L4L: Advocate and Promote
October 21st, 2008 by Christopher HarrisThis post addresses two of the objectives presented in the recently released AASL Learning4Life document prepared by the Standards and Guidelines Implementation Task Force. The objectives are used here under the non-commercial permission granted by ALA.
Objective 1: Work with the ALA Public Information Office, ALA Washington Office, and the ALA Office for Library Advocacy in promoting the interests of school library media specialists.
Though this objective more directly addresses activities for the AASL leadership and staff, there is still a great deal that we can do to help out. Have a cool program happening in your library? Try working with your district’s public relations person to get some local media coverage. Be sure to forward the mention to AASL as well. I think it would also help AASL work within ALA if we had a larger presence in the parent organization. You can help by filling out an ALA Committee Volunteer form as recently noted by AASL President Ann Martin.
Objective 2: Ensure that AASL members are aware of the new learning standards and guidelines through Knowledge Quest, American Libraries, AL Direct, the AASL Web site, AASL discussion lists, the state affiliate discussion list, AASL Hotlinks, AASLblog, other Web 2.0 means.
I believe that this is the heart of the L4L movement; a direct call to action for all AASL members to join together to roll out our new standards. You can have a bigger impact and help with this more than you would think. Are you the librarian in your school/district who is the “web person”? Make sure to print or share quick summaries from online discussions during meetings. Consider introducing less comfortable librarians to new 2.0 technologies by highlighting the standards. For example, create a VoiceThread about the new standards so you and your colleagues can talk about local curriculum changes or lesson ideas attached to each area. Another way to help is by just being active. I know…we can’t all be active everywhere, but find your space that you are comfortable with and then use the platform to make sure your readers/viewers/listeners are aware of the new standards.