The purpose of this study was to examine the science and technology books in 18 elementary school libraries in 18 Maryland school districts and: determine the age of the books; identify what percent of the books matched a professional selection source; determine the number of books per student; and estimate costs in upgrading the collections. (AEF)

Presents strategies for educating administrators as to the value of school library programs and their influence on student achievement. Highlights include meeting and communicating with principals and superintendents; providing documentation to support library policies and collections; demonstrating professional research abilities; inviting them…

Provides a background of the National Science Foundation's NSDL (National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Digital Library) which includes three tracks: collections, services, and targeted research. Discusses challenges and opportunities for elementary and secondary school library media specialists and teachers. (LRW)

Combines the results of action research in the high school library media center with conclusions in the professional literature to argue that systematic formal instruction in electronic search skills is necessary for awareness of library media software and competence in its use. Focuses on the why, what, where, and how of teaching electronic…

Describes the Atmospheric Visualization Collection (AVC), part of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) that contains an archive of weather images as well as a collection of educational material that uses the images to teach atmospheric science concepts. Discusses the potential use of this information for K-12 and undergraduate students.…

Describes the Gender and Science Digital Library (GSDL), an online collection of high-quality, interactive science resources that are gender-fair, inclusive, and engaging to students. Considers use by teachers and school library media specialists to encourage girls to enter careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). (LRW)

Discussion of free voluntary reading focuses on a study that tracked students' reading progress in reading motivation programs in elementary and secondary schools. Topics include standardized test results for sixth graders; media center collections and circulation statistics; and correlation of total reading minutes and total reading score. (LRW)

Discusses the value of developing and promoting a natural history library by school library media specialists. Topics include benefits to students; promoting outdoor education; recommended reading for high school students; using technology; and other aids to promote outdoor education. (LRW)

Discusses the Library of Congress's American Memory Historical Collections, primary sources, available at http://memory.loc.gov. Describes the American Memory Fellowship Program, a year-long professional development opportunity with two purposes: to have teachers, librarians and others create original teaching materials that draw upon American…

Between 1897 and 1911, Elizabeth Smith Miller and her daughter Anne Fitzhugh Miller filled the pages of seven scrapbooks with artifacts that document the activities of the Geneva Political Equality Club and other items related to the suffrage movement. The scrapbooks are now a part of the National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection in…

Describes a program developed to help school principals understand the importance of school library media specialists based on "Information Power." Explains modules on academic achievement and school libraries, information literacy and academic standards, library collections and flexible access, and revitalization and evaluation of…