Legislator @ Your Library Campaign

The PSLA Legislation Committee has organized an efficient procedure for its members to invite their local state legislators to their school libraries. The purpose of the visit is to:

• Inform legislators about the importance of school libraries in helping students achieve academically,
• Show them school library facilities and the learning that takes place in them,
• Illustrate the new roles that school librarians play in teaching, integration of technology, and providing professional development for teachers, and to
• Advocate for more financial support and state requirements for school libraries and staffing.

PSLA has trained "event planners" who are retired PSLA members willing to advise and help working PSLA members with the planning, details, and communication needs of legislator visits. Event planners will not be present during the visitation. By contacting Deb Kachel, PSLA Legislation Chairperson, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it you can request an event planner to help you.

Basic Responsibilities of the School Librarian

• Get school's permission to host a visit and select a date
• Communicate with the event planner
• Host the visit and plan library activities or observation for the legislator
• Provide PSLA prepared packet of information to the legislator and discuss library needs
• Arrange for photo opportunities and work with the event planner on media coverage
• Follow through with thank you's

Basic Responsibilities of the Event Planner

• Communicate with the local legislator's office to arrange the visitation
• Advise school librarian on visitation details, using checklists
• Arrange for media coverage, contacting media and preparing press releases
• Debrief with the school librarian

Resources

Lists & Checklists

(EP=Event Planner; SL=School Librarian)

• Big Picture Checklist for the Event Planner (EP)
• Big Picture Checklist for the School Librarian
• Suggested Activities List
• Initial Info Checklist (both EP and LMS)
• Event Planner Research (EP)
• Contacting the Legislator (EP)
• Event Planner-SL Confirmation Checklist (both EP and LMS)
• PSLA Report

Handouts

• Legislator @Your Library Program (handout for EP to email legislator's scheduler/aide to set up visit)

Handouts for packet presented to legislator during visit:

• PSLA Legislator@Your Library Campaign
• Background of the School Library (librarian must complete and add)
• School Library Guidelines & Data
• Inputs for Quality School Libraries
• The Instructional Role of the School Librarian
• Benefits of School Libraries
• Recommendations

Samples

• Sample Formal Invitation
• Sample District Invite Email
• Sample Press Release
• Sample Thank You to Legislator

Booklets that will be in the Legislator's Packet Provided by PSLA

• Measuring Up to Standards Findings (the Pennsylvania Study of 1999-2000)
• Pennsylvania's School Libraries: Key Players in Education
• School Libraries Work! 3rd ed. (Scholastic, c2008)
• School Library Research Summarized (Mansfield Universty, 2011)

Articles about PSLA Legislators@Your Library Campaign

• Kachel, Debra E. "Inviting Legislators into School Libraries." Marketing Library Services 25.2 (Mar./Apr. 2011): 1-3.
• Kaaland, Christie. "School Library Language for Legislators." School Library Montly 27.6 (Mar. 2011). School Library Montly. Web. 24 Feb.2011.
• Fuhrman, Cathi, and Kristin Douglas. "Friends in High Places." Learning & Media 38.3 (Summer 2010):5-7.
• Kachel, Debra E. "PSLA Legislator@Your Library Campaign." Learning & Media 37. 1 (Winter 2009): 18.
• Kachel, Debra E. "PSLA Legislator@Your Library Campaign." Teacher Librarian 36. 2 (Dec. 2008): 15-16.
• McFarlane, Megan. "Legislator@Your Library aims to get Politicians into School Libraries." ALA. ALA, 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 22 Aug. 2010.
• Perry, Sally. "A Legislative Visit in an Elementary School." Learning & Media 37. 4 (Fall 2009): 22-23.