Games and other forms of play are used in today's libraries to attract underserved patrons, to introduce patrons to other library resources and services, and to facilitate engagement between library patrons. While many perceive gaming as a new library service, gaming services have been part of librarianship since the nineteenth century through…

School librarians serving diverse learning communities, such as the Chicago Public Schools, have always been aware of the need to seek out multicultural books as "mirrors [that] let readers see reflections of their own lives; windows [that] let them see others' lives." But until a colleague sent this author the document "10 Quick…

Some of the author's most valuable experiences as a library media specialist (LMS) were not in a school library. Rather, they were on the streets of Chicago, in community gardens, and on the rooftops of buildings in Humboldt Park, where she was hired by the University of Illinois Community Informatics Initiative as a graduate assistant and LMS in…

Development of Illinois Suburban Library System project linking school and public children's library services.

A study to determine which reference works are most widely held, the age breakdown of reference holdings, and the relationship between size of school and size of reference holdings in a sample of schools with centralized media programs in Illinois. (Author/LS)

A seminar held in October 1978 brought together teams from public and school libraries in 36 Illinois communities representing the 18 Illinois library systems, in order to: (1) provide an environment where school and public librarians who work with young adults could identify their problems, assess their needs, and begin working toward mutual…

This theme issue includes 13 articles that discuss rural library concerns in Illinois. Topics addressed include strengthening library services; rural trends and their impact on libraries; partnerships; Cooperative Extension Service revitalization; financing; economic development; resource sharing in school libraries; and public libraries and user…

Reviews literature on marketing techniques for public, academic, special, and school libraries from 1982 to the present. Results of a survey of librarians in Indiana and Illinois on marketing techniques are included, and a 114-item annotated bibliography is presented. (LRW)

Describes the school library media program in New Trier Township High School (Illinois) that uses collaboration to respond to the needs of students, staff, school, and the community. Highlights include collaboration to meet curricular needs; staff development for teachers and support staff; supporting school values; and community programs. (LRW)

Presents papers from Illinois State Library and Shawnee Library System's "Libraries on the MOVE" conference focusing on how libraries can impact economic/cultural climate of an area. Topics addressed included information services of rural libraries; marketing; rural library development; library law; information access; interagency…

These four articles address issues related to teens and reading. Highlights include an interview with a young adult literature author; a community literature festival in St. Charles (Illinois) that introduces students to authors, poets, journalists, and storytellers; library services for youth in detention centers, including book discussion…

Describes strategic planning efforts in eight states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin) to implement guidelines in "Information Power" (1998, American Library Association) relating good school library media programs to student achievement success. Discusses Web pages; state conferences;…

These articles provide testimony in support of youth services which have been and continue to be a vital part of public library service in Illinois. Organized around the symbol of a mighty oak tree, the articles are divided into three sections: (1) The Trunk--based on strong roots with the past, standards, goals, and objectives are formulated; (2)…

The need for bilingual bicultural school library materials and services for schools with bilingual programs and limited English speaking students was investigated in the state of Illinois. The data were collected by means of questionnaires sent to bilingual program coordinators and school librarians at 140 schools throughout the state. Targeted…

Describes how the Illinois School Library Media Program (ISLMP) used "Information Power" to help translate theory into practice that would impact student achievement. Discusses planning, implementation strategies, and a framework to assess the school library media program's role in meeting user needs. (LRW)