ADVOCACY
The American Library Association's American Association of School Librarians division defines advocacy as the "On-going process of building partnerships so that others will act for and with you, turning passive support into educated action for the library program." They also have various tools to help you advocate for your library at http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/tools/toolkits
When the CAISLN group met 10/8/2014, one thing we discussed at the meeting was finding comparative data for Independent School Libraries to help us in retaining or gaining positions.If you have any to add to the following list please email the link or data to Heather Swift [email protected] to post.
STATS
In 2009 CAISLN collected statistics on our libraries to help with advocacy. Click here to view the results.
2011, library staff and hours. Click here to view the results.
2011, library staff and hours. Click here to view the results.
AISL: Librarian/Paraprofessional : Student Ratio spreadsheet with graphs posted originally at Girls Preparatory School.
In 2008, the School Library Media Research: Research Journal of AASL did a study on Independent School Libraries.
Here is the link to the full report:
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/slr/vol11/SLMR_StudyingIndependent_V11.pdf
Studying the Independent School Library (2008)
Staffing and Hours
School librarians participating in the survey were asked to quantify the ratio of students to degreed (usually an MLS degree) library professionals and the ratio of students to total library staff (including paraprofessionals). A majority of respondents reported a ratio of 300–400 students per degreed library professional. The ratio of students to total library staff was most frequently reported as 101–200 students per library staff member. Combined schools and boarding schools reported a higher level of total library staff (an average of 3 FTE staff members) compared to day schools (1.9 FTE). Schools located in the Northeast had a higher mean of total library staff (2.36 FTE) than the Midwest (1.91 FTE) and the West and South (both 1.86 FTE). Schools located in central cities also had a higher level of total library staff (2.12 FTE) than midsize cities (1.94 FTE) and rural small towns (1.93 FTE). The highest level of staffing in schools was exhibited by those located in Northeast, midsize cities (2.72 FTE). The mean number of hours the library was open for use each week was 49.3, with 44 percent of libraries reporting they were open 40–50 hours per week. Boarding schools reported more hours open per week (79.5) than combined schools (57) or day schools (41.5). Schools located in rural areas also were open more hours (a mean of 52) over midsize cities (46) and large cities (41.5).
Here is the link to the full report:
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/slr/vol11/SLMR_StudyingIndependent_V11.pdf
Studying the Independent School Library (2008)
Staffing and Hours
School librarians participating in the survey were asked to quantify the ratio of students to degreed (usually an MLS degree) library professionals and the ratio of students to total library staff (including paraprofessionals). A majority of respondents reported a ratio of 300–400 students per degreed library professional. The ratio of students to total library staff was most frequently reported as 101–200 students per library staff member. Combined schools and boarding schools reported a higher level of total library staff (an average of 3 FTE staff members) compared to day schools (1.9 FTE). Schools located in the Northeast had a higher mean of total library staff (2.36 FTE) than the Midwest (1.91 FTE) and the West and South (both 1.86 FTE). Schools located in central cities also had a higher level of total library staff (2.12 FTE) than midsize cities (1.94 FTE) and rural small towns (1.93 FTE). The highest level of staffing in schools was exhibited by those located in Northeast, midsize cities (2.72 FTE). The mean number of hours the library was open for use each week was 49.3, with 44 percent of libraries reporting they were open 40–50 hours per week. Boarding schools reported more hours open per week (79.5) than combined schools (57) or day schools (41.5). Schools located in rural areas also were open more hours (a mean of 52) over midsize cities (46) and large cities (41.5).