When Jim Chadwell, the former principal of Northwest High School in Texas, renovated his media center four years ago, he had two things in mind: Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. According to Media Specialist Naomi Bates, Chadwell wanted a place where students could read, do research, and work on classroom assignments, but also socialize. That is…

Comments that library media specialists have not been adequately utilized in schools, especially at the elementary level. Reasons why the library should be an integral part of the instructional program are discussed, and several ways in which the librarian, as a generalist, can aid students in academic achievement are listed. (MES)

Excerpts from testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources regarding the proposed Technology for Education Act highlights the need for strong school library media collections and programs in addition to the latest technology. Highlights include funding, expenditures, media centers and student achievement, librarians'…

The "65 percent solution," developed by First Class Education, a national advocacy group, states that 65 percent of a school's operating budget be devoted to "in-class instruction" as opposed to "out-of-classroom" purposes. One of the unintended consequences of this "solution," according to this author, is that it provides another basis for…

The recommendation of the Report of the New York State Commissioner of Education's Committee on Library Development that the elementary school media center should have the responsibility...to meet all the library needs of all children..." is reviewed. (Author)

Identifies six areas of children's librarianship that need attention: definition of the role of children's librarians; clarification of the goals and worth of children's services; an improved professional image; determination of the appropriate education to enable librarians to meet changed circumstances; and a better understanding of what…

An elementary school librarian initiated a survey of school librarians in Arizona to discover how they dealt with problems in scheduling classes in their media centers and developing curriculum to teach library skills. Results were used to support proposed changes to provide more flexible scheduling and increase teacher/librarian cooperation. (EM)

Suggests directions for improving school library services to Native Americans by examining three areas: important events in library development since 1950s; Native Americans' perceived needs for information (specifically in Arizona); four proposed roles which reservation-based library media specialist can assume to help eliminate educational…

Describes formation of the seminar on School Libraries/Media Centers held on October 19, 1982, at the World Bank, Washington, D.C. Highlights include seminar writers, summaries of three background papers (teaching-learning role of media centers/libraries; organization, structure, staffing and administration; perspective from developing countries);…

Describes the library media center programs at Blue Valley High School (Kansas), the proactive stance it takes in the curriculum, and how it maintains an active role in the school community. Topics include developing a comfortable atmosphere for teachers and students, financial and moral administrative support, and the use of technology. (LRW)

Discusses the importance of Boolean searching as a skill that students will need in the future. Methods for teaching Boolean searching are described, and the value of truncation as an online searching aid is considered. (MES)

Discussion of the role of the media specialist as a teacher summarizes 10 major elements of the inquiry approach to teaching and learning and seven areas of the school media center's commitment (networking, flexibility, cooperation, concentration, financing, community, and encouragement). Discovery learning research and program implementation are…

Discusses the results of a survey of school principles that investigated how they perceive the role of librarians and the library media center. Shows a general lack of knowledge about the role of school libraries and their ability to improve student learning, and the need for librarians to communicate their role more clearly. (LRW)

Discusses the changing role of the school library media specialist. Highlights include the impact of an increase in job complexity and decreases in library funding; strategies for delegating; circulation; equipment operation; and empowering teachers. A sidebar lists 11 different perspectives of the media specialist's role. (11 references) (KRN)

Offers definitions, statistics, and suggestions for public librarians working with homeschoolers. Library concerns are addressed, including censorship, negative staff attitudes, technology demands, and administrative limits; and ways to make homeschoolers more welcome are suggested, including compiling homeschooling resource materials, library…