The document provides advocacy strategies and talking points for supporting school libraries. It discusses framing the issue around 21st century skills, presenting data on library impacts, empowering stakeholders, and building relationships with decision makers. Effective tactics included personal stories, empathy, realistic asks, and recognizing libraries as fundamental rather than enhancements.

1. Washington Coalition for School Libraries and Information Technology (WCS-Lit) www.fundourfuturewashington.org Advocacy Primer Lisa Layera Brunkan Denette Hill Susan McBurney These materials are made available through a Creative Commons License

5. The Political Terrain Argument Objection Libraries matter. Get in line. “ Lobby the bill, not the issue.” - Political insider for 40 years The librarian is the advocate. Special interest “ Tell them not to send librarians.” - Committee chair, via top advisor Libraries need more money. It’s a ‘local decision’. It’s the state and Fed’s failure to sufficiently fund it. Libraries should be funded. It’s an extra, an enhancement, a luxury in these economic times. “Where would you want us to cut?”

7. Stakeholders Decision Makers Tools Wisdom

14. Effective Data: The Oregon Numbers

15. Grassroots Effectiveness vs. Mass Noise GRASSROOTS EFFECTIVENESS MASS NOISE The people’s voice : For each librarian, 3 stakeholders. Librarians = special interest Personal emails and letters invite engagement . Mass communications will be ignored. Personal stories Canned messages Personal interactions (visits, attending meetings) bring the effort to life and create the mandate. Mass actions w/o personal follow-up are ineffective.

25. Top 10 To-Dos “ The Spokane parents gave people around the state an opportunity to say, 'Yes, this is important.’ That is special—not unique—but it's unusual, because here's a couple of concerned parents who are doing more than writing or emailing. They're expressing views clearly and forcefully and providing a website so that others who agree can express their views as well.” -Skip Priest, WA State Representative, to the LA Times