The Library of Michigan and MAME have formed a new School Library Advisory Group Outreach Subcommittee. The Outreach Subcommittee will be looking at ways to promote the important role of the school librarian in student achievement and to have other people in the broad educational community (including other teachers, administrators, superintendents, school board members, parents, and community members) understand this role. 

Thus, a goal of the subcommittee is to have the K-12 community understand the role of the school librarians in student achievement and literacy as well as understand that equitable education includes access to the resources, materials, and services provided by school libraries.

The subcommittee includes Karren Reish, Library of Michigan; Kathy Lester, MAME President-Elect; Gwenn Marchesano, MAME VP - SIGS and Regions; Julie Harris, MAME VP of Continuing Education; and Kay Wejrowski, AASL School Library of the Year Award Winner.

In order to be successful, the outreach plan needs to include a variety of efforts and approaches. Some of the possible components of outreach identified by the subcommittee include:

• Presenting the School Library 21 (SL21) Measurement Benchmarks for Michigan School Libraries for 21st Century Schools at a State Board of Education Meeting for endorsement by the State Board of Education and to heighten awareness of the role of the School Librarian. (This will be done by the Library of Michigan with support from MAME.)
• Reaching out to other groups such as the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA), the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), and other administrator, teacher, and parent groups through articles and presentations at conferences.
• Using the American Library Association's Right to Libraries campaign to help promote and educate the broader community about the importance of school libraries.
• Encouraging all school librarians to actively promote their own school libraries to their entire school communities.

Because the Library of Michigan is part of the Department of Education, they will be able to assist in presentations and articles, but cannot "lobby" our legislators nor interfere with local school control. 

Thus, MAME is looking at possible avenues of advocacy separate from this committee as well.

As mentioned above, the outreach needs to include many components, including support by ALL school
librarians. All school librarians need to get LOUD and promote their school libraries as a necessary 
component of student achievement. When great things are going on in the library, we should make 
sure that our students, staff, administrators, school board, parents, and community know about it. 

Therefore, the School Library Outreach Subgroup has a new feature in the MAME monthly newsletter
highlighting ways you can advocate for your program. 

• Write a welcome letter to teachers (with a special or customized letter for new teachers)
• a sample can be found here (http://dogw.tripod.com/port_libraria/)
• more information from Doug Johnson here (http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/baby-teachers.html) 
• Follow up a print welcome letter with an email
• a sample can be found here (http://www.parkerlibrary.info/StartYearEmail.pdf)
• Publish a form to encourage collaboration with teachers
• a sample form can be found here (http://www.parkerlibrary.info/libraryCollabForm.pdf)
• Publish a list of library services
• a sample Library Services flyer can be found here (http://www.parkerlibrary.info/libraryServicesParker.pdf)
• Write a special letter to welcome parents
• Make sure information about the library is in the first newsletter going home to parents
• Get creative! Include graphics in your letter or include a little "gift"
• sample of graphic invite to collaborate (http://sweetlifeofa.edublogs.org/)
• include bag of popcorn with note "Pop into the Library"
• include lifesaver with note such as "Need resources, technology integration or research project support - the librarian is your lifesaver"
• here is a post from Buffy Hamilton about a welcome back bag (http://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com)

Do you have any great "welcome back" ideas to promote the library? Send them out to everyone on the

MAME listserv! 

Saginaw ISD Superintendent, Dr. Richard Syrek welcomed us with motivating and thought provoking words of encouragement. 

Dr. Syrek's presentation "44 years & still learning," challenged media specialists from the state to see the abilities of learners, not the disabilities, don't just sit there, change and to be proud of our profession and organization. 

Likewise, State Librarian Nancy Robertson, greeted us with empathy and encouragement as she recognized the struggling efforts we are forced to make in the era of waning budgets and financial support. Robertson's admiration and appreciation of school librarians is evident in her work by asking the State Board of Education endorsement of SL21. She reminded and urged us to use the SL21 Benchmarks as an opportunity to evaluate and open the conversation with administration to gain support. 

Beginning the day with such supportive and encouraging thoughts was a great way to set the tone for understanding the vital role the library program has in schools. 

Free! Free! Free! A price we cannot argue with especially when we are talking about essential resources that help our students succeed. Randy Riley and Deb Biggs Thomas from MeL showcased the upcoming changes we can expect to the MeL website. Many features will make MeL and its resources much more accessible and manageable for users of all ages. One highly anticipated facet of MeL's overhaul will be the Kids Portal for K-5 students. Brookie the Trout will guide youngsters through kid friendly links and databases. Other global features for MeL's improvement include a one stop search box for all of MeL's resources, new topic gateway buttons called globes, and automatic login from any Michigan computer for all databases. Look for these exciting changes and more coming this fall! 

MAME members were delighted and energized from the day of exploring ideas to make libraries an integral facet of the school. Here are a few thoughts about the day... 

"The Summer Institute was very energizing and I have lots of ideas to take back and use.  In fact, the ideas are too numerous to include in this short reflection; however, below are two "take aways" for me from the fabulous day.

One great quote from Mat McRae, new interim superintendent for Swan Valley Schools, was

What great things are going on in your media center?   Has a journal article or book recently inspired you?   Found a shortcut, great website, new and improved techie tool?   ...Or just have a funny story to share?   We love to hear from our readers!

Send your newsletter contributions to Shannon Clark @  mediamatters.mame@gmail.com