What Can the Library Do For You?
Marketing and Advocacy for School Library Programs
Students as Stakeholders
Students are the core of the library program. All programming should have a direct impact on student learning. As students share their positive library experiences with parents, teachers, and other adults that care for them, this interaction can begin to influence those stakeholders.
Library Drive-Thru
A weekly mobile library cart drives through the cafeteria during lunch. Students can checkout or return books and have conversations with the librarian.
Displays
Bulletin boards and book displays are key in encouraging students to read.
Sponsor Clubs and Activities
Sponsor clubs and activities, chaperone school events and other special programs to build relationships with students, parents, and school staff.
School Staff as Stakeholders
Board of Education members, Superintendents, school administration, teachers, and other school staff members are all integral stakeholders in the library program. Mission statements, branding, data walls, and collaboration are examples of necessary elements for connecting and sustaining patronage of these stakeholders.
Data Wall
Transparency for the library program is essential in order to gain and retain respect for the program. Post any statistics that can show evidence of the impact on students.
Collaboration
Working with teachers and other school staff provides a great opportunity to advocate for the library program. Collaborate on a unit of study, pull resources together for a classroom project, open the library as a site to host special events and meetings for the school,
Leadership
Taking a leadership role in the school will provide excellent opportunities to network and advocate for the library program.
Community Members as Stakeholders
The community which includes parents, grandparents, guardians, Parent-Teacher Association, booster organizations, alumni associations, local businesses and churches, public library employees, and other interested adults are all powerful stakeholders for the library program. It is crucial to endear the library program to these persons through your work with students.
Communicate
Find interesting ways to communicate with the community stakeholders: write articles for school newsletters, district newsletters, newspaper and local media, create social media visability through twitter, facebook and instagram, library webpage, school marquee.
Participate
Find opportunities to participate in the community: local fairs, sporting events, community drives. Be a participating member of the local community not just an employee of the school.
Invite
Make the library a welcome space for all stakeholders. Ideas for library space usage include: corporate meetings/trainings, school district professional development, retreats and meetings, school organization meetings, team practice and matches such as Quick Recall and Chess, club meetings, host special events for the school such as college fairs and literacy nights.