Identifying "Best Sellers"

Who are candidates for advocating for strong school libraries? Who do you already know who is a strong voice for students, reading, and libraries? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

• Do you invite authors to visit your school? Or, are you on a local or CSLA committee that invites authors to speak about their books to students? Authors who know the key messages and can describe the elements of a strong school library can be powerful advocates as they visit schools, are interviewed by the media, or enhance their websites.
  
• Who is your biggest or most vocal school library supporter? PTA President? A School Board member? A Site Council member? Local school leaders who know the key messages and can describe the elements of a strong school library can be powerful advocates as they speak before community groups, are interviewed by the media, or set their funding priorities.
• Think creatively. Are any of your parents business or community leaders? Members of the Press or Director of a local public radio or TV station? Sports celebrities or managers of popular sports teams? Community leaders who know the key messages and can describe the elements of a strong school library can be powerful advocates as they build or promote their community as a good place to live and learn.
• Know any students? They could be your strongest supporters! Students who know the key messages and can describe the elements of a strong school library can be the most powerful, creative, and energized advocates as they seek the skills and advantages to build their futures.
• Know your stakeholders. See ALA toolkit.
  

Who do you know? Who would you like to know better? Who would be pleased and honored to advocate for strong students and lifelong learners? Who would NOT want to be invited? Enjoy!

Together, CSLA members and their "Best Sellers" will building public will for strong school libraries for students. A word on building "public will". There is an excellent article on "Building Public Will for Libraries" in The Library PR Handbook. Authors Eric Friedenwald-Fischman and Laura K.Lee Delinger define public will building:

• connects people to an issue through their VALUES, rather than trying to change those values;
• results in long-term attitudinal shifts that are manifested in individuals taking new actions that COLLECTIVELY create change;
• is achieved when a sufficient number of thought leaders have galvanized around an issue to form a new set of fundamental community EXPECTATIONS.