Burlington Middle School

Library Advocacy Plan

Monica FarthingEmporia State University

LI 851~Summer 2009

The mission of Burlington Middle School is to create a learning environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect and all students are provided the opportunity to excel in academics and personal pursuits.

BMS Mission Statement

3. Collaboration TimeThe teachers and librarian need time to meet and decide the best ways to help students gain the opportunity to become information literate.

4. Utilizing ResourcesBurlington has some great resources and they need to be better utilized. Most classes have a Classroom of the Future which contain a DVD, VCR, cable, document camera, computer and internet access.

5. Student InvolvementOur students are the reason behind all advocacy methods. “Ever child and teen challenged toward excellence. It’s all about “beyond the minimums.” (Loertscher, 2008, p. 48)

Overview1. Webpage Development

Currently the BMS librarian only has a classroom webpage not a LIBRARY webpage. This will be a much needed resource for all.

2. Parent & Community OutreachInforming parents and community about current library news will be valuable to gain support for funding and assistance.

Follow Valenza’s Web Site Organizer p. 1-26A-B Add newly developed library mission statement Create links to public library website Create user friendly links for references Add William Allen White Previous Award

Winners and new nomination list and link to book reviews http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/index.htm

Webpage Development

Welcome to Your Library Information Center Brochure ~ to be handed out at enrollment and placed in front office, library check out desk and public library

Make easy to use reference handouts available ~ such as APA or MLA citations

Request volunteers in back to school letter or news release in newspaper ~ they can help shelve, check out, make bulletin boards, create more advertising

Open House during Parent-Teacher conferences ~ plus make a public invitation for all to attend

Parent & Community Outreach

Meet with each grade level during their team meeting to find out any needs

Meet with each teacher annually to discuss curriculum needs.

Survey teachers to find out what resources they might need

Meet with BTV (school television) teachers to gain broadcasting time

Collaboration Time

First Year Teacher, New Staff and Board Member Letter~ expected turnover in the next few years due to retirements

Create a Current Awareness Service ~ plus add multiply RSS feeds to my computer and encourage teachers to subscribe to some that will keep them up to date with their curriculum.

Catalogue all teacher resources ~ with budget cuts we will need to band together our current resources and share among staff members. Teachers typically do not know what other teacher’s have on their bookcases.

Request staff meetings to be held in library so I can present infomercials

Collaboration Time continued

Present Book Talks on BTV Make sure directions are

posted for access and use of the Kan-Ed website

Helping teachers find sources for use on their Classroom of the Future equipment

Take pictures of each student and have each create a personalized bookmark ~ this will help teachers and peers to return books to his/her current owner Utilizing

Resources

Present student created book talks ~ on B-TV Publicize student achievement in local newspapers Award reading achievements with incentives Ask for student aides Encourage study hall teachers to allow students to

come to library when they don’t have homework ~ to browse or help

Reading Buddies – students can pair up with younger students or elderly from across the street at the nursing home

Student Involvement

Breakfast reads ~ students and teachers lounge around cafeteria and eat breakfast with a book. This would occur on non-messy food days.

Incorporate a book club online ~ learner-led/adult coached

Host game nights during off seasons or pre-game nights

Poster competition ~ students will create a poster advertising their favorite books and these will be posted around the community

Student Involvement Continued

“Advocacy is not a one-time project.” (YALSA) As a librarian, advocacy will become part of our daily lives. One of our biggest advocates in the middle school should be our students. They need to become involved and help support their library.

In a Nutshell?

Dopke, M. Reaching out: beyond school walls. Spotlight Feature, Retrieved 7/9/09, from http://www.sosspotlight.com

Loertscher, D. (November 2008). Flip this library. School Library Journal, 46-48.

Valenza, J.K. (2004). Power Tools Recharged: 125+ Essential Forms and Presentations for Your School Library Program. Chicago: American Library Association.

USD 244, (2009). Burlington Schools. Retrieved June 10, 2009, from Burlington USD 244 Web site: http://www.usd244ks.org/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1

YALSA. Speaking up for library services for teens YALSA.

Resources