Advocacy Plan

Target Audience

The target audience for this Advocacy Plan will be staff, not only new staff that have

entered the district this school year but the current staff as well. Arthur County Schools is a very

small, rural school. K-12 we have approximately 125 students and around 20 staff members, this

means a lot of various things for our school district. One major factor is the impact of staff, not

only the impact but the several roles that are owned by staff as well. In the past, I feel that the

library and media services have taken a back seat within our school. Due to that, it has allowed

for the perfect timing in the creation of this Advocacy Plan. This year, we have three new

teachers. One a first-year teacher and the other two new to our district. Not only will this

Advocacy Plan be beneficial to them, but to the remaining staff members as well. With the

transition of a newly retired librarian to me, in my current position I see no better time to create a

rapport with the teachers through this Advocacy Plan. According to Levitov, “school library

media specialists’ confidence, initiative, communication skills and leadership qualities were

important factors for those who were active players in the total school curriculum and

instructional program” (Levitov, 2021, p. 23). Through this, I found initiative to create this

Advocacy Plan and become an important factor in our whole school once again.

The use of staff morning meetings to begin addressing the topic and Google Forms

allowed me to gather insight from the staff and create the needs and goals of this Advocacy Plan.

The first thing that became very apparent was the general consensus to provide the best

education for the students as possible at Arthur County Schools. All staff have the desire to serve

our students to the best of their ability, utilizing resources and discovering new ways to meet the

needs of all their students. Kramer and Diekman discussed, “planning strategically means finding
out what matters most to the teachers and administrators” (Kramer & Diekman, 2010, p. 28) and

this is exactly what was being collected through my efforts. One very common factor from

teachers included the desire to meet the educational needs of all students. For them, that meant

the high functioning, gifted students and students with learning needs had curriculum deficits.

How can the library assist with this area? The other overall insight that was gained was the desire

to know exactly how the library and media resources could be incorporated or better utilized in

the classroom by teachers. What would that look like, how would it work? The teachers were

willing to learn more about what that would mean for Arthur County Schools. They were very

open to the idea, but unsure of what all it would entail. The unawareness of the topic meant that

general guidelines and procedures were in need, getting the staff familiar with the library and its

resources. Items to be addressed included the layout of the library, information on collections of

books, periodicals, magazines, audio media, visual media, and online databases. Along with that

would come procedures of the library and general guidelines.

Goals of the Advocacy Plan

1. To familiarize staff with the library and the layout of collections in the library.

2. To introduce staff to the functions within the library, such as the collections, online

databases, visual media, and various resources within the library.

3. To provide insight on curriculum availability for high ability learners and learners who

need additional support.

4. Encourage collaboration of instruction with the librarian and for each class to use the

library weekly.

Benefits to the target group: Benefits to the target group will include the fact that the

relationship between teachers and the librarian will be established and strengthened. They will
know that they can collaborate with the librarian and have additional resources for times they

may need support. The use of the library in a more consistent form will result in additional

curriculum materials and familiarity for times when they need resources. This will allow for the

needs of all students to be meant, not only that but students will also be building relationships

too. There will be an opportunity for students to read across curriculums and find new interests

within reading.

Benefits to the school library: Some benefits will look familiar from the target group to

the library program, for instance, the relationships built will be a positive for both groups. This

will serve as a strength for the library as well. An additional benefit will be the fact that there

will be able to be a more specific assessment completed by the librarian on needs of materials

based on use and interest. This will result in the collections being most suitable for staff and

students as a whole. The staff and students will also both learn to think of the library and

librarian as an active part of the school. They will utilize them as a resource and more regularly

use the library. Students will learn that the library is not only for checking out books, but that it

is a resource for their learning and education. Due to the use of the library by staff and students,

there will be a buy-in created through the rapport and environment which will result in other

stakeholders’ investment as well.

Activities for Advocacy

Activities Goals Addressed Person(s) Materials

Responsible Needed/Reasoning
Staff Orientation: At #1, #2, #4 Mrs. Vasa A library manual for
the beginning of the each staff member,
year during staff see Index 1. Apple
professional TV to present
development days, an information to staff.
orientation will take
place over the library.
Needs and #2, #3 Mrs. Vasa Google Form for Mrs.
Technology Survey Staff Vasa to send out
survey and staff to
complete.

Technology #1, #2, #3 Mrs. Vasa, Weebly page created

Information Base Technology Personal to provide all
created for the information needed
school’s website. about the library.
Presentation
information, data
base, Google Sites,
Renaissance, Follet,
etc.

Communication #3, #4 Mrs. Vasa, Staff This will provide for

Counters, the an update for all staff,
librarian will send it will include the
out bi-weekly emails library schedule, hot
to staff to provide topics of what is
new information that trending and new,
may be helpful and collaboration ideas,
allow for insight and helpful
from staff on possible tips/information for
needs/wants from the library and staff
library. relationships/uses.

Host a Book Fair at #4 Mrs. Vasa A mid-year/holiday

Christmas Book Fair will be held
with specific
intentions of creating
a theme for teachers.
Wish lists will be
created by teachers
and provide for
additional materials to
be bought for
teachers.
Evaluation of #3, #4 Mrs. Vasa, Teachers This will provide
teachers utilizing the insight on the
library and how. collaboration of the
librarian and teachers.
If there are teachers
not utilizing the
library, the librarian
will reach out to them

Librarian attending #3, #4
all staff meetings and
professional
development days.
Marketing
Ideas
Create the Library Manual to
be given and made available
to all staff members. See
Index 1 for items to be
included.
Invite and flier/message to be
sent out to all staff prior to
beginning of the year staff
meeting where library
orientation will take place.
Create top 5 staff reading
picks within invite and offer
incentives for those who
respond to the invite with
their favorite reads.
Create an interactive bulletin
board that can provide not
only information regarding
library for staff, but
information for students as
well. Encouraging use of the
library and materials.
Monthly tidbit fliers to be
shared among staff through
to encourage the use
of the library.
Mrs. Vasa Through making
presence known and
becoming an active
part in all staff
meetings/development
the relationship
between staff and
librarian will only
continue to flourish.
The library will
become an active part
of learning and the
school.
Goals Addressed Contacts
#1, #2 Resources for printing
manual, Librarian, and
Administration.
#1, #2, #4 Mrs. Vasa and all staff within
Arthur County Schools
#2, #3, #4 Mrs. Vasa and
Paraprofessional
#3, #4 Professional library
resources, Mrs. Vasa, and
 email regarding new Administration
information within education,
libraries, and resources across
the country.

Index 1

The following information will be included in the Library Manual:

-Introductory/Welcome Message
-District Mission Statement
-District Library Mission Statement
-ALA Library Bill of Rights
-ALA & AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learners
-District Selection Policy
-Services offered to staff and students
-Map/Orientation of library
-Frequently Asked Questions
-Suggestions to promote literacy across the curriculum
-A list of technology available in the library
-Copies of planning forms for collaborative teaching
-Copies of forms requesting materials, technology, etc.
-Summary of critical copyright issues

Adapted from (Braxton, 2007, p. 55-56).

References
Braxton, B. (2007). The library book. Teacher Librarian. 34, 55-56.

Kramer, P. K., & Diekman, L. (2010). Evidence = Assessment = Advocacy. Teacher

Librarian, 37(3), 27–30.

Levitov, D. (2021). A History of School Library Advocacy and the lack of True Understanding
Translated into Practice, Part 1. Teacher Librarian. 48(5), 22-25.