E-Book Overview
School libraries provide an essential service to the community, but without proper funding few libraries stand a chance to maintain the resources they offer—or to survive at all. School librarians can play an instrumental role in the survival of their programs. This how-to book provides school librarians with effective advocacy and activism strategies for promoting and improving their library programs.
Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival offers straightforward, practical approaches for creating advocacy programs. This guidebook examines the characteristics for becoming an advocate, explores the meaning of advocacy/activism as an effort that is ongoing and proactive, and provides the steps required for initiating a successful program. The contributors address the various types of advocacy and activism, including legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels; school and district level programs; and community-based initiatives. The book includes expert advice from successful advocates and provides helpful reproducible tools.
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Activism and the School Librarian This page intentionally left blank Activism and the School Librarian Tools for Advocacy and Survival Deborah D. Levitov, Editor Copyright 2012 by ABC-CLIO, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, or reproducibles, which may be copied for classroom and educational programs only, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Activism and the school librarian : tools for advocacy and survival / Deborah D. Levitov, editor. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-61069-187-1 (pbk.) — ISBN 978-1-61069-188-8 (ebook) (print) 1. School librarians—Professional relationships—United States. 2. School librarians—Political activity—United States. 3. School libraries—Aims and objectives—United States. 4. School libraries—United States—Marketing. 5. School libraries—Public relations—United States. 6. School libraries—Government policy—United States—Citizen participation. 7. Libraries and education— United States. 8. Libraries and community—United States. 9. Social advocacy. I. Levitov, Deborah D. Z682.4.S34A28 2012 027.80973—dc23 2012016873 ISBN: 978-1-61069-187-1 EISBN: 978-1-61069-188-8 16 15 14 13 12 1 2 3 4 5 This book is also available on the World Wide Web as an eBook. Visit www.abc-clio.com for details. Libraries Unlimited An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC ABC-CLIO, LLC 130 Cremona Drive, P.O. Box 1911 Santa Barbara, California 93116-1911 This book is printed on acid-free paper Manufactured in the United States of America For mentors—those people who give of themselves, their expertise, their time, and insight to help others learn, improve, and excel—and especially Dr. Clara T. Rottmann, former director of school libraries for Lincoln Public Schools, who encouraged me in my early years as a school librarian and provided many avenues for growth and leadership. This page intentionally left blank Contents Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi Deborah D. Levitov Advocacy Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv 1. The Promi