Do these things regularly to demonstrate the value of your program:

1. Maintain communication with all of your constituents:
   1. Students
   2. Teachers
   3. Administrators
   4. Board members
   5. Parents
   6. Public librarians and any local Academic librarians
   7. Community members
2. Establish community support for your program by soliciting help with special projects and/or regularly scheduled parent or student volunteers.
3. Practice and be prepared to give a one-minute “elevator” speech in support of school libraries in general or highlights of your library program in particular
4. Publicize the activities and successes of your program:
   1. Bulletin boards/displays of best student projects
   2. Website
   3. Newsletters
   4. Press releases and invitations
   5. Regular reports to administrators
   6. Special presentations to Board
   7. TV: local news channel, NJEA’s Classroom Closeup program, NJN
5. Create opportunities for publicity
   1. Author visits
   2. Contests
   3. Present awards (staff and students)
   4. Nominate administrators and colleagues for awards
   5. Win grants
6. Collect, analyze and share data about your program
   1. Number and purpose of student visits
   2. Number of classes taught and NJCCCS addressed
7. Solicit, save and publicize quotes/anecdotes from students, parents and staff served (link to template)
   1. Encourage participation in “why my library is important to me” contests
   2. Occasional staff/student surveys on library resources and services
   3. Suggestion box
   4. Regularly collect students’ “what I learned today” comments
8. Respond to Legislative Alerts. Contact your legislators on issues of relevance to school libraries.
9. Attend Legislative Dinners such as those sponsored by NJEA in each county.
10. Invite your legislators and local officials to visit your library and read to your students or give a talk, and be prepared to discuss briefly and informally the importance of your school library program.