1. School Libraries Advocacy Advocacy Fundraising Fundraising

2. Advocacy Why care about school libraries?

3. We should care about school libraries because: Research shows that better public and school libraries are related to better reading achievement. The reason for this is obvious: Children become better readers by reading more (Krashen, 2004), and the library is a major source of books for children.

4. Making The Case Why library funding is important: Spending for school library media programs is the single most important variable related to better student achievement. (SchoolMatch) Investing in the school library is an investment in every student. Every dollar spent in the library, can impact every student in the school. (AASL) More free voluntary reading results in better reading comprehension, writing style, vocabulary, spelling and grammatical development. When books are readily available and the print environment is rich, more reading is done. (Krashen, 93)

5. What the Research Says Study after study has confirmed that children who read more do better on tests of literacy: They read better, write better, spell better, have larger vocabularies, and have better control of complex grammatical structures. It has also been established that children with more access to books read more (Krashen, 2004).

6. Better Libraries = Better Reading Achievement Numerous studies have shown that library quality (number of books available or books per student) is related to reading achievement at the state level (Lance, 1994), national level (McQuillan, 1998), and international level (Elley, 1992; Krashen, Lee and McQuillan, 2008), even when researchers control for the effects of poverty.

7. Excerpts From Library Research Studies:

8. Idaho School Library Impact Study – 2009 Where administrators value strong library programs and can see them doing their part for student success, students are more likely to thrive academically. Where librarians teach students—as well as their teacher colleagues—students are more likely to succeed academically. Where teachers experience librarians as instructional colleagues and technology integrators, students are more likely to excel academically.

9. Illinois State Study (2005) How Powerful Libraries Make Powerful Learners As important as it is for school libraries to have larger print collections, the currency of the materials in those collections is also important. Illinois schools with current collections averaged:.. almost 13 percent higher eighth-grade writing scores,.. almost 11 percent higher fifth-grade writing scores,.. more than seven percent higher fifth-grade reading scores, and.. almost three percent higher ACT scores.

10. Massachusetts State Study (2000) Dollars expended on school library media programs have immediate impact and remain highly accountable over time. A well-run school library media program will provide a vehicle that will advance school district curriculum goals on a regular basis. That most desirable bump in MCAS scores documented by the Simmons' survey at all grade levels is not the only reason to invest in a school library media program. It is simply one more great reason to do so.

11. Colorado State Study (2000) How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve Standards: In Colorado, where a representative sample of 200 of 1,178 elementary and middle schools responded, the study found that state test scores for students in elementary schools with updated libraries were up to 14 percent higher than for students at schools with older collections.

12. Additional Advocacy Resources Additional research studies (web links) Additional research studies (web links) Scholastic Study: school libraries work (pdf) Scholastic Study: school libraries work (pdf) 2009 Idaho Study Executive Summary and full report (word doc) 2009 Idaho Study Executive Summary and full report (word doc) An administrators guide to school libraries (pdf) An administrators guide to school libraries (pdf) Stephen Krashen (stephenkrashen.com) Stephen Krashen (stephenkrashen.com)

13. Fundraisers Penny Drive Penny Drive Coins for the Library Coins for the Library X-athon (read, bike, jump rope) X-athon (read, bike, jump rope) Yard Sale Yard Sale Adopt a book (parents businesses) Adopt a book (parents businesses) Silent Auction (solicit local businesses) Silent Auction (solicit local businesses)

14. Penny Drive Each class has a large jar for coins. Pennies count for your class, silver counts against your class. Dollars count for your class. The idea is to load up your jar with pennies and dollars and add silver to your competitors jars. The class with the most money (Pennies+Dollars-Silver) is the winner. Each class has a large jar for coins. Pennies count for your class, silver counts against your class. Dollars count for your class. The idea is to load up your jar with pennies and dollars and add silver to your competitors jars. The class with the most money (Pennies+Dollars-Silver) is the winner.

15. Coins for the Library Oct 10 th (10/10) = dimes Oct 10 th (10/10) = dimes Last day of quarter = quarters Last day of quarter = quarters 100 th day of school = pennies 100 th day of school = pennies Cinco de Mayo (5/5) = nickels Cinco de Mayo (5/5) = nickels Each of these days send a zip lock baggie home with each student with a note attached, e.g. Each of these days send a zip lock baggie home with each student with a note attached, e.g. Library Fundraiser 05/05/11 On May 5 we will be collecting nickels for the library. Please donate as many nickels (or other money) that you can spare. THANK YOU! – Nancy Olson, Librarian

16. Anything ‘a-thon Participating students get pledges from friends, family and neighbors for $x amount per page read, laps around the track, minutes jumping rope etc. Participating students get pledges from friends, family and neighbors for $x amount per page read, laps around the track, minutes jumping rope etc.

17. School yard Sale Solicit garage sale items from parents and the local community and stage a Saturday morning yard sale in the school parking lot or playground. Sell cold water, hot coffee, sodas to supplement the income from your merchandise. Solicit garage sale items from parents and the local community and stage a Saturday morning yard sale in the school parking lot or playground. Sell cold water, hot coffee, sodas to supplement the income from your merchandise.

18. Adopt a Book Create a list based on your needs Create a list based on your needs Use die cut to create an open book blank for the number of titles on your list Use die cut to create an open book blank for the number of titles on your list Print your list (2 column annotated) on Titlewave and cut each title and paste onto die cut blank. Print your list (2 column annotated) on Titlewave and cut each title and paste onto die cut blank. Post books on a poster board Post books on a poster board Display at school or local business Display at school or local business

19. Silent Auction Solicit items from local retailers and hold a silent auction during parent teacher conferences or any time when your school has a high traffic event.

20. Fundraising Community Partners – local businesses and/or service organizations Community Partners – local businesses and/or service organizations Make the case short and sweet: Make the case short and sweet: Explain the funding situation Explain the funding situation Explain why new books are important Explain why new books are important Tell them what you want - $x dollars, a donation of merchandise or a service (silent auction) Tell them what you want - $x dollars, a donation of merchandise or a service (silent auction) What’s in it for them – What’s in it for them – Follow up / Thank you! Follow up / Thank you!

21. Community Partners adopt a school library Service Organizations Service Organizations Kiwanis Kiwanis Rotary Rotary Soroptimist Soroptimist Local Businesses Local Businesses TitleEZ TitleEZ Adopt a book Adopt a book Merchandise (silent auction, yard sale) Merchandise (silent auction, yard sale) Target Red Card Target Red Card