Grassroots Library Advocacy

Grassroots Library Advocacy PDF

Author: Lauren Comito

Publisher: American Library Association

Published: 2012-08-09

Total Pages: 83

ISBN-13: 0838994989

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When properly harnessed, public engagement can be the most powerful force of all for library advocacy.

Political Advocacy for School Librarians

Political Advocacy for School Librarians PDF

Author: Ann Dutton Ewbank

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2019-01-15

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13: 144086389X

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School librarians are prepared to be leaders and can use their strengths to advocate for policy that benefits school libraries. This book will teach you how to engage elected officials to effect change that extends to your library. Education and information policy has a direct impact on school libraries and is shaped by decisions at the local, state, and federal levels. School librarians are positioned uniquely to leverage their inside knowledge of effective school library programs to make a difference in education through civic engagement; however, a thorough understanding of both the explicit and "hidden" rules of government is necessary to be an effective advocate. This compact book serves as a guide to advocating for effective programs, filling a gap in the practitioner literature regarding the policies that affect school library programs. Drawing on research-based best practices and the author's experience as the chairman of the ALA Legislation Committee and in political advocacy, this book explains the political process through concrete examples of both success and failure and analyzes these examples to show how librarians can move education policy in a positive direction.

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Author: Andrew Wesolek

Publisher: Pacific University Press

Published: 2018-10

Total Pages: 544

ISBN-13: 9781945398797

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For many of us, the drive to affect positive change--however vague or idiosyncratic our sense of this might be--has guided our work in higher education. We champion the pursuit of a college degree because few endeavors can match it in terms of advancing a person's economic mobility (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner, and Yagan; 2017). Despite recent debates about the value of a college degree (Pew Research Center, 2017), the opportunities and financial stability awarded to those with college degrees remain apparent when they are compared to peers who have only graduated high school (Pew Research Center, 2014). And while more Americans have a college degree than ever before (Ryan and Bauman, 2016), access to a formal, post-secondary education continues to be elusive for some. Indeed, over the last ten years, analysts have projected that the cost of attending college would keep 2.4 million low-to-moderate income, college-qualified high school graduates from completing a college degree (Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, 2006). During that same period, college students in the United States saw expenses related to tuition and fees increase by 63 percent, school housing costs (excluding board) increase by 51 percent, textbook prices increase by 88 percent (Bureau of Labor, 2016). Because few students can afford a college education by salary alone, 44.2 million Americans have sought financial aid via student loans. As a result, total student loan debt is now topping $1.45 trillion in the United States (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 2017), and student loan delinquency rates are averaging 11.2 percent (Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 2017). The burden of a student's financial decisions extends beyond the mere individual: society will inevitably carry the weight of this debt for years to come.

Activism and the School Librarian

Activism and the School Librarian PDF

Author: Deborah D. Levitov

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2012-06-12

Total Pages: 172

ISBN-13:

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This book provides practical strategies and step-by-step plans for developing advocacy initiatives for school libraries. School libraries provide an essential service to the community, but without proper funding few libraries stand a chance to maintain the resources they offer—or to survive at all. School librarians can play an instrumental role in the survival of their programs. This how-to book provides school librarians with effective advocacy and activism strategies for promoting and improving their library programs. Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival offers straightforward, practical approaches for creating advocacy programs. This guidebook examines the characteristics for becoming an advocate, explores the meaning of advocacy/activism as an effort that is ongoing and proactive, and provides the steps required for initiating a successful program. The contributors address the various types of advocacy and activism, including legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels; school and district level programs; and community-based initiatives. The book includes expert advice from successful advocates and provides helpful reproducible tools.

Activism and the School Librarian

Activism and the School Librarian PDF

Author: Deborah D. Levitov

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2012-06-12

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13: 1610691881

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This book provides practical strategies and step-by-step plans for developing advocacy initiatives for school libraries. School libraries provide an essential service to the community, but without proper funding few libraries stand a chance to maintain the resources they offer—or to survive at all. School librarians can play an instrumental role in the survival of their programs. This how-to book provides school librarians with effective advocacy and activism strategies for promoting and improving their library programs. Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival offers straightforward, practical approaches for creating advocacy programs. This guidebook examines the characteristics for becoming an advocate, explores the meaning of advocacy/activism as an effort that is ongoing and proactive, and provides the steps required for initiating a successful program. The contributors address the various types of advocacy and activism, including legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels; school and district level programs; and community-based initiatives. The book includes expert advice from successful advocates and provides helpful reproducible tools.

Being a Teen Library Services Advocate

Being a Teen Library Services Advocate PDF

Author: Linda W. Braun

Publisher: American Library Association

Published: 2012-05-31

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 1555707955

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Here are YALSA's answers to what advocacy is and isn't, what it takes to be an effective advocate for teens, how to practice advocacy skills and techniques, how to be a day-to-day advocate for teens, and how to set up a succesful long-term library teen services advocacy initiative. Front-line public and school librarians working in young adult services will find the volume useful as they will be able to use the information included every day to successfully advocate with administrators, colleagues, community members, and government officials. You get examples of advocacy campaigns from inside and outside of the library world that demonstrate basic principles of successful advocacy efforts, and you will learn to navigate the barriers of time and funding.

Lobbying for Public and School Libraries

Lobbying for Public and School Libraries PDF

Author: Richard Sweeney Halsey

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13:

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Ever wonder how major league lobbies (e.g., conservationists, gun owners, seniors, anti-tax groups, and health care industry) gain legislator's attention? How grassroots groups get started? Would you like to learn how to increase credibility and clout with your communities, boards, local officials, and state legislators? If so, look no further, for here is the first comprehensive lobbying handbook for advocates of public and school libraries and information services. Among the topics covered: an overview of public interest and library lobbying from 1808 to the present day; the lobbying activities of major organizations and pioneering advocates; detailed advice on planning, organizing, and building legislative agendas; game plans for waging and winning political support; how to organize a library legislation day, posting and publicizing voting records; campaign war chest contributions; the preparation and delivery of testimony; and the proper handling of communications with newspapers and the electronic media. Also included are field reports from successful school and public library activists, and a listing of thirty critical issues facing library and information services in the 21st century. An essential guide for all citizen activists and professional librarians who want to defend, protect, and improve library and information services during economic downturns as well as during "boom" times.

Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion PDF

Author: Corliss Lee

Publisher:

Published: 2022-04

Total Pages: 492

ISBN-13: 9780838939109

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"[T]he diversity of perspectives presented within this publication will build on the reader's existing knowledge to bring nuances and alternative approaches to these enduring, seemingly intractable challenges within the LIS profession and within society." --from the Foreword by Mark A. Puente Academic library workers often make use of systemic, bureaucratic, political, collegial, and symbolic dimensions of organizational behavior to achieve their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, but many are also doing the crucial work of pushing back at the structures surrounding them in ways small and large. Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion captures emerging practices that academic libraries and librarians can use to create more equitable and representative institutions. 19 chapters are divided into 6 sections: Recruitment, Retention and Promotion Professional Development Leveraging Collegial Networks Reinforcing the Message Organizational Change Assessment Chapters cover topics including active diversity recruitment strategies; inclusive hiring; gendered ageism; librarians with disabilities; diversity and inclusion with student workers; residencies and retention; creating and implementing a diversity strategic plan; cultural competency training; libraries' responses to Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action; and accountability and assessment. Authors provide practical guiding principles, effective practices, and sample programs and training. Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion explores how academic libraries have leveraged and deployed their institutions' resources to effect DEI improvements while working toward implementing systemic solutions. It provides means and inspiration for continuing to try to hire, retain, and promote the change we want to see in the world regardless of existing structures and systems, and ways to improve those structures and systems for the future.

Citizen's Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials

Citizen's Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials PDF

Author: Bradford Fitch

Publisher: The Capitol Net Inc

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 119

ISBN-13: 1587332329

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One part research studies, one part interviews and focus groups, and one part experience, this text provides practical guidance on preparing for and meeting with elected officials and staff, writing effective letters and e-mails to elected officials, and strategies for influencing legislators face to face.