Legislators@Your Library Campaign PSLA Conference 2012 An
initiative of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Presented by John Emerick and Janet Malloy
Slide 2
Background to the Campaign Spring 2008 Visits to PA legislators
reveal that most legislators are: Unaware that 40% of PA schools
have no library or librarian Unaware of age of books in school
libraries Unaware of vast inequities across the state for PAs K-12
students Unaware that school libraries have no voice in PDE
Slide 3
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Legislators@Your
Library Campaign Purpose: Provide members with a trained event
planner to facilitate visitation Create visibility- association
& libraries Help legislators understand the role of the 21 st
century LMS in student learning Build a base for support in state
government
Slide 4
Communicate with the local legislators office to arrange the
visitation Advise LMS on visitation details, activities, using
checklists Arrange for media coverage, preparing press releases
Debrief with LMS Basic Responsibilities of the Event Planner
Slide 5
Secure permission Confirm date & time Host the visit and
plan activities Provide prepared packet of information to the
legislator and discuss library needs Arrange for photo ops Follow
through with thank yous & PSLA feedback report Basic
Responsibilities of the LMS
Slide 6
Resources Lists & Checklists Big Picture Checklist for the
Event Planner (EP) Big Picture Checklist for the School Library
Media Specialist Suggested Activities List Initial Info Checklist (
both EP and LMS)Initial Info Checklist ( both EP and LMS) Event
Planner Research (EP)Event Planner Research Contacting the
Legislator (EP)Contacting the Legislator Event Planner-LMS
Confirmation Checklist Event Planner-LMS Confirmation Checklist
(both EP and LMS) PSLA Report (EP=Event Planner; LMS=Library Media
Specialist)
Slide 7
Resources Samples & Attachments Legislator @Your Library
Program (handout for EP to email legislator's scheduler/aide to set
up visit) Sample Formal Invitation Sample District Invite Email
Sample Press Release Sample Thank You to Legislator (EP=Event
Planner; LMS=Library Media Specialist) All materials can be found
on the PSLA Legislation Committee webpages at
http://www.psla.org/association/committee/legislation/legislatorlibrary.php4
http://www.psla.org/association/committee/legislation/legislatorlibrary.php4
Slide 8
Resources: Prepared Packet Materials Packets are sent to you
for the legislator. PSLA Legislator@Your Library Campaign
Background of the School Library School Library Guidelines &
Data Measuring Up to Standards Findings (the Pennsylvania Study of
1999-2000)Measuring Up to Standards Findings Pennsylvania's School
Libraries: Key Players in Education Pennsylvania's School
Libraries: Key Players in Education School Libraries Work! 3rd ed.
(Scholastic, c2008) School Libraries Work! Sue Fulmer, Central
Dauphin East HS, discusses issues with Senator Piccola, Chairman of
the Senate Education Committee in a recent visit to her
library.
Slide 9
Slide 10
Audenried High School Library Dedication 2/17/09 Hosted by
Alice Lee, LMS Assisted by Marybeth Leary, EP Press coverage-
Channel 10, South Philadelphia Public Record, and South Philly
Review SURPRISE! donation of funds for new books by Kal Rudman,
local philanthropist PA Representatives Kenyatta Johnson talks to
students at Audenried HS Library dedication.
Slide 11
Seuss on the Loose at Foose Foose Elementary, Harrisburg SD
3/9/09 Hosted by Leann Cox, LMS Assisted by Lin Carvell, EP Press -
local News, district website, Students produced a video to
broadcast through school One-on-one conversation, tour, and use of
packet with huge thank you for SKILLS support US Congressman Tim
Holden, co-sponsor of the SKILLS Act talks to students at
Foose.
Slide 12
Senator Mike Folmer visits North Annville on April 3, 2009
Anita Mentzer, librairan Lin Carvell, EP Press release sent to
local newspaper Patriot News School RoundUp article Sen. Folmer
observed Anita teaching an d2nd graders using POWER Library
databases Sen. Folmer serves on the Education Committee School
administrators present and pleased
Slide 13
Rep. Tom Creighton at Clay Elementary School, April 7, 2009
Librarian Sally Perry, Event Planner Lin Carvell 4th gr. students
doing a research project Faculty luncheon planned Students gave
Rep. Creighton a tour of the school Sally used packet to discuss
inequities in library funding Local cable did a story for the
evening news 2 local newspapers sent photographers
Slide 14
Rep. Sandra Major, (R) 111th District visited Blue Ridge
Elementary School Library, New Milford, Susquehanna County. She
spoke about running a campaign, being in a debate and read Duck for
President to third, fourth, and fifth grade students. Thanks to Sue
Piorkowski, LMS
Slide 15
State Sen. Leach at Penn Wynne Elementary School, Nov. 3,
2011
Slide 16
Senator Daylin Leach Visits Penn Wynne Elementary School
November 3, 2011 LMS: A. Brahin Tabb Event Planner: Janet
Malloy
Slide 17
Rep. Tony Payton, Jr Visited Taylor Elementary School on March
2, 2012 LMS Joan Greenberg hosted Rep. Payton for a read-a-loud
honoring Read Across America and Dr. Seuss!
Slide 18
What PSLA Needs Legislators to Understand School library
funding is at the discretion of local school boards &
administrators There are no requirements in PA that schools must
have libraries or librarians. There are vast inequities among K-12
schools in terms of opportunities for students to access books and
technology to learn how to find and use information effectively.
The Costing Out Study of 2007 implied that state funding gives all
students equal opportunities to learn. It does not as long as
districts can decide whether to have adequate library services and
programs or not.
Slide 19
Results Will Happen with each Visit Legislators who visit our
libraries and see what we can do and what children are learning
will take that vision back to Harrisburg. We need them to hold that
mental image of kids learning and creating in school libraries so
that they remember that every time they vote on an educational
finance bill. Building a base of support to improve staffing,
funding, and access to technology in Pennsylvania school
libraries
Slide 20
Librarians need to reshape the perceptions [that] other
educators, school board members, and legislators have of libraries
and librarians. Until that happens, status, priority funding, and
support will continue to elude them. Gary Hartzell Author,
presenter, former principal and school superintendent, and retired
educational administration professor, University of Nebraska at
Omaha
Slide 21
Question & Answer Session Thank you for your time! Please
contact Deb Kachel at [email protected] to set up a PSLA
Legislator@Your Library Event at your library!