Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 The Role of the Library and Librarian within the School
- 2 The Library Environment
- 3 Behaviour: Creating a Calm Working Environment
- 4 Creating a Reading Rich Environment
- 5 Information Literacy and Digital Literacy
- 6 Using Technology to Enhance the Library Experience
- 7 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the School Library
- 8 Advocacy, Marketing and Evaluating your Library
- 9 The Primary School Library
- 10 Moving On: CPD and Qualifications
- References
- Appendices
- Index
8 - Advocacy, Marketing and Evaluating your Library
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 November 2022
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 The Role of the Library and Librarian within the School
- 2 The Library Environment
- 3 Behaviour: Creating a Calm Working Environment
- 4 Creating a Reading Rich Environment
- 5 Information Literacy and Digital Literacy
- 6 Using Technology to Enhance the Library Experience
- 7 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the School Library
- 8 Advocacy, Marketing and Evaluating your Library
- 9 The Primary School Library
- 10 Moving On: CPD and Qualifications
- References
- Appendices
- Index
Summary
Introduction
This chapter looks at how school librarians can plan, market, evaluate and demonstrate their value and impact. It also considers how you can advocate for your role and why this is important.
Advocacy
Research shows that school librarians can make a difference to students’ educational standards:
Strong school libraries are linked to important indicators of student success, including graduation rates and mastery of academic standards. The most substantial and consistent finding is a positive relationship between full-time, qualified school librarians and scores on standards-based language arts, reading, and writing tests, regardless of student demographics and school characteristics.
(Lance and Kachel, 2018, 1–2)However, there is little UK evidence-based research about the impact of school librarians, a situation that threatens jobs and contributes to negative public opinions about their necessity in the internet age.
The visibility of librarians in society presents a paradox … [There is] potential for the profession to drift and its value and recognition in the world to slowly dissipate.
(Lawton, 2016, Preface)What is needed across the entire UK is a school library strategy as demonstrated by Scotland in its Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools report (Scottish Library and Information Council, 2018). It is not enough to know that the school librarian's work makes a difference and to assume that school stakeholders appreciate it. This knowledge must be demonstrated and communicated within and beyond the school, in fact to governmental level – a mission undertaken by the Great School Libraries campaign (www.greatschoollibraries.org.uk):
All children deserve a great school library because adequately funded, staffed school libraries deliver enhanced and independent learning as well as reading and curriculum support. School libraries contribute to building lifelong readers and support whole school initiatives promoting reading for pleasure. All of this evidence shows us that school libraries are a vital part
(Great School Libraries, 2019)School staff may have little idea of what a librarian can achieve, their crosscurricula role and their specialist skills of improving the uptake of wider reading and teaching vital information and research skills.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Creating a School Library with ImpactA Beginner's Guide, pp. 113 - 130Publisher: FacetPrint publication year: 2022
Accessibility standard: Unknown
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown
and may be updated in the future.