This content reflects work done as part of the Indigenous Perspectives in School Librarianship (IPSL) grant funded by IMLS (RE-246303-OLS-20). Actual assignments may vary.

Module Objectives

  • Develop an advocacy plan.
  • Describe the importance of continued and persistent advocacy.

Think

  • American Library Association. (2021). Communicating about intellectual freedom. In M. Garnar (ed.), Intellectual freedom manual (10th edition, pp. 275-282). Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.
  • American Library Association. (2021). Where to get help and get involved. In M. Garnar (ed.), Intellectual freedom manual (10th edition, pp. 283-294). Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.
  • Kaaland, C. (2012). Developing a culture of advocacy. In Levitov, D.D. (ed.), Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for advocacy (pp. 39-56).
  • American Association of School Librarians. (2017). School Librarians as learning leaders: An administrator’s guide. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/tools/leaders
  • Rinio, D. (2018). Stepping up. Harnessing the attitudes of your audience for advocacy. School Library Connection, March 2018. Retrieved from https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Article/2140903

Create

Assignment: Chose an advocacy goal centered around an area of intellectual freedom as discussed in the course: copyright, privacy & confidentiality, censorship, access, etc. Complete the Advocacy Plan Worksheet. An example is available to guide you. You will be assessed using the provided rubric.

Share

In the #module6 channel, address the following and respond to at least two of your classmates:

  • Why is advocacy important to the school librarian? Why is it important to the broader school community?
  • Name three tips you learned from this week’s reading that you will enact to improve your advocacy.
  • Share your SMART goal and an overview of your advocacy plan (not the entire worksheet, just a summary). Then, reflect on the process of developing an advocacy plan. What do you think your biggest strengths will be toward enacting your plan? Your biggest challenges?

Grow

Write a reflection on the module. Use the following questions as inspiration. What did you learn this week? What made you wonder? How do you feel about the module’s content and process? How will what you learned this week make you a better librarian? How do you feel about your progress in the course? What questions do you have?