Examines conditions in the school district and national concerns affecting the implementation of school library media programs. The importance of these programs to education is discussed in terms of classroom teaching practices, and changes necessary to meet expectations of teacher-librarians are described. (16 references) (MES)

This overview of school librarianship in Canada focuses on the aim of the school library program, the school librarian's role as teacher-librarian, guidelines and standards for effective service, and district support services. A list of selected readings on these issues is provided. (EJS)

Suggests directions for improving school library services to Native Americans by examining three areas: important events in library development since 1950s; Native Americans' perceived needs for information (specifically in Arizona); four proposed roles which reservation-based library media specialist can assume to help eliminate educational…

Discusses the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and some of its effects and impact on public education, focusing on ideas and ways to make the library media center a meaningful experience for the hearing impaired, deaf, blind, and physically handicapped. (MP)

Argues that current technologies offer unique possibilities for instructional improvement and identifies probable obstacles to exploitation of these opportunities for all students, including female, handicapped, inner-city and rural, minority, disadvantaged, and average learners. A 2-tiered model is presented for the media specialist addressing…

Examines the evolution of the Whole Language curriculum, its current theory and practices, and its effect on the school library media center. The similarity between Whole Language and the Montessori approach to literacy is discussed, and the role of the media specialist in a Whole Language library media center is described. (31 references) (LRW)

Reviews articles related to school library media programs that were published in journals intended for other members of the profession and involved research. Subject areas include administration, roles of the school library media specialist, and reading. (LRW)

This discussion of the impact of technological developments on information services highlights the influence of growth and development of video and electronic media on library, use of new media in comprehensive learning assistance centers, problems related to adoption of new technologies, and library role in adult education. (19 references) (EJS)

Discusses ways that school media specialists can address the needs of latchkey children and at-risk students. A total of 21 resources providing background information and suggestions for dealing with the issues involved are listed. (MES)

Describes how theories of instructional involvement of school media centers were applied at 49 schools in Pulaski County Special School District, Arkansas. Practical approaches for cooperation among media specialists, teachers, and administrators in library decision making and promotion of its role to enhance student learning are discussed. (CDD)

This report summarizes the research studies, literature reviews and related documents on the relationship between public school students' achievement and the library media program. Research indicates students in schools with well-equipped library media centers and professional library media specialists perform better on achievement tests for…

This paper looks at how the goals for school library media programs are aligned with the goals of education in general and what this alignment means in terms of the allocation of resources. Citing the 1983 report, "A Nation at Risk," it argues that there may be a disparity between the actual value of the school library media program and…

Although the need for adequate exploitation of limited resources is a recurring theme in discussions on school based curriculum development, surprisingly little attention in the education literature has focused on the possible role of the school librarian as school resources coordinator and contact point for resources outside the school. The…

This publication contains six "capsulized" reports concerned with research in learning resources centers and school libraries, and the role of school media specialists. Each report follows the same format design, i.e., questions previewing the topic; introduction, methodology, findings, conclusions, and marginal notes; and a pathfinder to the…

Discussion of the role of the media specialist as a teacher summarizes 10 major elements of the inquiry approach to teaching and learning and seven areas of the school media center's commitment (networking, flexibility, cooperation, concentration, financing, community, and encouragement). Discovery learning research and program implementation are…