Promoting the Library, not the Librarian

I know we have still have about 9 weeks left in this school year, but I have been reflecting on what has been accomplished this year.  It’s been a pretty amazing school year beginning with the addition of several hundred iPads on my campus for student and teacher use.  This infusion of technology has been supported by monthly professional development opportunities, discussions on how devices shouldn't trump pedagogy, and has reignited a spark in many of our veteran teachers.  

Our campus also benefited GREATLY this year by the addition of a full time Technology Support Specialist.  This gentleman has been amazing and has freed up much of my time I used to spend on managing devices so I spend more of my time on instructional work: planning with teachers, teaching students, and organizing various programming events.

A 40 Book challenge was introduced along with a genre based system of organization and those two features combined to increase circulation rates of our students.  Maker days finally made an appearance in the library and has been enthusiastically embraced by students, teachers, and parents.  LibraryPalooza, our teen book festival, had it’s most successful year in it’s four year existence, with capacity crowds.  Most recently, the library hosted four of the major candidates for mayor of San Antonio in a community forum to discuss issues facing our city.

So, while this year was a year of great professional accomplishment for me, it hasn't been solely about what I have done as an individual.  It has been much more about highlighting the various ways a school library can change the learning experience.  I hope the events of  this year caused decision makers in my district and state to take a closer look at the multiple ways libraries improve our communities.  I hope this year shattered stereotypes some decision makers may hold of librarians as simply “the keeper of books”.  We librarians need to let all stakeholders, both inside and outside our library walls,  know of the great ways we enrich our communities.  The more people who are aware of the impact we have, the greater the chance we have of becoming that crucial piece no community should be without.  With that in mind, I put an extra emphasis this year on library promotion via social media.  This push has been more successful this year than ever before with over 500 students, parents, teachers, and community members following our Twitter and Instagram accounts. These stakeholders are hearing of the positive experiences the library provides for our community.  I believe it is imperative for librarians to tell our story because if we don’t, someone else will tell it for us and quite possibly, may tell the wrong story. So for those of you out there who are doing amazing things in the library but may be reluctant to "toot your own horn", I urge you to share those experiences. Remember, it's not about promoting the librarian, it's about promoting the library.