I’m getting ready to leave for the ALA Conference in Chicago this Thursday. I love going to conferences for many reasons. It’s a place where I get to share what I know and learn more from current and upcoming leaders, and it’s an opportunity to see so many of my colleagues and friends. Like me, they are strong library advocates.

As advocates and leaders, they have proved themselves valuable to their professional community, their students, teachers and administrators, and they continually integrate themselves into their community at large. All this is exemplary. It helps make the library visible, vital, and worthy of ongoing support.

There is, however, more that can be done, and the good news is, it takes almost no extra effort.

The more people are aware of school libraries and how they contribute to the success of students, the more advocates we have. Have you ever considered being an advocate in places outside your school? With people other than the most obvious community?

During the course of the day, we frequently interact with people we don’t know or don’t usually see. It could be in while waiting in a line. It might be with a bank clerk. Each of these encounters can become a unique opportunity to talk about libraries and school libraries in particular.

Here’s an example: I was reading in my e-reader while waiting for my number to be called at the deli. Someone noticed and commented that it must be a good book, and my advocacy began. I replied that I’m a librarian and so am a lifelong reader and learner. From there I might ask anything from what they like to read or if they remember their school library.

I’m always so pleased when their feelings are positive. If they mention “shushing,” I share about how much school libraries have changed. From here I can go almost anywhere. Graphic novels, maker spaces, internet awareness. Sometimes I ask about their favorite childhood book. I can usually join in as I probably read it. From there it isn’t long before we’re talking about the challenges of libraries today and the increase in book banning.

And even if they aren’t sure about this, even they are concerned about the availability of inappropriate books, I have the opportunity to tell them that parents can let the librarian know what they don’t want their kids reading, and the librarian will support that decision. I don’t try to dissuade them from their opinion. Instead, I remind them that some parents might approve of their kids reading “those” books so they should not be banned. I always end by saying that libraries need to be safe and welcoming spaces for everybody.

Sometimes their comments give me an opportunity to talk about how many schools don’t have librarians or libraries. Then there is no one to support either the students or the concerns of parents. And sometimes… we just talk about the magic of a good book, which is wonderful, too.

Libraries need everyone’s awareness. If you look, you’ll find openings all around where you can use to advocate for school libraries and librarians. Once you get started, it’s easy, and the ripple effects may be more impactful than you can imagine. Think of birds unknowingly dropping seeds into the grass. Some might grow; some might not. You never know how many of the seeds you dropped will bear fruit.

And if you’re going to Chicago for ALA, I hope our paths cross. If you see me, please introduce yourself to me or send me a message through Facebook so we can look for one another!