Here is a good way to look at advocacy. We need to get the message out that what we do is valuable and fits the goals and objectives already established by our funders!
This message was from the California Library K-12 listserv: "To build on where the money is and goes....I've found that dialogues are more productive when driven by prioritizing outcomes first and funding second. The funding justifications for school libraries are about matching the library program to district-wide objectives & goals: raising test scores, increasing literacy, mentoring/staff development for teachers, decreasing student to teacher ratios when TLs collaborate, college readiness, etc. etc. When districts choose to invest in specific areas, show how the library program accomplishes them. One of our strengths is adapting quicker to educational changes than classrooms. There has to be a redistribution of the dwindling dollars and new ways of delivering public education. The funding deciders expect pleas for dollars. Change the dynamic by being on their side to problem-solve for the good of the whole. Susan Sheldon Teacher Librarian Bernardo Heights Middle School Mesa Verde Middle School Poway Unified [email protected] On Mar 1, 2009, at 8:49 PM, [email protected] wrote: What is also important is to be aware of how much money there is and where it goes. In our personal lives, we must cut luxuries in tough times. So must businesses and services. It is amazing to find out where the money goes...I don't think a lot of people are really aware of some expenditures that could be cut without hurting one single student. Students are the most important consideration. I urge everyone to get involved and be proactive. Like Megan does, go to board meetings. Promote your programs. Get students and parents involved. Go to any district meeting that is open to the public. Support all your teachers. And most of all, support what is best for students!!!" Susan Dubin AJL President --- Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
