiliates."

bullet point "'All Politics is Local" Legislative Advocacy on the Home Front"
Visit the AASL Conference Archive to download handouts from this program at the ALA 2003 Annual Conference in Toronto.