School Library Advocacy Plan

Jessica Gruntorad

Target Group
The target audience for this plan is the building principal. The goal of this advocacy plan is to
guide productive dialogue and planning strategies with the school principal in order to ensure
positive and supportive relationships, it will ensure that the school library is a place of
progressive learning, as well as improvement and success in student achievement. This plan
will outline specific activities for collaborating and fostering a safe and productive learning
environment in the school library.
“Teacher-librarians need to become a part of
the school learning conversation” (Kramer,
2010, p. 28). Therefore, the administration is the
target audience for this plan.
Specifically working towards the District CIP
goal for literacy, the librarian has developed
three goals that will ensure the library and
school librarian are being utilized in a way that
meet the school’s needs. The library budget,
co-teaching philosophy, and presence in the
community should reflect these ideas - which
are described in the goals below.

Goal 1: The Lexington High School Library will expand its budget to include funds to add to
the collection of specific genres including Spanish language books, children’s books, and
graphic novels.

Activity: Collect data by tracking checkout numbers

Activity: Create a report illustrating the number of Spanish speaking students compared to the
number of books in the collection

Activity: Research and/or survey

student interest in graphic novels

Need: The need for more funding

reflects the growing number of
Spanish speaking students at
Lexington High School. Our
2021-2022 District Report Card
shows that 39.9% of our students at
LPS are English Language Learners.
In addition, 71.6% of students report
their home language as something
other than English. This is a great opportunity to use library resources to encourage literacy in
native languages. “Literacy instruction in the native language can have positive effects on
literacy and language achievement in English among ELs” (Goldenberg, 2020, p. S132). The
increased funding will allow a Spanish language collection in the library. This section of the
library will be genrefied “for creating easier access for students instead of being shelved by the
author's last name” (Buck).

Connections: The librarian will continue to track library book usage as well as personally
interview students about their interests. The librarian will also pursue connections with
classroom teachers to find out where students could further benefit in their classroom.

Marketing: If there is an immediate lack of funding, plans can be made to adjust future
budgets; moreover, the school librarian could seek funds from outside organizations to grow
the school library collections. United by Culture and other community based groups may be
willing to donate to growing our Spanish language collection and children’s collection.

https://www.unitedbyculturemedia.org/

Goal 2: The Lexington High School librarian

will offer opportunities for co-teaching with
staff that meet shared foundational
standards.

Activity: New teacher orientation to library

services

Activity: Department meeting planning

Activity: Newsletter for teachers to promote

availability of services and resources

Need: In order to solidify a role in student

achievement, the school librarian must
establish a partnership with classroom
teachers. Advocacy is important to the
school library program in order to provide
evidence of the work we are doing to
promote student achievement (Kramer,
2010). The library program can help
teachers fulfill shared standards.

Connections: Making connections with new

staff is key in promoting the school library.
Supporting new staff members is beneficial
to all stakeholders. Offering library
resources, training, and partnership right away lays a great foundation for continued
collaboration.

Marketing: By attending department meetings, core departments will be able to spend time
planning with the librarian. Sending out a newsletter or informational handout will also allow
staff to see specific opportunities available. Offering special library orientations to new staff will
allow the school librarian to be able to market the library as an integral part of the educational
setting.

Goal 3: The Lexington High School librarian will work to increase social media presence and
other community connections.

Activity: Social Media Posts

Activity: Storytime

Activity: Parent Surveys/Recommendations

Need: In order to continue to grow our role in school wide achievement, the library needs to
promote itself to all stakeholders. Using social media, extending invitations to parents, and
asking for feedback will allow the school librarian to develop relationships that are needed.

Connections: Fostering a sense of community in our school is important. We embrace our

diversity and strive to understand how we can better serve students. Making connections with
stakeholders online and in-person can help in doing so. The library is the perfect place to invite
collaboration among all.

Marketing: The school librarian will post signage and on social media to promote opportunities
in the library. Jenna Nemec-Loise suggests in her article Everyday Advocacy, “Everyday
advocacy means recognizing the simple things you can do today to assert the vital role of
libraries in strong or struggling communities” (2013). Our town is special and recognizes the
importance of supporting student learning. The Lexington High School Library can be an
advocate in this way.
References

Buck, K. (September 7, 2023). Lexington High School Librarian. Personal communication.

Goldenberg, C. (2020). Reading Wars, Reading Science, and English Learners. Reading
Research Quarterly, 55, S131-S144. https://doi-org.unk.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/rrq.340

Kramer, P.K. & Diekman, L. (2010). Evidence=Assessment=Advocacy. Teacher Librarian, 39(3),

27-30.

Lexington Public Schools. (2023). Continuous Improvement Process.

Lexington Public Schools. (2023). District Report Card.

Nemec-Loise, J. (2013). Everyday Advocacy. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the
Association for Library Service to Children, 11(2), 57-59.