School Library PR: Make Your Library the Vital Link Rachel Shankles, LMS Lakeside High School Hot Springs, AR

Why do PR? The library is a key player in the ARK literacy push We don’t want to be replaced by a computer lab or clerk We want more funding We have frameworks We have new “stuff” and we want everyone to come in to see it

AR Literacy Push All schools are trying to raise literacy scores on mandated testing We can find out the SLE’s that our schools will be focusing on and make sure we hit those in our teaching units with those grade levels We should be the ‘center of the curriculum’ We have changed from just research libraries into lit lab libraries that push pleasure reading Intrinsic motivation to read for pleasure raises test scores more than more traditional methods

We don’t want to be replaced by a computer lab or clerk Flat World Corporation No one on your staff should think the Internet is the be-all and end-all of research or they will think computers are more important than books Establish research strategies and policies to insure the use of books then databases then internet for research Establish Research Policies for your school Be too busy to be pulled out for other duties

Funding If you have weeded, weeded, weeded---you need new books---the school will not take a hit if you go below the mandate—they will buy you more books---so don’t worry—do WEED Money goes further if you invest in paperbacks too (the kids want to see colorful covers) Quit buying reference books, use online databases (purchase more but not necessisarily with your budget if they are for curriculum reasons) Use empty shelves for displaying books on book easels, face out PR means the public will be aware of your programming and should increase your chances for grants and donations Get teaching staff, admin and parents involved with library programming and take pictures

Frameworks If we are busy with programming and teaching real state ADE frameworks, we can’t be pulled out to do bus duty or to substitute This year we are to work on pacing guides for our frameworks Collaborate to insure the frameworks are taught If a teacher won’t bring a class in for you to teach the frameworks, do report it to the principal as the school is responsible for all the frameworks being taught---if he or she will not let YOU teach the library media frameworks then he or she will have to teach them to the class See my wiki for frameworks information

Bookmark my wiki It is full of all sorts of PowerPoints, handouts, programming ideas, events, costumes, funding ideas.

Has your library changed? You should have added comfortable seating Reading areas Updated technology Updated, modern bookstore “look” You should be decorating by theme or event even if in high schools You should be inviting guest speakers and doing programming that has to do with your school curriculum (do these programs IN THE LIBRARY)

PR Essestials 1. A digital still camera for YOUR use exclusively: Make photos to put in a scrapbook to hang on wall, month to month Make a PhotoStory to share with your boss when you are evaluated; it will show how busy you have been Take teacher pix to use on bulletin boards and displays

PR Essentials (cont’d) 2.Get the address of the education editor of your local paper; Send in photos every week of your events, contest winners, etc. Call the newspaper to attend biggest events or to do a story when you receive a grant or something Use the news staff to judge photo competitions

PR Essentials (cont’d) Attend conferences : You are the only staff member that can come back and teach the whole staff what you learn so you should be allowed to attend more than one conference; you may have to convince them of that You learn how to manage Internet, use databases that meet the curriculum----attending workshops will help you become the school’s “information expert”

Conferences to Attend ArLA- in Rodgers this fall AAIM- in Rodgers this spring AASL- recently in Eureka Spgs HSTI – each June in Hot Springs Your education cooperative should be sponsoring media specialist workshops each semester where you could learn more about the Traveler Project and other free materials

CHEERLEADERS WANTED Pay scale not great Time investment more than 8 to 3 M-F Foot traffic exceeds normal levels Noise level exceeds minimum Rewards: GREAT The new Arkansas Literacy Push Wants YOU to come on board! You are the key to making the library the “center of your school’s curriculum.”

Contact me: Rachel Shankles Lakeside High School home