Toolkit

• Invite the public librarians into your school for summer reading or other
literary and literacy events.
• Consider hosting a One Book One Community event for students, staff,
parents, and other community members.
• Invite community members and local leaders to come to the school library
and read to students.
• Identify community organizations and businesses in your local area that
share some of your program’s goals; partner with these organizations and
businesses for programs, projects, and cross-promotion.
• Write articles for your local newspaper or local magazine to publicize your
school library program’s impact on student achievement.
• Use social-media tools to keep abreast of school library trends and to
network with your community.
• Commit to memory a one-minute prepared elevator speech about school
library programs’ importance for academic achievement in every school
and look for opportunities to deliver the speech.
• Reach out to the local affiliate chapter of your state professional organization.
If one doesn’t exist, then consider establishing a chapter.
• Connect with other school libraries or districts in your area to expand
professional learning communities. Consider partnering for shared
professional development opportunities.
State Level: The state level is deeply important because this is where library
policies and budgets are developed. Many state representatives are slashing school
library funding, a situation that is a tragedy for students. You can help enact change
by ensuring your state-level stakeholders know the positive impact that school
libraries have on teaching and learning.
• With your local public librarian, schedule a visit to your state legislator.
Your partnership will illustrate and emphasize the unique values and
services each program brings to the community.
• Become an active member in your statewide professional school librarian
association. Attend board meetings and offer to serve on committees, and
connect with your AASL Affiliate Assembly representative.
• Attend your state school librarian conference and consider submitting a
proposal to present a session at a future conference.
• Present on AASL tools and resources to stakeholders at a state or national
education conference. Non-school library audiences may include
administrators, classroom teachers, educational technology specialists,
reading specialists, or public and academic librarians, etc.)
• Write an article for your state library association’s print or electronic
publication.
4 Leadership