Planning &

Advocacy
Project
Sarah Lair
Bellows Falls Middle School
15 School Street
Bellows Falls, VT 05101
Summary
When I first started my job at the Bellows Falls Middle School, I was informed that the prior
librarian weeded out a ton of books. After running a Titlewave Analysis, I found that the
nonfiction books had an average age of 1994. It is my long term goal to update the
average age of the nonfiction collection and increase curiosity and circulation. Nonfiction
materials reflect the latest information in the world and ensure that students have access to
current and accurate materials. Newer content and engaging books are likely to capture
the students’ interest and increase circulation. I want to be sure to include diverse
perspectives and cultural awareness since our demographic is 86.8% Caucasian. An
updated nonfiction section will support academic needs of both students and teachers and
promote the library as a dynamic and essential resource to the entire school.
Goals & Objectives
Long term goal:
To update the average age of the nonfiction collection and increase curiosity and circulation

Objective 1:
Take inventory of the current nonfiction collection

Objective 2:
Weed outdated, uncirculated, inaccurate, worn nonfiction materials

Objective 3:
Work with core teachers to develop a list of subjects needed for their curriculum and students to
understand their interests
Members
➔
➔
Sarah Lair, BFMS Librarian/Media Specialist
Henry Bailly, BFMS Principle
➔ Kelly O’Ryan, WNESU Diversity & Equity
➔ Tristan Wandzy, Special Education teacher
➔ 8th Grade Team
◆ James Henderson, Ben Jerome-Lee, Adrienne Long, Amanda Theberge
➔ 7th Grade Team
◆ Cameron Day, Christopher Kelley, Danielle Scadova-Vose
➔ 6th Grade Team
◆ Candice Clark, Cristal Farnsworth, Josh Ferenc
➔ 5th Grade Team
◆ Cathy Chamberlin, Deb Davis, Samantha Redding
➔ UA Team
◆ Megan Applegate, Ellen Boles, Jarrod James, Stan Rumrill, Janelle Wilfong
➔ Students
Mission
As a middle school librarian, my mission
is to inspire, educate, and empower
young minds on their journey of
intellectual and personal growth. I am
committed to providing a dynamic,
inclusive, and resource-rich

Vision
environment where every student can
explore, learn, and discover. Through
collaboration with educators and a focus
on fostering a love for reading, My vision is to empower those to become ethical users, critical
information literacy, and critical thinking,
thinkers, enthusiastic readers, and skillful researchers. To ensure
I aim to prepare students for a future of
lifelong learning and responsible digital equality and freedom to access all information for all population.
citizenship.
Community Profile
Community Profile
➔ Art Around Books
◆ Gallery including fine press artists' books, drawings,
paintings, and prints
◆ Has occasional gatherings for readings, musical events,
and artist talks
➔ Village Square Booksellers
◆ Full-service independent bookstore
◆ Recurring Programs
➔ Arch Bridge Bookshop
◆ Independent bookstore and lamp repair shop
➔ Rockingham Free Public Library
◆ Youth programs and teen nights
8th Grade:
85.2% White
2.9% African American
1.47% Asian
2.9% Hispanic/Latino
7.35% Two+ Races

7th Grade:
89.1% White
1.35% African American BFMS Profile
1.35% Asian 6th Grade:
5th Grade:
1.35% Native Hawaiian/ 87.7% White 83.3% White
Pacific Islande 1.75% Asian 11.1% Hispanic/Latino
2.7% Hispanic/Latino 8.7% Hispanic/Latino 5.5% Two+ Races
4% Two+ Races
1.75% Two+ Races
School Library Program
❖ The school library at BFMS is open 7:30-3:00 barring meetings and scheduled class times.
❖ Sarah Lair is the BFMS Librarian/Media Specialist
❖ The BFMS Library has 10 loaner Chromebooks and a 2015 iMac for circulation
❖ The budget for the current 23-24 school year is: $4,500 (print & AV) and $1,500 (supplies)
Program Evaluation Assessment

Link to Program Evaluation Assessment

Action Plan
Link to Action Plan
 Proposed Budget

Beginning budget A proposed budget of $15,000 would be

Supples: $1,400 sufficient to update the nonfiction catalog in the
Print/AV: $4,500 BFMS library. This is based on past budgets as
discussed with the BFMS Principal (H. Bailly,
Budget left for 23-24 personal communication, November 28, 2023).
Supplies: $1,000 With our school having low test scores, “if
Print/AV: $1,569.13 reading tests scores are low, particularly at a
certain grade level or among a certain group of
Possible Grants: The Paul Post Fund students, show how the requests can address that
grade level or group” (Kachel, 2018).
Advocacy Document

Link for Advocacy Document

Self Reflection
When starting this assignment, I was very excited to be given the time and
opportunity to develop a plan for updating the nonfiction section in my library.
I was surprised that my school didn’t have a larger Caucasian demographic
than it does; although, it is still fairly high. I was pleased to find that the books
I have added to the catalog have improved the average copyright year for
most nonfiction classifications. It is also important to note for myself that the
lexile levels has dropped. For the 6th and 5th graders, the lexile level is still
in the basic range but it is below basic for the 7th and 8th graders. As the
middle school librarian, it is my duty to make sure there are improvements to
the catalog that also follow each core curriculum.
Resources
Bellows Falls Middle School. (2023). Enrollment Summary: Federal Ethnicity and Race Report.
[Powerschool].
Department of Libraries. (2023). Grant Opportunities for Libraries. State of Vermont.

Ford, D. B. (2015). To weed or not to weed? criteria to ensure that your nonfiction collection
remains up to date: Everyday librarian. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/to-
weed-or-not-to-weed-criteria-to-ensure-that-your-nonfiction-collection-remains-up-to-date-
everyday-librarian#articleComment

Kachel, Debra. (2018). Advocating for the school library budget. Advocacy, 45(2) 48-50.
https://buxreadsbooks.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/5b-
kachel_2017_advocatingschoollibbudget.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau (2021). American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Census Reporter
Profile page for Bellows Falls, VT