Creating a Unique Brand for Your School Library: Values, Vision, Voice, and Visuals

Approximately the one thousandth time I heard that statement in just my first year, I nearly lost my mind. As a school librarian, I know that I am an integral part of my school--and I am busy every second of the day--so why do students, parents, and staff continue to saddle me with this antiquated stereotype? Frustrated and desperate for the credit I felt I deserved, I did something that would later prove to be one of the most valuable advocacy moves I could make. I made a logo for my library, and I put it on everything--all my lesson plans, how-to technology guides for teachers, parent communications, and anything else I could copy and paste that JPEG onto. The American Association of School Librarians dvocacy committee defines advocacy as an on-going process of building partnerships so that others will act for and with you, turning passive support into educated action for the library program.