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The resources on this page are designed to help NCSLMA members fight for and maintain library services and positions that impact North Carolina's young people. Keeping in mind that the best form of advocacy is to provide quality, far reaching services that impact student learning, the resources on this page are divided into three sections.
- Advocacy & Governance Team
- Take Action
- Research and Other Advocacy Resources
Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet to combat a tough economy and the drastic cuts to education that have followed. However, by providing quality, impactful services and embedding themselves into the instructional programs at their schools, North Carolina's school librarians can (and do!) draw a clear and distinct line between themselves and student learning. The purpose of these resources is to help North Carolina school librarians draw that line.
You can always advocate for libraries by calling or emailing Congress. Find out how!
Advocacy & Governance Team
Crystal Joyce, Advocacy & Governance Director, crystaljoyce@ncslma.org
- Lucy Wilcox, Legislative Coordinator, lucywilcox@ncslma.org
- Lila Morel, Advocacy Coordinator, lilamorel@ncslma.org
- April Dawkins, Intellectual Freedom Coordinator, aprildawkins@ncslma.org
Take Action
Reports and Articles
How to advocate at the school, district, state, and federal levels
Ten action steps for frontline school advocacy
Annual reports as an advocacy tool
Annual reports-it's that time of year
How to create a vision and mission statement; Examples
Report a book challenge / censorship; challenge reporting tools and resources
Contact your representatives
NC & National Legislative Information (Contact Your Reps)
Scripts
Scripts for inviting a legislator or school board member to your school library, etc.
Infographics and posters
School librarians aren't just NICE to have
How librarians can partner with administrators and advocate for students
Strong school libraries build strong school libraries
School libraries and student achievement
A trained librarian is a powerful search engine with a heart
Make the case for school librarians
School librarians transform learning
What a school library can do for you
110 Things Kids Will Miss If They Don't Have a School Librarian in Their School
School library advocacy brochures
Marketing points
Librarians are Ready (Jennifer LaGarde)
School Library Media (NCDPI)
School Libraries Transform (AASL)
Take Action for Libraries (ALA)
How to Speak Administrator (SLJ)
Support
Toolkit for Promoting School Library Programs
AASL Position Statements
Appropriate Staffing for School Libraries
Definition for Effective School Library Program
Instructional Role of the School Librarian
Position Statement on Flexible Scheduling
Position Statement on the Role of the School Librarian in Reading Development
Position Statement on the School Librarian's Role in Reading.
Research & Other Advocacy Resources
North Carolina Specific Research
What happens to literacy rates as librarians disappear? by Amy Doss Helms, The Charlotte Observor, November 9, 2015.
An essential connection: How quality school library media programs improve student achievement in North Carolina by Burgin, R., & Bracy, P.B., 2003.
Impact of school librarians on elementary student achievement (Doctoral dissertation) by Wine, L., 2020.
National Research & Other State Studies
Why school librarians matter: What years of research tells us by Keith Curry Lance & Debra E. Kachel, March 26, 2018. When schools have high-quality library programs and librarians who share their expertise with the entire school community, student achievement gets a boost.
The Library Research Service’s Compilation of School Library Impact Studies by Colorodo State Library. Your reference point for library data and evaluation.
The Future of Delaware School Libraries A Summary of the School Libraries Master Plan by Partnership for Public Education, 2017.
The Washington state school library study: Certified teacher-librarians, library quality and student achievement in Washington state public schools by Elizabeth Coker, Washington Library Media Association, April 2015.
2018 Status Report on Indiana School Libraries by Indiana Library Federation, 2018.
The Massachusetts School Library Study: Equity and Access for Students in the Commonwealth by Massachusetts Special Commission on School Library Services. The Legislative Special Commission on School Library Services in Massachusetts was created by the Massachusetts Legislature in July 2014 to look at equity of access to school library programs in our public schools.
How Libraries Transform Schools by Contributing to Student Success: Evidence Linking South Carolina School Libraries and PASS & HSAP Results; Phase 2 Results by Keith Curry Lance, Bill Schwarz and Marcia J. Rodney, June 2014.
An Investigation into the Leadership Behaviors of School Librarians: A Qualitative Study by Pamela C. Harland, Plymouth State University, November 20, 2019.
Articles
The Decline and Evolution of the School Librarian - Schools are losing libraries, and this article discusses this fact. This is an article by Hallie Goldin in CityLab, Sept. 4, 2019.
School Library Support Staff: A Vital Role. Declining Numbers - An article by April Witteveen in School Library Journal, October 1, 2018.
Schools See a Steep Drop in Librarians - this is an article from Education Week by By Sarah D. Sparks and Alex Harwin, May 16, 2018.
School Librarian, Where Art Thou? An article by Keith Curry Lance in School Library Journal, March 16, 2018.
Changing Times: School Librarian Staffing Status - an article by Debra E. Kachel and Keith Curry Lance in Teacher Librarian, April, 2018. Marked losses in school librarian positions.
Library/Media Centers in U.S. Public Schools: Growth, Staffing, and Resources An executive study for the NEA by Kathy D. Tuck, Ph.D.and Dwight R. Holmes, Ph.D. 2016. This study is based on data collected between 2000 and 2013.
School Library Statistics - From the National Center for Educational Statistics. These are dated.
General School Library Statistics Prior to 2018 - This is a continuation of the above list.
Other Research to Support School Libraries (scheduling, literacy)
School Libraries Work! A Compendium of Research Supporting the Effectiveness of School Libraries (2016 Edition) - Scholastic, Inc.
The Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement: Exploring the School Library Impact Studies - Library Research Service
Linking librarians, inquiry learning, and information literacy - Keith Curry Lance and Leslie K. Maniotes
Professional learning facilitators in 1:1 program implementation: Technology coaches or school librarians? by M. Lewis, School Libraries Worldwide, 22 (2), 13-23. (need to find public access)
The access gap: Poverty and characteristics of school library media centers by Shana Pribesh, Karen Gavigan, and Gail Dickinson, 2011.
Reading levels unfairly label learners, say critics. And then there's the research. by Wayne D'Orio, February 3, 2020. School Library Journal.
Leading the conversation against book ratings and "red flags": A call to action for English teachers. by Gretchen Oltman, August 22, 2018.
Advocacy Resources from AASL & Other States
AASL AdvocacyIntellectual Freedom Resources
Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored.
NCSLMA also maintains a Book Challenge Form. Use this form to report or request help with a book challenge.
Access to Resources & Services in the School Library (ALA)
Children's Internet Protection Act
Intellectual Freedom: Issues & Resources (ALA)
School Libraries Matter: The Changing Role of the School Librarian
When school librarians have the freedom to do good work, it is transformative. Support our school librarians who are making a difference every day in our schools. School librarians matter!
Administrators on School Librarians Leading Collaboration
Superintendents and principals agree that school librarians lead the way for collaboration in schools. School librarians often set the tone for collaboration in the school. It is a collaboration which creates that positivity amongst school culture. Teacher librarians can also support other teachers to think outside of the box. We hope you will share this video and this message widely in your professional learning community and on your social media networks. School librarians are leaders!
Principals Know: School Librarians are the Heart of the School
Dr. Teresa Starrett and Dr. Judi Moreillon proudly announce the launch of their crowdsourced video called "Principals Know: School Librarians are the Heart of the School". We hope you will share this work and this message widely in your professional learning community and on your social media networks.
Preferred Vendors 2020-2021
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