Let’s all admit it, few of us spend much time really delving into organization web pages unless we need to use them for work or are specifically seeking out information. We don’t tend to scroll them for fun. Let’s change that! I invite you all to take just a moment and look through our newly updated “Everyday Advocacy” page on the American Library Service to Children (ALSC) website. The ALSC Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee has worked to update it over the past months, and it’s looking pretty great.
The page can be found on the ALSC website under the “Initiatives” tab or at this handy dandy link https://www.ala.org/alsc/initiatives/everyday-advocacy.
In its most basic form it provides great information about what advocacy is and how to advocate for yourself, your programs, your library, and librarianship as a whole. Information that is great for us all. You should start with the “Be Informed” page. Here, you’ll define advocacy, educate yourself with news, and delve into lots of resources.
Then get more hands on and go to “Speak Out”. You’ll find the ALSC Championing Children’s Services Toolkit which has some great postcards and infographics. You’ll also learn how to prepare for any occasion with an elevator speech, a go to blurb about why we are even more relevant and important than ever. And haven’t we all been caught unaware with some random person stating that libraries are obsolete or whatnot? Read through that page and be prepared for the next time you have to respond to the skeptics.
Next, wander over to “Engage” because, as it states, “Advocacy is most effective when we build strong relationships with our people.” Do you know who your stakeholders are? Do you know how to build relationships with them or other policy makers? More importantly, read through the section about responding to complaints and skepticism and about leading community engagement.
This all leads to my absolute favorite part which is the “Get Inspired” page. Here you’ll hopefully find inspiration in snapshots of advocacy in action. Advocacy isn’t just some grand gesture or something to be reserved for administration to perform. Everyone, at all levels, can be a library advocate! You probably already do advocacy in small ways through normal work or personal interactions. Those are actually the most important moments! This is the page that recognizes and celebrates those moments. Read through the stories we’ve collected from librarians around the U.S. of everyday advocacy that they’ve experienced. We invite you to share your own stories via email at alscpaa@gmail.com
Hopefully you enjoyed the exploration of our updated webpage and are feeling both inspired and empowered to actively advocate yourself!
This post addresses ALSC Competency V.3 Advocates on behalf of children and their families for the highest-quality library services.
Samantha Kretschmer is writing this post on behalf of the Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee. She can be reached at skretschmer@geaugalibrary.net