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Implementing a library advisory committee (LAG) is one of those fundamentals taught in the Master of Library Science program: gather shareholders, create consensus, and build a community (Hughes-Hassell and Wheelock 2001; Johnson 2009; Salmon 1996)- But the day-to-day reality of K-12 schools often is not conducive to vision building, and if there is no administrator support for such a committee, faculty and student groups brought together by the school librarian are often loose and work sporadically.
In August 20I2 I took a new position as head librarian for a Missouri public high school, and, in the new setting, I found administrative support for innovation in the school library program. Possibly librarian heaven! Suddenly, ideal goals such as having a library advisory committee were possible to achieve. The theoretical purpose of such a committee (community ownership and direction) and the practical benefits (community support and enhanced communication) were within reach.
Imagining the Future-Together
A school library program should aim higher than one individual can dream or plan for-the vision should be as big as the school family together can imagine. A library advisory committee provides a way to design library goals that school leaders, faculty, and students develop together.
Specific campus goals vary but always target student learning. The school library can and should be integral in meeting those goals. But developing the means to that end takes working together and talking together. What do students want to see in their school library program? How can the library support administrative goals? These answers can best be designed and then communicated in a mutually supportive environment. Together, participants in the LAC can bring a synergy-as well as an energy-to imagine and shape the school library's future.
How We Started
The first few months of the new school year were focused on learning the environment and meeting immediate needs such as circulation of materials and formal class instruction. Daily procedures were learned as needed. But one issue seemed to have no easy answer: How can we balance oversight of and service for unsupervised student traffic while maintaining a welcoming learning environment?
Sharing this question with the administration returned a suggestion from the campus principal that we create a library advisory committee. The vision was to build support, share...