Dawn+Osborn

1. Stakeholder Support - 2. Promoting the School Library and Advocacy - 3. Advocacy Success Stories -
 * Building stakeholder support is important no matter what your position within a community. Since I am not an LMS (yet) and cannot draw on that experience, I will address how I have attempted to build stakeholder support as a classroom teacher. Once way I have attempted to build support is by ongoing communication with my principal. Keeping him in the loop about what I am doing in the classroom and explaining how my goals are aligned with state standards has allowed him to be prepared and able to answer questions posed to him by parents or others within the school. In addition, attempting collaboration with other classroom teachers and offering assistance to them whenever possible has helped me to build support within my direct learning community. I also make it a best practice to explain to students what my goals and objectives are in each and every unit I teach them and expect them to learn. That way they understand how the material can and will assist them in the future. Students are more willing to be supportive of curriculum they see value in. Last, but not least, I have made an effort to communicate with parents through a webpage linked to our school webpage. This is a place where parents can see what we are doing in class. I have also encouraged parents to visit my classroom any time they choose.
 * This is a difficult question to answer since I am not currently a librarian. However, after reading the articles and considering other materials I have read, I believe promoting and advocating for our libraries is even more important in this century than it has ever been before. Too many people have the notion that the digital information age is a preclusion to the end of the library. I would agree that changes are necessary, but I would disagree and state that the library must, indeed, change in order to meet the needs of the 21st century learner and patron As a result of the explosion of digital information, the library is becoming even more important. Those of us who know that the change is imminent and necessary, must advocate for that change. Some steps I would take to promote my library would definitely include an open house. I liked the idea of holding an open house for the teachers and making it an event that has a "party" atmosphere. Providing refreshments and stations for the teachers to experience what the library has to offer is a great idea. Making sure to highlight the services of old AND the 21st century services the library can provide would also be imperative. I would also hold an open house for students and parents that incorporates different stations and guidance in the usage of the library and all it has to offer. In addition, promoting the library through communication with members of the legislature would be an important step in garnering funds and disseminating information to those who can effect change. Another simple way to promote the library is similar to how I have attempted to build stakeholder support. Blogs, webpages, and other types of communication is a simple way to promote activities happening in the library. Providing special events in addition to open houses such as book fairs, book clubs, technology classes, etc. is a powerful tool in advocacy because if stakeholders like what is happening in the library, they will be advocates themselves.
 * Again, since I am not currently an LMS, I will share an advocate success story from my work as a Park Board Commissioner. I have served as an Oakes Parks and Recreation Board member for the last 4 years. We are a non-profit entity that mainly provides recreation activities and maintains the parks in our community. Of course, most years we lose money and don't even break even, so we have to find creative ways to fund our programs. I had multiple families approach me about wanting a playground in the park adjacent to our swimming pool. In order to make that a reality, I had to seek the support of many other groups in and out of our community. I compiled a presentation that included photos, cost, research on the importance of exercise for maintaining healthy lifestyles and the childhood obesity problem this country faces, and went to organizational meetings of the Lions, Oakes Enhancement Initiative (OEI), Knights of Columbus, Oakes FFA chapter, and the Oakes City Council as well as writing a grant proposal for a regional annual grant. As result, I was able to raise the funds and volunteer labor necessary to purchase and build a new playground next to our pool. If I had not gone out into the community and explained all that our board does and hopes to continue doing while stressing the benefits to children of being active and engaged in play, I would not have been able to get this playground built. When given the facts and shown the likely positive outcomes of programs, people want to help and support those programs.