Canadian school libraries, teacher-librarians, and parents have begun to engage in organized, collective demands for on-going support for programs and resources in schools. Some of the best efforts to date are below.
Community Connections - Public Relations - School Communication

Community Connections

The Crisis in Canada's School Libraries: the Case for Reform and Re-Investment. June, 2003. Dr. Ken Haycock.
"... if Canadian politicians demand hard evidence ot the utility of school libraries and teacher-librarians, they can refer to the studies cited in this report."
final_haycock_report.pdf

Ontario School Library Association Advocacy
Includes links to the Ontario Education Act, Friends of School Libraries in Ontario and other essential documents for those advocating on behalf of a strong school library presence in Ontario.
http://www.accessola.org/osla/advocacy.htm

Saskatchewan Libraries Working Together is a discussion paper from the Saskatchewan Provincial Library advocating the integration of all libraries in a common goal.
http://www.lib.sk.ca/workingtogether.pdf

The Summit on School Libraries held in May 2002 brought together interested supporters of school libraries from the entire library and education community. Proceedings can be read here:
http://www.accessola.org/summit/

UNESCO/IFLA School Library Manifesto. 1998
This document is the basis of all advocacy work for school libraries internationally.
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/libraries/manifestos/school_manifesto.html

Why do we need a teacher-librarian or a school library when we have the Internet?
The short and the long answers from 027.8 School library Bulletin (Australia) - relevant everywhere!
http://www.education.tas.gov.au/0278/issue/021/whytl.htm

Public Relations

Canadian Coalition for School Libraries
Consisting of representatives of the Canadian School Library Association, the Association of Canadian Publishers, People for Education, the Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians,as well as writers, academics and parents, CCSL is concerned with the erosion of school library programs and resources, and its effects on students success. Roch Carrier, National Librarian of Canada is the honorary chair.
http://www.peopleforeducation.com/librarycoalition/

Canadian Coalition for School Libraries Brochure
ccsl_brochure.pdf

"Library Advocacy Now!"
Canadian Library Association's workshop, action plans, quotes to use and links to more sources. A good place to start for any library.
http://www.clatoolbox.ca/divisions/capl/advocacy/index.htm

Library Associations of Alberta Election Kit.
Practical methods for influencing people and politicians to be supportive of libraries. Excellent resource for taking any Library Friends group or Teacher/Librarian Association through the process of public advocacy.
http://www.laa.ab.ca/ElectionKit.htm

School Communication

Movement for Canadian Literacy advocates for support for those with learning disabilities. See how to make your library part of the solution by using this factsheet and the many links provided.
http://www.literacy.ca/litand/7.htm

Information Literacy: an Advocacy Kit for Teacher-Librarians. Compiled and edited by Victoria Pennell.
Comprehensive 160 page kit advocating for Information literacy programs for students from Association for Teacher Librarianship in Canada. 1998.
http://www.atlc.ca/Publications/advockit.htm

The Role of the Principal in an Information Literate School Community. 2000
Article by Dr. Dianne Oberg (University of Alberta) and James Henri (Charles Sturt University, Australia) in 2000 ed. of School Library Media Research , American Association of School Libraries journal. Start here in your local school.
http://www.ala.org/aasl/SLMR/vol3/principal/principal.html