What can school librarians do about library and book censorship? First, ask questions. Find out what your principal and your district have put into policy and what your principal's expectations are for your school library. Then, communicate with your classroom teachers. For ourselves, school librarians should work with colleagues, especially other…

Censorship problems are becoming more complex. Liberals as well as conservatives are objecting to certain materials. And because selection of textbooks and school library materials hinges not only on content but on budgetary and instructional considerations, school censorship cases can be even more difficult to pinpoint. (SJL)

Discusses the decline of children's library services, the library needs of children, the special character of children's librarianship, and book selection. (SRT)

Controversies about the choice of books in school libraries raise two perplexing questions: (1) To what extent does the First Amendment allow the government to control what students read in schools? (2) If educational materials are to be selected, who makes these decisions? Several relevant court cases are reviewed. (Author/IS)

Provides guidelines for purchasing and installing CD-ROM technology in school libraries. Considerations include hardware and software selection and familiarity with new products. Two lists are provided that contain contact information for six companies and recommendations for six standard CD-ROM reference sources to include on a network. (JKP)

The success that the New Religious Right is having in censoring school textbooks and libraries is described. (MT)

Looks at collection development for print materials in school libraries serving children in grades K-8. The policy statement and the processes of evaluation, selection, acquisition, and weeding are examined, emphasizing the place of curriculum objectives and the role of the librarian. Twenty-two references and a bibliography of 15 selection tools…

Recommends bibliotherapy as a way in which school media specialists can help children become more independent and more socially and emotionally mature. Situations for which bibliotherapy is appropriate and the importance of discussions and other follow-up activities are covered. (8 references) (MES)

Identifies resources to aid librarians in making material selections, including: discussion groups to review books; student and teacher recommendations; public library story hours and book review seminars; and professional association meetings. (CLB)

This article presents an interview with Cassandra Barnett, a school library media specialist at Fayetteville (Arkansas) High School. She is also a member of the AASL Learning Standards Rewrite Task Force, which has been working on developing AASL's new National Learning Standards. Fayetteville schools experienced multiple challenges during…

Argues that students should have the same guarantees to freedom as adults in having access to media. A checklist for survival against censorship is included, as well as guidelines for writing a materials selection policy. (LLS)

Proposes nonseries books as an alternative to series books for information on the Third World. The basis of the selection of these books is discussed. Thirteen nonseries books on Africa are listed and annotated as well as eight books on Asia and five books on Latin America. (RBF)

Discusses children's rights and the importance of the right to read. Topics addressed include the empowerment of children through free access to information and knowledge through reading about today's society; unstructured reading; and the importance of full and adequate funding for school libraries. (LRW)

Examines aspects of censorship that professional educators do not usually acknowledge--a silent, self-imposed censorship. Asks at what point book selection policy becomes a means to justify rejecting the purchase or provide for the removal of specific titles from the bookshelves. Suggests a solution: a written selection policy at the school and…

Proposes that libraries employ modern booksellers' merchandising techniques to improve circulation of library materials. Using displays in various ways, the methods and reasons for weeding out books, replacing worn book jackets, and selecting new books are discussed. Suggestions for learning how to market and 11 references are provided. (RBF)