This book provides practical strategies and step-by-step plans for developing advocacy initiatives for school libraries.

School libraries provide an essential service to the community, but without proper funding few libraries stand a chance to maintain the resources they offer-or to survive at all. School librarians can play an instrumental role in the survival of their programs. This how-to book provides school librarians with effective advocacy and activism strategies for promoting and improving their library programs.

Activism and the School Librarian: Tools for Advocacy and Survival offers straightforward, practical approaches for creating advocacy programs. This guidebook examines the characteristics for becoming an advocate, explores the meaning of advocacy/activism as an effort that is ongoing and proactive, and provides the steps required for initiating a successful program. The contributors address the various types of advocacy and activism, including legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels; school and district level programs; and community-based initiatives. The book includes expert advice from successful advocates and provides helpful reproducible tools.

• Practical advice from expert advocates
• Step-by-step guidance for developing an advocacy program
• A comprehensive glossary of terms
• An examination of the proactive role of school librarians in successful advocacy initiatives