Visit+Toolkit


 * Below, please find suggested emails and activities for an important OELMA advocacy project, the state school board and/or legislative school library visits. Our goal is to have these visits take place prior to the end of the school year**. **The OELMA board will be contacting exemplary library/librarians and asking them to invite either a state school board member or legislator to visit their library during an instructional time when higher level instructional skills are being taught.**


 * Email to Board Members**

Dear OELMA Board Member: This email contains basic directions for getting started on this important Advocacy project and the email you will use to follow up after your initial phone call to the showcase library librarian(s) that agree to assist with our project.

Directions:
 * Contact potential exemplary library/librarians as soon as possible.
 * When you are selecting libraries within your region, try to plan the visits to different level libraries (e.g. elementary, middle school or high school). It is important that you select school librarians that will conduct
 * Take a look at the OELMA Advocates //__homepage__// for roster information about the state school board members and legislators in your region http://oelmaadvocates.wikispaces.com
 * Read the participant email (see below) before contacting potential exemplary library/librarians. It will help you answer questions about what this project entails.
 * Participants should try and schedule the visit as soon as possible. We would like to have this project completed by the end of the school year (if possible). If needed, we can go into next year (2010-2011) as well.
 * Email the directions letter (see "Email to Exemplary Library/Librarian" below).
 * Contact Kathy Fredrick to let her know which librarians in your region will be conducting visits. fredrick_k@shaker.org
 * If you, or they have any additional questions, email or call Sue at sue.subel@kenstonlocal.org or 440.543.9821 ext. 3040 or Kathy at fredrick_k@shaker.org or 216.295.4180
 * //Contact Kathy Fredrick to let her know you have contacted the exemplary library/librarian and that they have confirmed their participation//: //fredrick_k@shaker.org//

Thank you for your work on this project. Sue, Kathy, Diane, Amy Advocacy Committee

Email to Exemplary Library/Librarian Dear [insert name], Congratulations on having been identified as having an exemplary school library program. Thank-you for being willing to have a member of the State Board of Education and/or state legislature visit your library. This important project will help build understanding of the educational importance of Ohio's school libraries.

Please, schedule this visit at a time when you have higher level instructional skills being taught by you. If possible, schedule the visit during a collaborative lesson with another curriculum teacher.

All the information you need to complete this important advocacy project can be found at the OELMA advocates wiki: http://oelmaadvocates.wikispaces.com (Check the Invite and Visit Toolkit pages)

If you have any questions or suggestions for us to share with other librarians hosting these visits, please contact Sue Subel at sue.subel@kenstonlocal.org or 440.543.9821 ext. 3040 or Kathy Fredrick at fredrick_k@shaker.org or 216.295.4180 Here is a time line/to do/strategy list to help you plan and have a successful visit.


 * Before the visit:**
 * Prior to contacting the board member/legislator, obtain permission from your building and district level administration.
 * Remove brackets and personalize the provided letter for your board member/legislator visit. Be sure to sign the letter before mailing. (See "Invite" page.)
 * Snail mail the invitation letter to the board member/legislator. //Contact Kathy Fredrick to let her know you have mailed invitation and name of invitee.//
 * If hosting a state school board member, visit  to see the board member's interests.
 * If possible, arrange to have a student reporter (contact high school newspaper adviser/teacher) or professional reporter to report on the visit.
 * Call the school board member or legislator's office to schedule the visit.//Contact Kathy Fredrick to let her know you have made a follow-up call.//
 * During the conversation, ask if a high school student or professional reporter could interview and photograph them to report on the visit to the school and/or local paper.
 * Talk to the collaborating teacher(s) and let them know what is happening. Let other teachers know to please send students to the library as they normally would during the visit..
 * Notify your administration of the date and time of the visit. //Notify Kathy Fredrick of date and time of visit.//
 * //Please gather comments and photos, if possible. Comments can be posted to the wiki, as well as the photos.//

Note: If administrators, board members or other district level leaders wish to meet the school board member, arrange to do a brief introduction after the visit. Perhaps, suggest that they arrange a reception at lunch or after school depending on the time of the visit and if that is acceptable to the school board member.


 * Setting the stage: **
 * Post copies of the library's collaborative schedule in highly visible places.
 * Have computers turned on. If the library has a homepage, have it up on most of the computers.
 * Put the InfOhio homepage up on other computers.
 * Display samples of collaborative research projects.
 * Display books on recent topics.
 * Have copies of lesson plans available to share.
 * Have a copy of the Ohio Library Guidelines to show the standards you teach. Emphasize the Media Literacy skills since they only appear in the Library Guidelines and are considered an essential 21st century skill  by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills .

**During the visit (strategies for building understanding):** First of all, breath, smile and remember this is about the teaching and helping that you love to do every day with your students. If you put your primary focus on the kids and what you normally do during the school day, the visit will be great!


 * Encourage students to continue to do independent research in addition to the scheduled class(es). Encourage students and teachers to talk with the school board member.
 * Possible talking points (as time permits and appropriate):
 * collaboration
 * technology integration
 * assessment
 * evidence based practice (if you are trained and use it)
 * teaching content standards
 * problem solving
 * creative thinking
 * critical thinking-evaluation
 * teaching information ethics, responsibility and safety
 * INFOhio databases are the great equalizer for 21st Century skills across Ohio

**After the visit:**


 * Send a hand written thank you note that summarizes the skills students learned during the visit.
 * If the news article has been published, include the article.
 * If not available, send the article as soon as it is published.
 * //Notify Kathy Fredrick when visit is completed: fredrick_k@shaker.org//
 * Please report on the visit by making comments on the wiki and adding any photos (which can be uploaded to the wiki on the "Comments_Photos" page). Send articles to Sue Subel at the address listed below.
 * Again, if you have any questions, contact Sue Subel at sue.subel@kenstonlocal.org or 440.543.9821 ext. 3040 or Kathy Fredrick at fredrick_k@shaker.org or 216.295.4180

Your willingness to advocate for providing library services to Ohio's students is sincerely appreciated. Your work and dedication will make a difference!

Sincerely,

The OELMA Advocacy Committee Sue Subel Kenston High School Library 9500 Bainbridge Road Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023