A focus on student achievement guides an advocacy plan that
builds support of decision makers who affect the quality of the
library media program Advocacy is a long-term, deliberate plan
that is designed to build stakeholder support. True advocacy is
when stakeholders stand up and speak out on behalf of a cause,
idea, program or organization. Stakeholder support is built
through program design, marketing and education. It is the job
of school librarians to design programs around stakeholder needs
and to educate stakeholders about how school libraries connect
to stakeholders’ priorities. Data and evidence are key
educational tools as school librarians work to educate
stakeholders about the school library’s role in preparing
students to live work and learn in the 21st Century. [From: AASL
School Library Program Health and Wellness Toolkit - ] What is
Advocacy? Advocacy is building support for something (an
organization, an ideal, a cause) gradually, over time. It is a
long-term, step-by-step process. It is the