Re: AASL National Conference Proposals

[Gary Hartzell <ghartz@CWIS.UNOMAHA.EDU>]

Dear Ms. Waddle, Ms. Herrin, and Ms. Finkle:

I would like to respectfully suggest that a seventh category be added to
the theme dimensions for the next AASL Annual Conference.  I don't know
exactly how it might be named, but its intent would be to explore ways to
create the most important perception that "libraries lead to learning" in
the minds of teachers, administrators, board members, legislators, and
parents. Unless such a perception is created -- and it demonstrably does
not exist in enough of them now -- the wonderful ideas generated and
shared in the sessions devoted to the other six themes may never be
brought to fruition.

The themes listed (technology, resource allocation, information literacy,
management, learning styles, and partnership strategies) and the content
they represent, are all items that should be in the forefront of
administrators' and board members' thinking as they do strategic planning,
and make curriculum, budget, and staffing decisions.  But, unless these
crucial points and the important implications they carry are deliberately
and systematically hammered home with administrators, board members, and
legislators in a persuasive fashion, the odds of realizing the benefits
they promise are very low.

One of the real difficulties in advancing libraries and librarians in
school improvement, and in gaining them the respect and the access to
forums that they should have, is the fact that most administrators and
board members don't see either as vital to student achievement and school
success.  Until they come to actually believe -- not just give lip service
to the idea -- that "libraries lead to learning,"  they will not provide
the support necessary to bring to life what is promised through these
themes.

Library conferences have always provided proof for librarians that
libraries are important.  The presentations librarians make for each other
are persuasive and inspiring.  They broaden and deepen the conviction that
the library is a crucial element in school success.  These efforts
convince those they reach that librarians have new roles to play and
should have bigger budgets, new equipment, and additional support in order
to fulfill the responsibilities of those new roles.  The problem is that
they don't reach the people who make budget, staffing, evaluation, and
support decisions -- administrators and board members first and directly,
and teachers and parents indirectly.

The follow-through often falls through.  There needs to be a deliberate
targeting of these decision-makers, and strategies developed for
convincing them of the truth of the conference's theme.  It is not
enough for librarians to just talk to other librarians and then go
home.

The AASl conference will bring together librarians from all over the
country, and beyond, who are making inroads in the convictions and thought
processes of their administrations and boards, teachers and communities,
and legislators. These librarians could be sharing their strategies and
tactics in San Francisco, and school librarians across the field could
take advantage of each other's presence to plan coordinated attacks on the
ignorance of the people who prevent them from making the full contribution
to student and school success that they could be making.

It seems to me that we have ample proof that merit alone will not win the
kind of support libraries need.  If it could, no library program would be
as vulnerable as most are.  It appears to be time for librarians to assert
themselves in pursuit of what they ought to be given as a matter of
course. To change the perception of libraries and librarians now held by
people who ought to be supporting them enthusiastically will take
deliberate effort.  The conference would be a wonderful place to initiate
such an effort -- and take the first step by sharing success stories from
one district that can immediately be turned into action plans in another.

It may be that you have already made provision for this kind of thinking
in the sixth category, "Partnership Strategies," but I couldn't tell from
the title.  I suppose what I'm really proposing is "Leadership Strategies"
-- even "Advocacy Strategies" and "Impression Management," "Perception
Management," and "Image Management Strategies" -- because the
implementation of the ideas presented in the other theme dimensions depend
upon such aggressive strategies for their implementation and
institutionalization.

Thank you in advance for giving consideration to my suggestion.

Sincerely,

Gary Hartzell


Gary Hartzell
Associate Professor
Department of Educational Administration
University of Nebraska, Omaha
ghartz@cwis.unomaha.edu

On Wed, 4 Sep 1996, Barbara Herrin (Linda Waddle) wrote:
>
> The theme for AASL programming at the 1997 Annual Conference of the
> American Library Association in San Francisco June 26-July 3, 1997,
> is "Libraries Lead to Learning."  This theme suggests that
> libraries--and library media specialists--are integral components of
> the educational process and essential to student learning.
>
> The AASL Program Planning Committee (chaired by Dagmar Finkle) is
> seeking suggestions and/or proposals which address the theme through
> one or more of the following specific topics:
>
> 1) technology
> 2) budget planning/preparation and resource allocation
> 3) information literacy skills--access and assessment
> 4) management skills
> 5) learning styles/brain-based learning
> 6) implementation of partnership strategies
>
> If you or your committee are interested in presenting a program,
> please submit the following information by October 1, 1996 to:
>
> AASL Annual Conference Program
> 50 East Huron
> Chicago, IL  60611
> FAX:  312/664-7459
>
> "Libraries Lead to Learning"  Program Proposal
>
> 1)  Committee/Section Proposing Program:
> 2)  Program Contact:
> 3)  Contact Mailing Address:
> 4)  Contact Work Phone:
> 5)  Contact Home Phone:
> 6)  Contact FAX:
> 7)  Contact E-mail:
>
> 8)  Working Title of Program Proposed:
> 9)  Program Description (75 words or less for possible use in the
> Preliminary Program and advertising brochure):
> 10)  Relationship to AASL Conference Theme--"Libraries Lead to
> Learning:"
> 11)  Proposed Speakers (Please note that honoraria and expenses are
> not paid to librarians and/or AASL/ALA members for presenting regular
> conference programs.):
> 12)  Program Format:  a) Theater;  b) Rounds of 10;
> 13)  Number at Head Table:
> 14)  Program Length:  a) One hour;  b) 1 1/2 hours;  c) 2 hours;  d)
> 3 hours.
> 15)  Target Audience:
> 16)  Expected Audience:  a) 100;  b) 100-250;  c) 250-500;
> d) over 500.
> 17)  Audio Visual Equipment Needed (Must be ordered before May 1 and
> approved by AASL Staff prior to submission to ALA;  Union contracts
> do not allow for bringing your own equipment.  Possibilities include
> Overhead Projector/Screen; Slide projector; Video Projection Unit;
> LCD Panel--for IBM or MAC; Audio Cassette Player, IBM or MAC Computer
> Equipment--Please be specific.):
> 18)  Proposed Funding Source (for speakers expenses, handouts, etc.):
>  a) Annual Committee Allocation ($50); b) Annual Section Allocation
> ($500); c) Other (describe in detail):
>
> Key dates for Annual Conference Programming
> Program Proposals Due:  October 1, 1996
> Notification of Acceptance:  Following Midwinter, 1997
> Preliminary Program Copy Due:  February 26, 1997
> Final Program Copy Due:  March 23, 1997
> Divisional Promotional Flier Distributed:  April, 1997
> Final Arrangements Made:  May, 1997
> Program Locations Assigned by ALA:  June 1, 997
> ALA Annual Conference:  June 26-July 3, 1997
>
> If you have questions, please contact Dagmar Finkle
> (dfinkle@njlink.pppl.gov) or Barbara Herrin (800/545-2433 x4387;
> bherrin@ala.org).
>

Gary Hartzell
Associate Professor
Educational Administration
University of Nebraska at Omaha
ghartz@unomaha.edu
(402) 554-3442