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Resources for Students and Parents

Students are among the most powerful advocacy groups for school library programs. Their voices must be heard and amplified with stakeholders and decision-makers. Parents are also a powerful voice in advocating for effective school library programs. All parents want their children to have the tools for success in both school and life!

Student-Created Videos

Circulate this video (click here to access via DropBox), created by Lizzie Shacklett, Miss Pennsylvania's Teen 2023. Lizzie writes, “I am excited to collaborate with the Philadelphia Alliance to Restore School Librarians (PARSL) during School Library Month! Please visit PARSL’s website to learn more about their call to action and to support their mission of ensuring every Philadelphia student has access to a quality library program.”


A Right to School Libraries: A video created by Gomain Konneh, student at Julia R. Masterman in the School District of Philadelphia, about her and her fellow students' right to a school library. The video was presented at the 2014 PSLA Conference. 

 

Resources for Parents

AASL’s School Librarian Job Description

Article: “School Librarians Help to Bridge the Digital Divide,” published by Parent Today (February 13, 2019).

Article: “Standing Up for School Libraries,” an op-ed by Barbara Stripling and published in Our Children, the National PTA Magazine (April/May 2014).

Handout: “Does Your Child Have Access to a Quality School Library?” prepared by the Texas Association of School Librarians. 

Infographic: “The Largest Classroom at Your Child’s School? The Library!” prepared by the Texas Association of School Librarians.

Blog post: “Here’s Why You Should Thank Your School Librarian,” written by Erin Walsh on the Spark & Stitch Institute website (April 10, 2019).

Short Film: Overdue: The Value of School Librarians, prepared by the Rhode Island Library Association (2021).`

AASL’s Resources for Parents and Guardians
“School librarians empower students to Think, Create, Share, and Grow in the school library as they learn to harness curiosity, model responsibility, inspire exploration, promote creativity, and deepen understanding. School libraries create equity and prepare all learners for college, career, and life. Student outcomes improve when parents are involved. Ask your school librarian how you can support learning in school and at home.”

 

Resources for School Librarians

The Pennsylvania PTA strongly supports school libraries as evidenced in their Position Statement on Public School Library Programs, adopted in 2011.

Join the Pennsylvania PTA

Read the PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

“PTO vs. PTA: Differences at a Glance,” an article published in PTO Today (October 18, 2021).
“Dues, insurance, nonprofit status, and more—get the scoop on how PTAs and independent PTOs handle these areas.”

AASL’s Parent Advocate Toolkit

“Librarian Tip: Improve Communication with Parents,” a post published on the Elementary Librarian blog.