Toolkit for School Library Media Programs - American Library ...

Speaking Out
If we don’t speak out, who will? The School Library
Campaign provides an opportunity for library media
specialists to make our voice heard in schools and
communities across America. AASL members developed
the core messages for the School Library Campaign
based on research that found:
● Middle and high school students and their parents
place a lower value on the library media program
than do elementary students and parents.
● Principals and teachers are most likely to see the
value in schoool libraries and librarians—for students.
They tend to turn elsewhere for their own needs.
● Many parents and students do not see librarians as
educated professionals who play an active role in
the academic community.
● Library media specialists and media centers are
perceived as more positive and professional terms—
but only when the library is equipped with
computers and other technology.
For more about the research conducted, go to www.ala.
org/aasl. Look under Professional Tools for @ your library ®
Campaign for School Libraries, or visit the School Library
Campaign section of the @ your library ® Web site and
click on Research.
Key Messages
The core messages for the campaign are:
School library media programs are critical to the learning
experience.
● School library media programs, where school library
media specialists collaborate with classroom teachers
to teach and integrate literature and information
skills into the curriculum, make a positive impact on
student achievement.
● School library media specialists work with classroom
teachers on cooperative and collaborative projects
to help students use a variety of resources, conduct
research and present their findings.
● School library media programs are integral to
achieving the mission of the school and are
supported fiscally and programmatically by the
educational community.
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● School library media programs are integrated within
the school technology plan and are integral to all
teaching and learning.
School library media specialists are crucial to the
teaching and learning process.
● School library media specialists teach skills and
strategies students need to learn and achieve.
● School library media specialists are partners in
educating students, developing curricula and
integrating resources into teaching and learning.
● School library media specialists teach students skills
they need to become effective users of ideas and
information.
● School library media specialists seek, select, evaluate
and utilize electronic resources and tools and
instruct teachers and students in how to use them.
School library media centers are places of opportunity.
● SLMCs are places where all students can strive for
and achieve success.
● SLMCs are places that provide quality collections in
print and online that support the curriculum and
address a variety of learning needs.
● SLMCs are places to develop a love of reading and
literature.
● SLMCs are places where school library media
specialists help students explore the world around
them through print and electronic media.
● SLMCs are places where students can work
individually or in small groups on research and
collaborative projects and share their learning.
Sample Message Sheet
Having a consistent message is key to a successful
awareness campaign. Think about what messages you
remember, and chances are they are the ones that have
been around the longest. Having a one-page message
sheet with your key message and three talking points
adapted for key audiences can help keep you and your
advocates “on message.” You will want to use these
messages as often and consistently as possible in
presentations, print, electronic and other communications.
You are encouraged to adapt this sample
message sheet for your library media program and to