School Library Systems – Advocacy Toolkit

Strategies for Parents

Parents who care about their children's education can take an active role in insuring essential opportunities for all children in New York. As taxpayers and members of the learning community, parents can be involved at many levels. Parental ADVOCACY can get the attention of legislators with genuine personal insight, strong commitment, and voting power.

You and Your Child

Convey messages about the value of learning and achievement in school to children.
Encourage children to aspire to success in school.
Encourage children to ask questions that are meaningful to them and to connect to big ideas.
Encourage children to read.
Encourage children to evaluate sources of information and use the best they can find. Extending to sources in other schools and other libraries is supported by School Library Systems.
Model the use of print and technological information tools.
READ.

You and Your School Library

Visit the school library and meet the school library media specialist.
Review key attributes of a quality school library program. ALA - "Does Your Child's School Library Measure Up?"
Express support for optimal program components and quality resources, including access to regional information tools through interlibrary loan. School Library Systems provide this service.
Speak out in favor of achieving and maintaining an integrated, curriculum centered, instructionally based school library program.
Speak out in favor of resource based learning experiences, instruction in information literacy.
Investigate and affirm the worth of electronic information tools such as databases and encyclopedias, often available through connections with School Library Systems and State funding.
The classroom teacher, building administrator, and Board of Education need to know about how you support for library services.

You and the Learning Community

Parent Teacher Associations, Building Partnership Teams and decision making committees need to see evidence that parents care about information literacy and access to a broad base of quality information tools.
Local leaders, policy makers, New York State Senators and Assemblymen, the governor can hear your voice through:
- Letters to regional decision makers.
- Phone calls
- E-mail
- Testimony form for your school library media specialist
- Local forums or hearings
- Letters to the editor in the local paper
- SAMPLE LETTER

FOUR BIG IDEAS FOR PARENTS

Studies in 8 states since 1998 prove that quality school libraries with teaching, collaborating school media specialists are the number one indicator of student achievement in the profile of a school.

The New York State Learning Standards embrace information literacy in all curricular areas. Students progress toward mastery of the information problem solving process: accessing, using, evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating information from print and electronic sources. Access to multiple libraries' resources is an expected outcome.

Learning in an information environment extends beyond the local school library to the shared holdings of all libraries in a geographic area. Public funds expended for the resources are optimized by sharing and greatly expanded ACCESS for students.

Learners who think, construct meaningful and relevant questions, and information resources, build an understanding of the world around them that supports new learning and competencies.

THE BIG 3 of Parent Advocacy: WHO, WHAT, WHEN

WHO

New York State Senators – Find yours by zip code. Addresses, phone numbers, E-mail addresses!
New York State Senate – Find by name of senator
New York State Assemblymen – Find yours by zip code or by name, addresses, phone numbers, E-mail addresses!
Senate Majority Leader - Joseph Bruno
Assembly Majority Leader - Sheldon Silver
Find your assemblyman in New York City
Find your senator in New York City
Find your representatives in Long Island
Governor Paterson - Address, e-mail link.
- Office of the Governor
- Governor David Paterson
- State Capitol
- Albany, New York 12224
Track legislation, status and progress of legislation
School Administrators
Local business leaders in the learning community who would support information literacy. Don't forget that the NYS Business Council was a major contributor to the initial Learning Standards reform.
Parent Teacher Association leaders.
Organizations within the school that promote quality learning opportunities.

WHAT

Letters, personal, anecdotal, sincere
E-mail
Phone calls
Sample projects
Testimony from teachers, learners that is genuine, immediate, specific and REAL
Personal messages if access to key decision makers is possible

WHEN

From September to January - focus on the Governor's office, Governor Paterson
From January on - focus on the legislature, assemblymen, senators
During the budget developing period from November through March
When a Call for Action is presented!
At public meetings when others are listening who might advocate as well
When a student, teacher, School Library Media Specialist succeeds because of SLS service
ANYTIME!


	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!		Strategies for Parents Parents who care about their children's education can take an active role in insuring essential opportunities for all children in New York. As taxpayers and members of the learning community, parents can be involved at many levels. Parental ADVOCACY can get the attention of legislators with genuine personal insight, strong commitment, and voting power. You and Your Child Convey messages about the value of learning and achievement in school to children. Encourage children to aspire to success in school. Encourage children to ask questions that are meaningful to them and to connect to big ideas. Encourage children to read. Encourage children to evaluate sources of information and use the best they can find. Extending to sources in other schools and other libraries is supported by School Library Systems. Model the use of print and technological information tools. READ. You and Your School Library Visit the school library and meet the school library media specialist. Review key attributes of a quality school library program. ALA - "Does Your Child's School Library Measure Up?" Express support for optimal program components and quality resources, including access to regional information tools through interlibrary loan. School Library Systems provide this service. Speak out in favor of achieving and maintaining an integrated, curriculum centered, instructionally based school library program. Speak out in favor of resource based learning experiences, instruction in information literacy. Investigate and affirm the worth of electronic information tools such as databases and encyclopedias, often available through connections with School Library Systems and State funding. The classroom teacher, building administrator, and Board of Education need to know about how you support for library services. You and the Learning Community Parent Teacher Associations, Building Partnership Teams and decision making committees need to see evidence that parents care about information literacy and access to a broad base of quality information tools. Local leaders, policy makers, New York State Senators and Assemblymen, the governor can hear your voice through: Letters to regional decision makers. Phone calls E-mail Testimony form for your school library media specialist Local forums or hearings Letters to the editor in the local paper SAMPLE LETTER FOUR BIG IDEAS FOR PARENTS Studies in 8 states since 1998 prove that quality school libraries with teaching, collaborating school media specialists are the number one indicator of student achievement in the profile of a school. The New York State Learning Standards embrace information literacy in all curricular areas. Students progress toward mastery of the information problem solving process: accessing, using, evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating information from print and electronic sources. Access to multiple libraries' resources is an expected outcome. Learning in an information environment extends beyond the local school library to the shared holdings of all libraries in a geographic area. Public funds expended for the resources are optimized by sharing and greatly expanded ACCESS for students. Learners who think, construct meaningful and relevant questions, and information resources, build an understanding of the world around them that supports new learning and competencies. THE BIG 3 of Parent Advocacy: WHO, WHAT, WHEN WHO New York State Senators – Find yours by zip code. Addresses, phone numbers, E-mail addresses! New York State Senate – Find by name of senator New York State Assemblymen – Find yours by zip code or by name, addresses, phone numbers, E-mail addresses! Senate Majority Leader - Joseph Bruno Assembly Majority Leader - Sheldon Silver Find your assemblyman in New York City Find your senator in New York City Find your representatives in Long Island Governor Paterson - Address, e-mail link. Office of the Governor Governor David Paterson State Capitol Albany, New York 12224 Track legislation, status and progress of legislation School Administrators Local business leaders in the learning community who would support information literacy. Don't forget that the NYS Business Council was a major contributor to the initial Learning Standards reform. Parent Teacher Association leaders. Organizations within the school that promote quality learning opportunities. WHAT Letters, personal, anecdotal, sincere E-mail Phone calls Sample projects Testimony from teachers, learners that is genuine, immediate, specific and REAL Personal messages if access to key decision makers is possible WHEN From September to January - focus on the Governor's office, Governor Paterson From January on - focus on the legislature, assemblymen, senators During the budget developing period from November through March When a Call for Action is presented! At public meetings when others are listening who might advocate as well When a student, teacher, School Library Media Specialist succeeds because of SLS service ANYTIME!

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