Act 4 School Libraries
This tri-fold wallet card was created by four library friends and colleagues—Christie Kaaland (WA), Deb Kachel (PA), Deb Logan (OH), Alice Yucht (NJ)—and Joyce Deacon (NC), later joined by Sara Kelly Johns (NY), as an advocacy tool for school librarians. It is part of a grassroots effort targeted at the inclusion of school librarians in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that will replace NCLB. The Web site, Act4SL (http://www.act4sl.wikispaces.com) has more details about the advocacy effort, Act 4 School Libraries: Act 4 Student Learning!
Making It Work
Download and print out the card (front and back) and fold to wallet size. Write in your federal legislators' local state office numbers and Web "contact" addresses for emails. If available, add the names of the Aides who handle Education/Library issues. Add their phone numbers to your cell and Web addresses to your bookmarks. Now you are READY. When the American Association of Librarians initiates the TAKE ACTION ALERT on their Legislation Action Center (http://capwiz.com/ala/home), pull out the wallet card and follow the directions. You can sign up for the RSS at capwiz site or on the Act4SL wiki (URL listed above) to receive immediate notification. Share this link through your state associations. Get the card and the links to the Act4SL Web site (http://www.act4sl.wikispaces.com) and the ALA Legislation Action Center (http://capwiz.com/ala/home) in the hands of as many school librarians as possible.
The Goal
The goal is for the reauthorization of ESEA to mandate a functioning school library in every K-12 public school, staffed by a state-licensed school librarian because "students need school libraries."
Permission granted by Act 4 School Libraries to reproduce for nonprofit educational and legislative purposes.