Describes programs developed by the Chicago School District to renovate and revitalize its school libraries. Topics include funding, other educational reforms in the district, updating library collections, updating librarians' skills, increasing budgets through grants, flexible scheduling, corporate support, relations with the Chicago Public…

Presents an interview with the Executive Director of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Highlights include attracting members to the AASL, the multifaceted role of Executive Director, education, previous positions and accomplishments, goals for YALSA, intellectual freedom,…

Discusses the rise in circulation in the Douglas Public Library District (Colorado) due to expanding educational options. Highlights include the Charter Schools Act, library skills instruction, home-schoolers' use of the library, materials availability, year-round reading programs, Internet benefits, and staffing increases and changes. (AEF)

Describes the National Library Program supported by the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. The program's national goals and guidelines and results of eight projects are presented. Brief descriptions of five new projects and nine planning sites are given. Continuation plans and the possibility of funding beyond the three-year project period are…

Discusses the design of combined school/public libraries and includes the views of three high school librarians and two elementary school librarians who helped create combined libraries. Topics include physical design issues, including entrances, lighting, and location; funding; cost benefits; contracts; signage; and parking. (LRW)

Describes several videos about authors and illustrators of children's literature. The videos include interviews, performances, and discussions of the illustration and writing processes. Technical and collection development issues are considered, and distributors and prices are listed for 66 videos. (MES)

Describes the ongoing development of school libraries in the Birmingham (Alabama) Public School System. Highlights include commitment of the Board of Education and the city; accreditation; planning; communication; cooperative planning with classroom teachers; cooperative projects with the public library and cable company; Reading Is Fundamental…

Argues that librarians who wish to build effective video collections need to know what is available and negotiate with distributors for multiple copies and lower prices. Purchasing practices of a school system and a public library are described, including adherence to copyright law. Duplication rights and off-air taping are explained. (EM)

This is the first in a series of annotated lists of videos that are being published to help school librarians select materials that emphasize the historical and cultural contributions of ethnic minority groups. It reviews more than 200 videos that document the contributions of African Americans. (LRW)

The fourth article in a series designed to help library selectors enhance their collections of materials on multicultural diversity provides a list of 92 videos about the cultural heritage of Hispanic Americans. Each entry includes ordering information, grade level, and a brief annotation. A list of distributors is also included. (LRW)

Describes results of a survey of Native American school libraries that was conducted to measure the extent to which they have acquired the minimum base of resources and personnel mandated by federal legislation. Results are compared with those from an earlier survey, and improvements for Native American libraries are suggested. (five references)…

Second survey report (first was published October 1983) presents information on expenditures in library media centers for resources and audiovisual equipment, condition of collections and patterns in collection development, staffing and educational background of head library media specialist, and patterns of use of microcomputers by students and…

Discusses teenage pregnancy and sexuality and suggests ways in which librarians can help provide access to appropriate and needed information. Highlights include developing policies and procedures for dealing with sexual issues, collection development, organizing information and making it accessible, and a brief teen pregnancy bibliography. (LRW)

Discusses the incorporation of videos into library collections and school curricula and reviews suitable book-based videos adapted from traditional folk or fairy tales, modern short stories, and novels. Topics addressed include interpreting visual images, changes made from the original version, and style and setting. A list of distributors is…

Urges librarians to weed their nonfiction collections, particularly in the areas of science and technology, geography, and political science, and argues that it is better to send students from the library empty handed than to supply them with obsolete books. Guidelines for evaluating and weeding the reference and circulating collections are…