In a time of ever-shrinking budgets, the library is sometimes the last to be noticed and librarians are being asked to do more with less. If you have been given a library budget, it is important to spend that money wisely and efficiently. If you haven't been given a library budget, don't despair. The following information will provide you with some ideas on how to advocate for the funds you need. Take a few minutes and read this Teacher Librarian article Advocating for the School Library. The author provides many helpful suggestions for today's librarian.
If you haven't already gotten information, reach out to your Principal, administration, or Treasurer's Office to find out what budget the library has. If there isn't a budget due to cuts or district planning, become familiar with the district planning process. It will be helpful to know how budgets are created in the district as well as when you should request funding for the next school year.
Take some time to gather data to support your need for a budget. Begin your budget efforts with advocacy. Meeting the learning needs of students is a priority, and the library should be equipped to do so. Tie budget requests to the learning needs of your students. To advocate, prepare yourself with the data needed to back up the budget you are requesting. See the Using Reports to Support Book Purchasing lesson for some ideas on how to gather data to support your budget request. One piece of data that is informative and can be used to show how far funds can be stretched is School Library Journal's annual release of average book prices. Average Book Prices, 2021 was released on February 20, 2021, and is eye-opening. Share your findings with your supervisor to gain support and further the funding request. You can also keep administrators informed about the importance of the library collection through newsletters or social media.
If you have a budget, stay proactive. Know the dates by which you must spend funds. Keep data for use of collections and learning activities tied to library materials. Talk frequently with your supervisor about student learning supported by the materials purchased using the library budget. If you don't already know, find out which vendors are approved for purchasing.
Even with a budget, you may still need to supplement the monies you have been given. Whether you apply for grants, have a book fair, or reach out to the PTO/PTA, there are some additional options out there.
Book Fairs
(Preschool Table at Book Fair by oddharmonic is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)
A tried and true way to help supplement the library budget is the book fair. Whether it is in-person or online, book fairs have been helping the budgets of libraries for years. Below are a few companies that provide book fairs for schools. If you know of a local book store, stop in and ask them if they have any book fair options as well. Be sure to explore the benefits available from companies to find the best rewards. Work closely with administration to tie in the dates for book fairs to literacy nights or other family engagement events. To get more information and to compare benefits, contact the company and a representative will reach out.
Grants
Check out the Grant Opportunities lesson for more information on how to find and apply for grants.
School and Community Organizations
Many school and community organizations can help when there is a need. One such group that comes to mind is the PTO/PTA. Find out who the President is and reach out to ask for funding opportunities.
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