Reviews the literature on the evaluation of library collections, discusses the research specifically on collection evaluation in school libraries, and draws attention to the types of studies that are needed in the school library media field. A 22-item reference list is included. (JL)

This investigation of the effects that budget cuts have had on elementary school library media programs in Arizona examines the impact of funding reductions on library media program development, staff morale, and administrative support. One reference is provided. (EJS)

Discusses the planning and preparation necessary to ensure a cost-effective and accurate retrospective conversion of school library catalogs. Suggested strategies include heavy weeding, developing accurate standardized shelf lists with an entry for each holding, and standardizing entries within a school district or region. (CLB)

Outlines steps for school library media centers planning for regional cooperative collection development (CCD) based on the use of a conspectus. CCD and resource sharing are contrasted; and use of the conspectus for analyzing the current collection, studying growth and use trends, and deciding future collection needs is explained. Conspectus…

Describes the Hawaii Department of Education's School Library Network Project and its approach to retrospective conversion for more than 200 school library media centers using a combination of 3 methods: in-house, full data entry; in-house, partial data entry; and full vendor contract. It is noted that a combination of these methods provides the…

This document prepared by Calgary Board of Education, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, discusses a systematic approach to strengthening the library media collection. A statement of principle, what to weed, specific guides to weeding (by Dewey Decimal classification and type of material), what not to weed, procedures, and weeding follow-up are…

ACCESS PENNSYLVANIA is a statewide database that combines resources of over 500 academic, public, special, and school libraries in Pennsylvania. This article discusses the program's background and stresses the commitment its members must make to serve the state's population through resource sharing. It focuses in particular on the incentive the…

Presents responses to questions addressed to candidates for the office of president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Topics discussed include major challenges facing school library media specialists; AASL's role in helping to meet these challenges; and member participation in AASL. (LRW)

Discusses aspects of collection management that can be supported by the use of online catalogs, including access to the collection, building library networks, and integrating circulation and acquisitions systems. The use of microcomputers as an alternative to online systems is explored, and a list of software packages is provided. (CLB)

Describes factors in the current information searching environment that will affect collection emphasis, collector approaches, and user behaviors. Questions are raised about developing collections in an electronic era in terms of collection size, ownership considerations, content and selection practices, budgeting, and collection management.…

Discusses computer software that can perform routine calculations on small computer systems quickly and accurately to aid in the task of translating ideas into numbers and decisions. VisiCalc, use of spreadsheet analysis programs, and applications for school library media specialists are highlighted. Six references are included. (EJS)

Examines importance of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) in elementary and secondary school library media centers, noting description of rules, value to school librarians, guides or companion volumes to AACR2 original edition, rules for varying levels of completeness of description, and simplification of rules for original cataloging.…

Discusses the nature of locally based research, demonstrates its relevance to the concerns of school library media specialists, and outlines the phases and steps involved in conducting locally based research. Resources for, and benefits of, locally based research are also discussed. A 15-item reference list is included. (JL)

Traces the development of five information systems for exchanging information on instructional materials within the educational communities of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and examines how these information providers are responding to the challenges posed by changes deriving from national educational reform efforts.…

Discussion of information-seeking behavior focuses on a study of the imposed query, as opposed to self-generated queries, in an elementary school library media center in order to quantify its presence, to record characteristics of the users that carry them, and to identify the persons imposing them. The coding sheet is appended. Contains one table…