'Ann Dutton Ewbank’s proposal is unique,' said Ann Marie Pipkin, award committee chair. 'She is looking through a different lens and researching from an original perspective the interactions needed to create strong school library programs. This research has the potential to serve as a model for future school library advocacy. A great deal of work was done beforehand to allow for the success of the project'."
In addition, BCTLA is also honoured to have been invited to join a Joint Committee of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions School Libraries and Resource Centres section (IFLA SLRC) and the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL). The Joint Committee will undertake a two-year project to develop a module of training materials for school library advocacy titled "School Libraries on the Agenda: School Library Advocacy".
Along with BCTLA Vice-President, Advocacy Jeff Yasinchuk, other members of the Joint Committee include: Dianne Oberg (Canada), Randi Lundvall (Norway; Chair of IFLA SLRC), Diljit Singh (Malaysia, President of IASL), Lourense Das (Netherlands), Lesley Farmer (USA), Luisa Marquardt (Italy), and Barbara Schultz-Jones (USA).
The BC Teacher-Librarians' Association is thankful for the opportunities to share our advocacy strategies and experience, and to improve our own school library and teacher-librarian advocacy program!
For more information on some of BCTLA’s advocacy initiatives, see http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/TLAdvocacyinBC.pdf.