Reports on three companies that offer "on approval" books to school libraries; i.e., companies send books to be reviewed, simplify paperwork, and offer low prices and free shipping. Sales procedures, company addresses, and telephone numbers of Garrett Book Company, National Library Service, and Ollis Book Corporation are noted. (EJS)

Presents 11 articles that deal with selection skills and collection development in junior and senior high school libraries. Highlights include censorship concerns, selecting corporate-sponsored materials, written selection policies, budget considerations, sample selection and evaluation forms for print and nonprint materials, reference books, and…

A school librarian and book reviewer argues that buyers, reviewers, editors, and publishers need to look more carefully at series books. Discusses series and reviewing tools and ways reviewers can help colleagues make the best choices for students. Recommends two social studies series, and suggests questions to ask when buying series books. (PEN)

Describes the value of an electronic database to record information for school library materials being considered for addition to the collection. Discusses marking titles from journals, entering the information into the database, sorting options, fields to include, and transferring records to other databases when materials are received and…

Discusses the importance of including primary source material in school library media centers and points out that many are probably already in collection, e.g., the texts of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, videotapes and audiotapes of actual events and voices, photographs, and paintings. Some basic primary materials are recommended. (LAE)

Describes how to develop vertical file resources for school libraries. Discusses the importance of having primary sources that are not available in other formats; sources for obtaining materials, including the Internet and printed sources; how to organize the materials; providing access; and promoting the collection. (LRW)

Presents guidelines to help school library media specialists create and maintain an attractive, accurate, and current collection of science resources. Discusses weeding; calling for help; and collection rebuilding. Describes several valuable resources for accurate and up-to-date science information. (AEF)

An online survey seeking librarians' opinions about including children's books in the high school library returned many positive responses. Lists ways children's books could be used in high school. Discusses the new wave of children's literature; children's books made into movies; commonality of high school libraries having collections of…

Explains collection mapping for library media collections. Discusses purposes for creating collection maps, including helping with selection and weeding decisions, showing how the collection supports the curriculum, and making budget decisions; and methods of data collection, including evaluating a collaboratively taught unit with the classroom…

Provides librarians who are responsible for implementing a new school library with an overview of the process. Topics include ordering circulating and reference books; computer hardware and software; supplies and other miscellaneous items, including other media formats such as videotapes; furniture and shelving; and a time line for planning. (LRW)

Includes seven articles that discuss censorship and intellectual freedom in junior and senior high schools. Highlights include access to appropriate information; library material selection; dealing with complaints; a list of potentially controversial titles and topics; a history of book burning; the censorship of fiction; weeding versus…

Explains how the relationship between school library collection development, curriculum development, and information problem solving can be improved by applying the Big6 Skills process to the selection of materials and teacher collaboration. Includes charts for cooperative planning that follow the Big6 Skills. (Contains 3 references.) (LRW)

Provides practical advice to high school librarians on book selection, including a review of self-help and financial books of interest to teens, as well as selection of reference materials and computer software. Descriptions of two successful special projects--a book fair and a high school archive--are included. (CDD)