Upcoming Workshop on MA Parent Power

By Connie Champlain

On Tuesday, 22 May, 2007, from 3 P.M. to 6 P.M…, MSLA and the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS) will be co-sponsoring a workshop presented by Connie Champlin on MA Parent Power: What Parents Should Know about MA School Libraries and How You Can Tell Them. Susan Babb, Youth Services Consultant, is the NMRLS contact person, and Gerri Fegan and Linda Friel, Northeast Area Co-Directors, are the contact people for MSLA. This workshop is designed for library media specialists, and there is no charge. Media specialists from other regions are cordially invited to attend. Massachusetts Power: A Parents’ Guide to School Libraries booklets and CDs will be the main resources used and can be purchased at a discounted price before the workshop. The workshop will be held at the Tewksbury Public Library and interested participants should register and check for directions to the library at the NMRLS Website (http://www.nmrls.org/). MSLA wishes to thank Susan Babb and NMRLS for their help in presenting this workshop.

Connie Champlin’s description of the workshop follows: “Parents can be powerful advocates for school library programs. Yet few parents have an understanding of what the school library program actually does and how it helps every child succeed. Do parents know why a professional school librarian is necessary? Or what the research says about school libraries and student achievement? Are parents aware of the school library program in their child’s school and how it supports the curriculum? This presentation will provide you with ideas and resources to inform, encourage, and enlist the support of parents for your school library program.”