ERIC Number: EJ826918
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1094-9046
EISSN: N/A
The Evolution of the Librarian as Advocate: Are Advocates Born or Developed?
Martin, Ann
Knowledge Quest, v36 n1 p16-19 Sep-Oct 2007
As America entered the information age, libraries were no longer being pictured as a vital part of family life. Instead, technology became the critical resource for a middle-class family. In addition, state and national accountability and assessment initiatives forced school library media specialists (SLMSs) to demonstrate that the school library media program was valuable and contributed to student learning. For the library media program, accountability requires proving the library's worth to students, who demand immediate answers; to teachers, whose goal is a 100 percent pass rate on assessments; and to administrators, who strive to get the best bang for the buck. In this climate, school librarians must excel as advocates for library programs. So, are advocates born or developed? In this article, the author attempts to answer this question. She discusses how SLMSs bring their expertise and personalities to the profession. Professional organizations advance the individual talents of their members by developing the five core characteristics embodied in the word VALUE. Learning experiences in professional organizations help advocates master how to Validate, Anticipate, Lead, Understand, and Educate their clientele, constituents, and those people outside their profession who become invaluable advocates for successful school library programs. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Program Evaluation, Advocacy, Librarians, School Libraries, Media Specialists, Academic Achievement, Library Services, Accountability, Administrators, Library Associations, Professional Associations, Organizations (Groups)
American Association of School Librarians. Available from: American Library Association. 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: 1-800-545-2433; Web site: http://www.ala.org/aasl/kqweb
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Media Staff
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A