PolitipsPolitips for SLMSs for SLMSsOrOr

How to Connect with the How to Connect with the Administration & Gather Administration & Gather Support for you ProgramSupport for you Program

Dr. Steven M. BauleDr. Steven M. BauleZion-Benton Township High SchoolZion-Benton Township High School

BauleS@zbths.orgBauleS@zbths.org

Three Areas of ConcernThree Areas of Concern Politics – Politics – politics are a realitypolitics are a reality

Public relations Public relations – sell yourself & SLMPs– sell yourself & SLMPs

Market your programMarket your program

PR v. MarketingPR v. Marketing Public relations is a Public relations is a

broad, ongoing broad, ongoing management function management function designed to help an designed to help an organization earn the organization earn the supportive public supportive public attitudes it must have attitudes it must have to exist.to exist.

Public relations builds Public relations builds overall respect for the overall respect for the library program.library program.

Marketing moves Marketing moves people to come to the people to come to the library and use its library and use its services.services.

Marketing moves staff Marketing moves staff to seek out the librarian to seek out the librarian and his/her expertise.and his/her expertise.

““We are above marketing”We are above marketing” We provide a service everyone needsWe provide a service everyone needs Why fritter away our precious time in Why fritter away our precious time in

telling people what we do or can do?telling people what we do or can do? Do people really know what you do?Do people really know what you do?

Let’s think of it as or advocating, not Let’s think of it as or advocating, not marketing or sellingmarketing or selling

To whom should we market?To whom should we market? School Board MembersSchool Board Members AdministratorsAdministrators Other EducatorsOther Educators Potential SLMSsPotential SLMSs StudentsStudents ParentsParents CommunityCommunity

The BasicsThe Basics Administrators are extremely busy Administrators are extremely busy Administrators have a great deal of pressure on them Administrators have a great deal of pressure on them

for academic achievement due to NCLB, etc. for academic achievement due to NCLB, etc. Administrators are generally under a great deal of Administrators are generally under a great deal of

budget pressurebudget pressure Administrators rarely have SLM experienceAdministrators rarely have SLM experience Many administrators do not have significant Many administrators do not have significant

technology experiencetechnology experience Many administrators have a difficult time delegatingMany administrators have a difficult time delegating

Administrators are busyAdministrators are busy Principals rarely spend Principals rarely spend

more than 15 seconds more than 15 seconds on an items before they on an items before they are interruptedare interrupted

Administrators, Administrators, particularly principals, particularly principals, already have a full already have a full dance card. When you dance card. When you bring up an issue, if it is bring up an issue, if it is a new issue, it just adds a new issue, it just adds to their already to their already overloaded plate.overloaded plate.

Communicate ConsideratelyCommunicate Considerately Don’t stop your principal in the hallway to Don’t stop your principal in the hallway to

outline your new strategy for information outline your new strategy for information literacyliteracy

E-mail or leave a note depending upon E-mail or leave a note depending upon his/her stylehis/her style

If you see him/her in the hall, mention you are If you see him/her in the hall, mention you are leaving the e-mail/noteleaving the e-mail/note Allow him/her an opening to start the conversation, Allow him/her an opening to start the conversation,

but don’t chase them down the hallwaybut don’t chase them down the hallway Follow up only after a full week or more has gone Follow up only after a full week or more has gone

by. Allow extra time for Board meetings, by. Allow extra time for Board meetings, homecoming, etc. homecoming, etc.

Communicate ConsideratelyCommunicate Considerately Never identify a problem without providing a Never identify a problem without providing a

potential solution as wellpotential solution as well Don’t belabor points or point out issues that Don’t belabor points or point out issues that

are obviously beyond his or her control are obviously beyond his or her control Mention what positive things the administrator Mention what positive things the administrator

has done in the past for youhas done in the past for you Always follow up with a thank you note, even Always follow up with a thank you note, even

if just for taking time to meet with youif just for taking time to meet with you

Communicate ProfessionallyCommunicate Professionally Avoid folksy styles unless that is the Avoid folksy styles unless that is the

administrator’s styleadministrator’s style Type memos: don’t handwrite notes on the Type memos: don’t handwrite notes on the

back of the school bulletinback of the school bulletin Always provide enough detail that the Always provide enough detail that the

administrator can start to consider the issue administrator can start to consider the issue without having to seek you out simply to clarify without having to seek you out simply to clarify the concern or needthe concern or need

Communicate ProfessionallyCommunicate Professionally Dress in business attire for presentations – Dress in business attire for presentations –

P.E. teachers shouldn’t come to Board P.E. teachers shouldn’t come to Board meetings in sweats and SLMSs should not meetings in sweats and SLMSs should not come to such meetings in come to such meetings in I Love BooksI Love Books vests, vests, etc.etc.

Prepare presentation materials in a Prepare presentation materials in a professional manner, provide covers, professional manner, provide covers, executive summaries, etc. executive summaries, etc.

Ensure there are no obvious typos, Ensure there are no obvious typos, grammatical errors, etc. grammatical errors, etc.

Communicate ProfessionallyCommunicate Professionally Draft memos about your issuesDraft memos about your issues

Don’t ever expect that the administrator will have Don’t ever expect that the administrator will have time to write a letter for you without providing a time to write a letter for you without providing a draft or at least an outlinedraft or at least an outline

Do not send five page memos to an administrator Do not send five page memos to an administrator except for the most important and detailed of except for the most important and detailed of issues. In those cases, provide an executive issues. In those cases, provide an executive summarysummary

If you need a letter of support, provide a draft If you need a letter of support, provide a draft that can be modified or just signedthat can be modified or just signed

Balance CommunicationBalance Communication Don’t continuously Don’t continuously

complain, ask, or plead, complain, ask, or plead, etc. etc.

Compliment when Compliment when possiblepossible Unsolicited and justified Unsolicited and justified

compliments will go far compliments will go far towards building a towards building a positive relationshippositive relationship

Preemptively serve your Preemptively serve your administration as the administration as the mind-reading librarian mind-reading librarian you areyou are

Always Frame your Requests Always Frame your Requests around the School’s Strategic around the School’s Strategic Plan or SIPPlan or SIP Quote the plan in all Quote the plan in all

requestsrequests Focus on the student Focus on the student

impactimpact Speak in the terms of Speak in the terms of

“student achievement”“student achievement”

Ex: Student achievementEx: Student achievement Think of the areas of concern in your Think of the areas of concern in your

school regarding NCLBschool regarding NCLB

How can you frame the needs of the How can you frame the needs of the library so as to impact that goal area?library so as to impact that goal area?

Focus on Their Needs not Yours!Focus on Their Needs not Yours! ““I need four new computers for the I need four new computers for the

library catalog system”library catalog system”

““If we had four more computer If we had four more computer workstations in the library, workstations in the library, studentsstudents would be able to …….”would be able to …….”

What are the top three priorities What are the top three priorities for your library?for your library?

““Updated books, PC’s and printer”Updated books, PC’s and printer” From an e-mail on HS library improvementFrom an e-mail on HS library improvement

Providing access to up-to-date information to students in a variety of formats to assist in their development of analytical reasoning which is assessed on the ISAT/PSAE in the following areas…

Ex: Classroom librariesEx: Classroom libraries We often express concern about classroom We often express concern about classroom

libraries and we see our meager LMC $$s libraries and we see our meager LMC $$s floating down the hall into the classrooms floating down the hall into the classrooms where no one will manage the check out where no one will manage the check out process, books will be lost, etc. process, books will be lost, etc.

How do we express that to the administration How do we express that to the administration or the LSC?or the LSC?

Proving your worth: One Proving your worth: One administrator at a timeadministrator at a time

Provide information to your administrationProvide information to your administration Find out what they are looking intoFind out what they are looking into

Faculty meetings, district goals, SIPs, etc. Faculty meetings, district goals, SIPs, etc. Point out newspaper articles of interest, etc.Point out newspaper articles of interest, etc. Send links to websites, etc. Send links to websites, etc. If they are involved in research or graduate If they are involved in research or graduate

school, offer to helpschool, offer to help Nothing will explain the value of a SLMS like seeing Nothing will explain the value of a SLMS like seeing

one in actionone in action

Make Sure You are the Go-To Make Sure You are the Go-To Person for GrantsPerson for Grants

If the school is about to look to If the school is about to look to fund a new program, immediately fund a new program, immediately go find information about grant go find information about grant opportunitiesopportunities

Always offer to help proofread Always offer to help proofread grant materials grant materials

Grants are a huge concern. If you Grants are a huge concern. If you can become the grant rainmaker, can become the grant rainmaker, you will be beloved by your you will be beloved by your administration administration

Be Informed and ParticipateBe Informed and Participate Committee workCommittee work Faculty meetingsFaculty meetings Professional organizationsProfessional organizations

Inform the AdministrationInform the Administration Make sure they know what Make sure they know what

you doyou do Invite them into the Invite them into the

IMC/LRC, etc.IMC/LRC, etc. Provide monthly or quarterly Provide monthly or quarterly

updates/newslettersupdates/newsletters Provide statistics and dataProvide statistics and data Lists of materialsLists of materials Offer ILL servicesOffer ILL services

Ex: Library ResearchEx: Library Research How many of you have had a How many of you have had a

conversation with your principal about conversation with your principal about the Colorado Study, etc.?the Colorado Study, etc.?

Has your principal ever heard of Ross Has your principal ever heard of Ross Todd or Keith Curry Lance?Todd or Keith Curry Lance?

What can you do next week to inform What can you do next week to inform him/her?him/her?

Colorado Study, et al. Colorado Study, et al. The Colorado Study and its successorsThe Colorado Study and its successors These show a direct correlation These show a direct correlation

between a strong library program and between a strong library program and student achievementstudent achievement

Names to know:Names to know: Keith Curry LanceKeith Curry Lance Ross ToddRoss Todd Michael EisenbergMichael Eisenberg

Colorado Study – Some findings Colorado Study – Some findings Library Media Program DevelopmentLibrary Media Program Development CSAP reading test scores increase with CSAP reading test scores increase with

increases in:increases in: LMS hours per 100 students (7th grade),LMS hours per 100 students (7th grade), Total staff hours per 100 students,Total staff hours per 100 students, Print volumes per student,Print volumes per student, Periodical subscriptions per 100 students,Periodical subscriptions per 100 students, Electronic reference titles per 100 students Electronic reference titles per 100 students

(7th grade), and(7th grade), and Library media expenditures per student.Library media expenditures per student.

ResourcesResources AASL Principal’s Brochure AASL Principal’s Brochure

http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/ Search for “principal’s manual”Search for “principal’s manual”

School Libraries on the WebSchool Libraries on the Web http://www.sldirectory.com/http://www.sldirectory.com/

Choose “Resources for School Librarians”Choose “Resources for School Librarians”

Educate your Administrative Educate your Administrative Professional OrganizationsProfessional Organizations

State activitiesState activities ISLMA /HSLMAISLMA /HSLMA IASA, Annual Tri-ConferenceIASA, Annual Tri-Conference IASBOIASBO IPAIPA

National or regional activitiesNational or regional activities

Excel at what you do – Merit Excel at what you do – Merit does have its placedoes have its place

““Technically Technically and tactically and tactically proficient”proficient”

Showcase your programShowcase your program Apply for grantsApply for grants Apply for awardsApply for awards Nominate others Nominate others Communicate Communicate

with the with the PTO/PTA/LSCPTO/PTA/LSC

Learn about the BudgetLearn about the Budget When you request When you request

something, have an idea of something, have an idea of where the money can come where the money can come fromfrom

Learn your building budgetLearn your building budget Figure out ways to cut Figure out ways to cut

extraneous expensesextraneous expenses Be willing to cut sacred cows Be willing to cut sacred cows

in your own budget. Even in your own budget. Even Delhi is starting to clear out Delhi is starting to clear out the cows!the cows!

Be prepared to spend money Be prepared to spend money at any timeat any time

Understand your Understand your budget including budget including timelinestimelines

Understand the Understand the building budgetbuilding budget

Also have a wish list Also have a wish list handy tied to handy tied to specific grantsspecific grants

Ex: Grant dollarsEx: Grant dollars Many federal grant dollars are lost each Many federal grant dollars are lost each

year or turned back to a higher levelyear or turned back to a higher level

Determine what kind of purchases you Determine what kind of purchases you might be able to make under the federal might be able to make under the federal and IL grants available to your schooland IL grants available to your school

Help with TechnologyHelp with Technology Be prepared to assist with Be prepared to assist with

technology issuestechnology issues Computer issues are information Computer issues are information

issues, you need to be able to issues, you need to be able to embrace them to have value in embrace them to have value in today’s educational milieu today’s educational milieu

Ensure information literacy is Ensure information literacy is always viewed as a part of always viewed as a part of Internet skill developmentInternet skill development

If you do not embrace If you do not embrace technology and show leadership technology and show leadership in that area, you are very much a in that area, you are very much a one trick pony in today’s worldone trick pony in today’s world

Be ProactiveBe Proactive Be proactive when possibleBe proactive when possible Introduce yourself to new staffIntroduce yourself to new staff Involve yourself with new staff orientationInvolve yourself with new staff orientation Regularly communicate via a newsletterRegularly communicate via a newsletter

New materialsNew materials ProgrammingProgramming Helpful tidbits for staffHelpful tidbits for staff

– Graduate coursesGraduate courses– Travel tips prior to spring break, summer, etc.Travel tips prior to spring break, summer, etc.– Online searchingOnline searching– Tax information online in JanuaryTax information online in January

Always Remember Their Needs Always Remember Their Needs Always make all requests within the Always make all requests within the

context of the SIP, strategic plan, etc.context of the SIP, strategic plan, etc. Always focus on student benefits, not Always focus on student benefits, not

library benefitslibrary benefits Always clearly articulate connections to Always clearly articulate connections to

student achievement and state student achievement and state standardsstandards

Sell YourselfSell Yourself Be ProfessionalBe Professional Be PositiveBe Positive Be ProactiveBe Proactive Be Concise Be Concise Be ConsiderateBe Considerate Be InformedBe Informed Focus on student Focus on student

achievement and achievement and school-wide goalsschool-wide goals

How to create understandingHow to create understanding Serve the administrationServe the administration

Be the hostess with the mostestBe the hostess with the mostest

Clearly articulate the purpose of the library Clearly articulate the purpose of the library program in the context of school goalsprogram in the context of school goals

Clearly articulate the purpose of the library Clearly articulate the purpose of the library program in the context of school goalsprogram in the context of school goals