Advocacy Resources for School Libraries

Take Action Now - June 2009 - to Retain School Libraries!

The resources on these pages were developed to help school library media specialists and others who are interested in advocating for strong school library programs in all New Jersey schools. Within each program area (see sidebar) you'll find:

• information about relevant laws and regulations;
• a list of steps to follow and people to contact in case that part of the program is threatened;
• suggested responses to frequently asked questions;
• templates and examples to help you create your own advocacy materials (letters to the editor, ways to solicit input from stakeholders, etc.);
• testimonials;
• and links to additional resources to help you advocate.

Advocacy is a continuous process. Successful school library media specialists are actively involved in their schools at all times, making sure that their contributions to the achievements of their students are publicized, and serving on the decision-making committees of the school district. Although these resources provide guidance for what to do in a crisis situation, constant advocacy may effectively prevent crises from arising.

Be aware that even if advocacy at the point of crisis does not affect the outcome of the particular situation, it is still worth the effort. The record of your conversations, presentations, and letters may have a positive effect on the future of the school library program. If you have used templates, links or other resources, and would like to share, the NJASL Professional Development Committee welcomes your contributions for consideration and possible inclusion on this site.

General resources are also available to help you advocate for the library profession. GeneralAdvocacyResources

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