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TL11.1_v5 T h e t e a c h e r - librarian asso- ciation or library subject council is also a strong voice for action which allows members to utilize the venue to effect positive change by providing access to consultants and other board level officials that may have the power to speak on your behalf and to work with you to create change. If your board does not have a library sub- ject council or a teacher-librarian association, why not create one? Take on this leadership role to promote and to advocate for your pro- fession and for the students who desperately need your teaching to learn those long life information literacy skills. Be a literacy leader in your school. Take leadership in literacy initiatives in your school through the school library infor- mation centre. Volunteer your time to literacy events for students the same as a coach would volunteer time to work with a team. Be a curriculum leader in your school by demon- strating curriculum connections between Information Studies, Kindergarten to Grade 12 and subject specific curriculum to both teach- ers and administrators. Another idea to help kids is to apply to undertake an Educational Change Initiative. Put a team together and draw up a proposal for a unique project designed to help kids learn in the library. In Grand Erie, four teacher-librarians have struck a writing team through our Library Subject Council to write cross-panel handbooks. The first to assist teachers of grades K -6 teach information liter- acy, the second, for students in grades 7 -12 The Teaching Librarian Volume 11, no. 1 11 showcase near the main entrance of your school to promote the school library informa- tion centre and its programs. Photographs of students engaged in the school library pro- gram give a good visual representation of the important role the teacher-librarian plays in their lives. If the bulletin board entices, then both school and public commu- nities will value its message and speak for you to continue it. In addition, a slide show or video which demonstrates the school library program in action is also a positive way to reach mem- bers of Parent Council, home and school asso- ciation, staff and students. Setting up an appointment to speak at a Parent Council meeting and to show your slide show is a sure way to demonstrate your commitment to and the importance of the school library program. Better yet, volunteer to be the staff represen- tative on the Parent Council. Speak often, with eloquence and determi- nation, and visually demonstrate the message. Show new resources and literacy initiatives; market reading clubs; talk about the library curriculum and how it dovetails with subject specific curriculum. Champion the new Interdisciplinary Studies curriculum and dis- cuss how you, as teacher-librarian, can and should play a significant role in its delivery. Be visible and participate in staff meetings and heads meetings. Carry your message by demonstrating how important the role of the teacher-librarian and the school library pro- gram is to students. Short, effective presentations to staff, Parent Council, and home and school aswsoci- ation meetings can make a difference in the support you, the teacher-librarian, and the library program receive. In addition, attendance and participation in your teacher-librarian association, or library subject council at the board level, is another avenue to work with colleagues, to support them, and to find support for yourself in your endeavours.