Chat Room: Tell the World Who You Are
Because your community needs to know
By Walter Minkel -- School Library Journal, 1/1/2004
Few school librarians, it appears, can effectively explain their unique role in the school or how they make students into better learners. In the era of the No Child Left Behind Act, however, they must do that. (See "A Golden Opportunity " on pp. 40–42 of this issue.)
At the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) October conference in Kansas City, MO, I informally surveyed a dozen librarians about how well librarians communicated what they do, and almost all agreed with me that they could be doing more. I also noticed that AASL had launched its own version of the American Library Association's "@ your library" campaign to promote library services in their communities. AASL's Web site includes an advocacy toolkit (www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy ), which translates Keith Lance's research documenting how school libraries help students learn into plain, understandable English. You should be sharing that research with everyone you meet.
Everything about your Web site needs to say, "The library—and the librarian—are important." While in Kansas City, I sat down with Larra Clark, ALA's press officer, and we brainstormed some tips that every librarian can use to promote their program online:
Your school's home page needs a link to the library's Web site. Clark and I are amazed at how often we find links to the basketball and football teams, but not to the library. It's your responsibility to make sure everyone can find your library's site.
Let everyone know your name—and telephone number. Both Clark and I often use the Web to contact librarians for interviews and stories, and when we go to many sites, we can't locate the librarian's full name (first and last), the school's address (having the school's address at the bottom of every page is not too often), and a phone number (with the area code, please). Make sure all of this information is on your library Web site for parents, community members, and the media.
Make it obvious why you're important. Can you explain in 25 words or less why you're essential? Give it a shot. Here are a couple of examples: "Google doesn't teach students how to use the information they find, but librarians do." Or, "Librarians put the right book in the hands of the right reader." Be strong and clear.
Talk about you and your staff. Do you have hobbies? A special talent? If you have an aide, does he or she? By including information about yourself on the Web site, kids, colleagues, and parents will find you more approachable. Clark suggests that you tell others where you went to school, why you became a librarian, and why others should consider doing the same.
Celebrate books. "Post weekly or monthly book reviews or recommendations written by students," Clark suggests. "This will bring people back to your Web site and give the students an opportunity to share their love of reading and get published." List your favorite books, too, and encourage teachers to list theirs.
Use photographs, NOT clip art. Photos—especially images of your students browsing, reading, and listening—tell Web-site visitors about your library. Typical library clip-art images, such as a generic shelf of books, don't.
Post a "wish list." In these days of malnourished budgets, many libraries need new books, furniture, or parent volunteers for special programs. Clark says you shouldn't be shy about asking for help on your Web site. If people don't know your needs, how can they help you?
