The objective of this report is to present recommendations and criteria for planning, developing, and evaluating school and system-level media programs. These recommendations are based on a broad concept of services, intended to provide students and teachers with the media services and resources necessary for quality education. A broad plan is…

Describes a nationwide survey of librarians in secondary school library media centers to find out how much self-censorship is practiced in collection development. Results indicating that librarians do seem to voluntarily censor their acquisitions are discussed. (BK)

Library media specialists, 55 from each of 5 states which have organized child-choice state award programs--Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas--were surveyed to ascertain their position on the question of whether library media specialists should purchase Caldecott/Newbery or state award books. The survey consisted of two…

Reports the results of a survey which examined the availability and use of comic books in school libraries and the attitudes of librarians, teachers, and administrators toward such materials. A selected bibliography of articles that discuss the use of comic books as instructional materials is provided. (CLB)

Discusses the popularity of prebound paperback books in secondary school libraries based on a survey of librarians in four states. Highlights include cost considerations, appeal, durability, selection, services, catalogs, and premiums. (EM)

Bibliographies of student papers, student questionnaires, and interviews with library media specialists were examined in studying the use of magazine articles by high school students to fulfill assignments calling for the collection of information on individual topics. Areas examined included context of use, age of materials, title selection, and…

Reviews the literature in library and information science to identify factors that influence the outcome of challenges to school library materials. A conceptual model is developed that encompasses district selection policy, librarian characteristics, school environment, community environment, and initiator of the challenge, and tentative…

A needs assessment survey conducted by the St. Lucie County, Florida, School District Media Center staff in June 1986 indicated that upgrading the district film library was a high priority. The decision was made to concentrate on half-inch VHS videotapes in the areas of language arts and science. The major steps in the process of identifying,…

Reports findings of a 1988 study on intellectual freedom in media centers in Wisconsin. General status information and factors influencing challenge outcomes are discussed. Data on materials selection policy, media specialist characteristics, complaints, and roles of those involved in challenges are presented. The appendix describes the…

A periodicals use study was conducted in a public high school library media center to determine whether its periodicals collection supported the curriculum needs of the students. For this study, 3,924 magazine requests by the students over an 8-month period were collected and analyzed. The analysis revealed that 96% of the magazine date requests…

This action research study looks at a sample of 30 juvenile computer books from the past 30 years and analyzes the illustrations for evidence of gender and racial bias as well as career depiction. Examines the gender of authors and illustrators and discusses library media implications. (Author/LRW)

A survey was conducted of randomly selected school library media specialists participating in the Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas state "child choice" book award programs to identify any censorship taking place in these programs, and the attitudes of the library media specialists toward such censorship. In most…

Describes an investigation on the impact of book review warning symbols on the selection of books by library and education students for children from preschool through 8th grade. Results showing a negative influence are discussed, as well as implications for media specialists and teachers in choosing materials. References are included. (BK)

Professional staff in school libraries and instructional media centers (IMCs) located in 229 Wisconsin middle and junior high schools were surveyed anonymously to collect information on censorship attempts in their schools during 1978-79 and 1979-80. A total of 212 surveys were returned. Survey participants were asked to respond to questions…

Reviews recent media treatment of the issue of selection and censorship of print and nonprint materials for school-age children in Australia, and discusses the findings of a survey which investigated actual practices in schools and attitudes of teacher-librarians. (37 references) (LRW)