School Library Systems – Advocacy Toolkit

Rationale for SLS Funding

School Library Systems make CONNECTIONS!

School Library Systems of New York CONNECT:

Students and teachers to shared, quality information resources
Students and teachers to online databases and encyclopedias
School Library Media Specialists across a region for professional awareness and development
School library media specialists with teachers optimizing collaborative curriculum design
Regional school libraries with each other and public, academic and special libraries
Resource based learning activities with ACCESS beyond the single school library
New York State's learners with information literacy standards
Learners with SUCCESS

Four fundamental BIG IDEAS about SLS:

Educational reform and technological innovation CONNECT through the services of School Library Systems.

Equity and success for every child are enhanced every day by access to information resources made possible by School Library Systems.

New York's Learning Standards embrace resource based learning, information problem solving, real world connections, life long learning tied to accessing, using, synthesizing, evaluating and communicating information.

Public funding expended for SLS services is optimized through:

Sharing of regional and statewide resources
Cost effective access to databases and technology
Training and support that enhances curriculum and instruction
Unique connections to inaccessible resources.

Further Background to Share

In New York, the Learning Standards generated a reform that redirected many areas of teaching and learning. Turning to effective new dynamics, the Learning Standards truly transform the role of students, the contexts of new learning, and the connections inherent in understanding the world. The reforms included several important strategies that depended on access to quality school library media programs and quality resources:

Active learning environments to engage students
Emphasis on meaning, relevance and choices
Emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving
Access and use of information resources
Expanded literacy (25 books per year)
Enhanced student achievement which has a high correlation to instruction in information literacy and access to quality information resources
Connections beyond the classroom to the real world
Real world processes in learning activities, such as finding data to support a viewpoint
Authentic products for learning activities, such as group presentations that synthesize understandings
Authentic assessments based on what a student CAN DO to demonstrate new learning

All of these lead to inquiry based learning in the school library.
All of these link libraries with student achievement.
Fourteen recent studies in states across the country have demonstrated the degree to which information literacy and problem solving, based in the school library, is the NUMBER ONE INDICATOR of STUDENT SUCCESS!

INVESTING in School Library Systems is investing in learners, achievement, real world connections, thinking and ACCESS for all.

ACCESS to quality information resources and technology is the foundation for this success, in conjunction with the instructional role of professional school library media specialists. The role of the school library media specialist includes teaching students to select and access the BEST information tools for any information problem. Evaluating and synthesizing the best resources results in quality products and student achievement.

Two primary tools for access to information in the school library are also supported by School Library Systems:

Databases and other online information resources
Online public access catalogs which connect students to local and shared regional library holdings

The School Library System:

Expands exponentially the opportunities of learners and teachers to access quality resources
Maximizes public funds by facilitating sharing, a premise underlying the creation of library systems
Supports collaboration that leads to student success.

PLUS - THE LEARNING CONNECTION!

Learners build understanding from inflexible knowledge by seeing connections, by relating, questioning, exploring, expanding, synthesizing, evaluating, sharing and producing. The stage for so much of this passage is the school library. The tools for so much of this passage are quality information resources. Information Power, Building Partnerships for Learning by ALA and AECT emphasizes three core principles for increasing student success in the greater learning community:

constructivist method in which the student posits questions and finds individual meaning
disciplined inquiry in which the learner solves problems with information resources of the highest quality
connections beyond the classroom where real world links, processes, authentic products and the greater learning community are an integral framework for learning.


	School Library Systems - Advocacy Toolkit “It is not enough to care. You must act.” “In the budget equation, remember all learners.”


ALERT - Be part of the Sunflower Avalanche! ADVOCATE NOW! Sunflower Action Plan for School Library Systems 2008 ADVOCACY - Getting the ACTION started Introduction What are the Issues? Budget Hearing on Elementary and Secondary Education Contact NY Decision Makers How can I frame my message? School Libraries Do Make a Difference to KIDS Outcomes 21st Century Skills, the Workforce and School Libraries System Director's Legislative Visits Resources Brochures & Flyers Strategies Testimony Forms & Samples Advocacy Links AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner Survey Results of School Libraries Count!		Rationale for SLS Funding School Library Systems make CONNECTIONS! School Library Systems of New York CONNECT: Students and teachers to shared, quality information resources Students and teachers to online databases and encyclopedias School Library Media Specialists across a region for professional awareness and development School library media specialists with teachers optimizing collaborative curriculum design Regional school libraries with each other and public, academic and special libraries Resource based learning activities with ACCESS beyond the single school library New York State's learners with information literacy standards Learners with SUCCESS Four fundamental BIG IDEAS about SLS: Educational reform and technological innovation CONNECT through the services of School Library Systems. Equity and success for every child are enhanced every day by access to information resources made possible by School Library Systems. New York's Learning Standards embrace resource based learning, information problem solving, real world connections, life long learning tied to accessing, using, synthesizing, evaluating and communicating information. Public funding expended for SLS services is optimized through: Sharing of regional and statewide resources Cost effective access to databases and technology Training and support that enhances curriculum and instruction Unique connections to inaccessible resources. Further Background to Share In New York, the Learning Standards generated a reform that redirected many areas of teaching and learning. Turning to effective new dynamics, the Learning Standards truly transform the role of students, the contexts of new learning, and the connections inherent in understanding the world. The reforms included several important strategies that depended on access to quality school library media programs and quality resources: Active learning environments to engage students Emphasis on meaning, relevance and choices Emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving Access and use of information resources Expanded literacy (25 books per year) Enhanced student achievement which has a high correlation to instruction in information literacy and access to quality information resources Connections beyond the classroom to the real world Real world processes in learning activities, such as finding data to support a viewpoint Authentic products for learning activities, such as group presentations that synthesize understandings Authentic assessments based on what a student CAN DO to demonstrate new learning All of these lead to inquiry based learning in the school library. All of these link libraries with student achievement. Fourteen recent studies in states across the country have demonstrated the degree to which information literacy and problem solving, based in the school library, is the NUMBER ONE INDICATOR of STUDENT SUCCESS! INVESTING in School Library Systems is investing in learners, achievement, real world connections, thinking and ACCESS for all. ACCESS to quality information resources and technology is the foundation for this success, in conjunction with the instructional role of professional school library media specialists. The role of the school library media specialist includes teaching students to select and access the BEST information tools for any information problem. Evaluating and synthesizing the best resources results in quality products and student achievement. Two primary tools for access to information in the school library are also supported by School Library Systems: Databases and other online information resources Online public access catalogs which connect students to local and shared regional library holdings The School Library System: Expands exponentially the opportunities of learners and teachers to access quality resources Maximizes public funds by facilitating sharing, a premise underlying the creation of library systems Supports collaboration that leads to student success. PLUS - THE LEARNING CONNECTION! Learners build understanding from inflexible knowledge by seeing connections, by relating, questioning, exploring, expanding, synthesizing, evaluating, sharing and producing. The stage for so much of this passage is the school library. The tools for so much of this passage are quality information resources. Information Power, Building Partnerships for Learning by ALA and AECT emphasizes three core principles for increasing student success in the greater learning community: constructivist method in which the student posits questions and finds individual meaning disciplined inquiry in which the learner solves problems with information resources of the highest quality connections beyond the classroom where real world links, processes, authentic products and the greater learning community are an integral framework for learning.

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