Don't Buck It - Bend It

Using the Established System to Increase Your Influence to Create the Working Environment You Desire

Abstract

In many schools the school librarian works in isolation, has a very busy schedule and is often overlooked for budgeting, decision-making and day-to-day communications. This leads to many feeling a sense of powerlessness over their own situation and self worth as a professional, with seemingly little opportunity for change. This paper addresses these issues and expounds on why influence is important for school librarians to achieve their goals and aspirations to bring their libraries to the high standard they strive for. The main body includes practical strategies to slowly but surely increase the influence of school librarians with the principals and other staff so they can be recognized as key players in children’s education at their schools.