Simply Indispensable: An Action Guide for School Librarians

(Paperback)

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Description

A structured approach to advocacy for K-12 school librarians focuses their energy on an active path that showcases library programs and resources and expresses the essential role librarians serve in school and student success. Keeping a library program vital requires regular reflection about current practices and a willingness to implement changes that will position the library and library staff should they be threatened with elimination. Simply Indispensable: An Action Guide for School Librarians helps librarians do just that. The book begins with an explanation of the need to act and then offers a systematic approach to taking action. Each chapter is devoted to an active path: attracting patrons; interacting with teachers, parents, administrators, and the community; communicating; reacting to "situations;" working for reinstatement if the worst happens, and more. The book covers advocacyfrom the subtle exercise of developing excellent programs to the overt outreach of Legi-Days. Additionally, there is specific information about what to do when the RIF notice or pink slip arrives or if cuts are made, including how to properly close a library. After putting these actions into effect, school librarians will have a cadre of supporters ready to speak for them should the need arise.

Reviews

For the beginners in the field or those who feel stuck or imprisoned on the outskirts of their school's central program, this is a book to consider, to use to make one's own 'To Do' list, to develop year-long, not just New Year's, resolutions. * Teacher Librarian *
Library media specialists anticipating staff and budget cuts, or those who want to improve their advocacy initiatives, will find the book a helpful, common sense guide for proactively approaching the problem. * Library Media Connection *

Author Bio

Janice Gilmore-See is the district librarian for La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, La Mesa, CA, overseeing 21 school-site libraries and the district instructional media center.