Discussion for January: Fighting back when cuts are threatened - Webinar

Hi Holly, yes it is a great campaign! In the UK we have something similar called the Great School Libraries campaign https://www.greatschoollibraries.org.uk/

I am not brave and no I really did not think that this is what working with school librarians would be all about. I shake every time I have to talk in front of teachers but I know in my heart that this is important. Once I get going I get braver... Once I have a platform no-one is going to drag me off (I hope) so it is my chance to talk passionately about why this is all so important.

@Elizabeth You say this, but look at the things you have achieved! I think just being in a secondary school we all have developed a thick skin! Although, I'm not sure I would be brave enough to address a large audience, but as others have said i earlier conversations, I think we find the courage when we need to.

@micwag Absolutely! If you can evaluate the impact that is great. Use photographs, emails and verbal feedback. All great evidence and not always thought about.

@micwag what is Bookbuzz? :)

@Annie It's an initiative run by BookTrust in the UK to keep the reading for pleasure going in the transition from primary to secondary school. Participating schools can buy every new intake pupil a book (Pupil gets to choose from 12 titles), at a reduced cost of £3 per book. The impact is astonishing - some pupils have never owned a book before. It's important to document the impact evidence from schemes like this.

After the books are delivered, I hand out A3 sheets to tutors (Or post it notes) and pupils describe what it means to receive their book. I then follow up with an Evaluation survey later in the year.

@Elizabeth Yes, although there is a problem currently in the UK with publishers not providing relevant books. I have seen a massive decline in printed resources, particularly for KS4, and a lot of new KS3 material is really KS2. The trend to age appropriate resources is more online, and we need to step up to help pupils navigate this. Not Google, but resources like Issues Online, for example. Crtical thinking needs to be embedded in all subjects, not just for HPQ/EPQ research. VI Form need these skills for EPQ & A Level, but if they're embedded earlier in the school career, the benefits to everyone are obvious. Time and funding are barriers - the curriculum in lower school has much content to get through. We need to work harder at finding that balance.

I agree with you @micwag. There is a big gap in the online resource sector for age appropriate content. One of our database providers markets content at a primary level but there are still big holes. My other big concern is that students tend to be rather liberal with the 'copy-paste' function on their devices and I really don't know if teachers keep track of it and/or have the time to change that behaviour. I know it is part of their instruction but do they send the students back to re-do work? (Makes note to chat with teacher friends)

@Annie have you seen FOSIL? FOSIL.org.uk it is full of resources to help teach students to think critically and not copy and paste. Might be worth looking at before taking to your teachers 😊

Advocacy is about promoting what you do. Being a spokesperson is back to being that person in the board meeting, the person who knows the school development plan and budget and someone who is not frightened to say that it is important that you exist. This is not about self promotion it is about what is important for your students and teachers...

John Chrastka made some very good points re having a spokesperson - the key one being keeping them in the loop always.

I would not be comfortable being my own spokesperson - I struggle with advocacy! 😜

Having said that, I will definitely think about it.

@Elizabeth I need to work more on both advocacy and being a spokesperson. I feel I have dipped my toe in both, but more is required!

@Annie I didn't have much contact with parents as a school librarian. I don't think many schools see library provision as a key "selling point" with parents. If awareness of the potential of a good school library is raised among the general public by the Great School Libraries Campaign and our National Strategy here in Scotland, perhaps this could change.

@bathgatew @Annie I agree the school needs to understand the selling point of the school library. The Great School Library website has a great leaflet which has some great questions for parents to ask when looking at a school. The how can I help page is good too. https://www.greatschoollibraries.org.uk/how-can-i-help

@bathgatew That's interesting, What about at Open Evenings and tours? The library is always shown off to prospective parents as a selling point then. Although, I noticed not when we had new photographs to update website. Hmmm.

@Elizabeth @Annie I agree with all you've said! I would also count the school governors as I have had direct contact /praise in the past as they see what I am doing via weekly newsletter & weekly Staff Bulletin. I also think other librarians are our allies - they get it!

@Annie I agree. I feel also the fact that my role is technically still "support staff" means that actual budget details would not be shared. I am budget holder and have had conversations to preserve the amount I get. I feel I am good at spending (an keeping within budget) and having been so for the last 15 years, I have gained the trust of the budget setters. I have still faced funding cuts - but every department has. I can have conversations regarding additional funding, for example I have a newly formed Manga Club with targeted Yr8/9 pupils and a Yr 8 Literacy group and got this funded elsewhere.

I am aware of some other departments budgets', but only if the HOD reveals this.

There definitely seems to be a secret aspect to budgets, although this could just be a perspective, rather than statement. I might ask my Finance Officer outright!

@micwag If you do ask your finance officer let us know what she says...

@Elizabeth I have just had a conversation with our Finance Manager about this. I asked if departmental budgets were confidential to that department or if I, for example, could ask what Science receive? He replied that they are not confidential, but nobody has ever asked him before! I asked if it was discouraged, like an unwritten rule, but he said this was not the case. Interesting, as I had assumed I would not be privy to this information. It really is if you don't ask, you don't get!

Perhaps we can be our own barriers!

@Annie I agree it's very important to know what's going on. The school librarian needs to keep a close watch on minutes of SLT meetings as well as school policies and news bulletins.

@bathgatew yes getting hold of the SLT minutes is a great idea especially if you can't attend these meetings. As they say knowledge is power :)

@Annie Similar here, although our Staff briefing & Bulletin is weekly.

Thanks, @Elizabeth.

The quotes range from spiritual and philosophical to reading and library related. I have no hard and fast rule for choosing a quote - it is what speaks to me at that time. My last signature was "Science tip: You can tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile by paying attention to whether they will see you later or in a while" in a bid to lighten things up at the end of the year. I have also had "ask me what I'm reading" and "Currently reading ... ". I try to change the quote every 3-4 weeks. At times I have also had an image which is linked to an event such as Book Week. These images are created by the event organisers as promotional tools.

@Elizabeth Yes, we all know we should be advocates and shout from the rooftops and I think I do this to a certain extent, especially in school. I'm always speaking in Staff briefing (weekly) about events, I regularly detail in Staff Bulletin and weekly newsletter. This way, and by termly reports, SLT & governors can see what I'm doing in the Library. Promotions go on VLE, plasma screens around school etc. I find it hard to keep up to date with social media, but the comments about Twitter interested me. A public Twitter presence does make it harder for cuts as parents can see what the Library does. I need to have another conversation ab creating a school account on Twitter, something my school has been reticent to do.

I loved the comment that "the Library is the largest classroom in the school and open the most hours."

@Annie I love your quotes. Such a simple idea which looks effective - I may have to steal this!

@micwag Do ask again about twitter and Facebook. They are the perfect tool to engage parents if done well. They do take time but I think the outcome is very beneficial.