Why is it important to prove that school libraries add value to the school program? The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 20 percent of U.S. public schools lack a full or part-time certified librarian (NCES 2013). In California the ratio of certified school librarians to students is 1:7,374 (California Department of Education…

The need for a structure for the discipline of bibliographic instruction is discussed in the context of library instruction as a means of developing critical thinking skills in students, based on experiences with student patterns of thought. (MSE)

Bibliographic instruction can do more than provide directions on library use for a specific assignment; it can contribute to the objectives of liberal education by teaching skills in asking questions, critically analyzing information, and answering questions. (MSE)

With the advent of the Internet, the tools for accessing information changed radically. For librarians, the mission has remained the same: manage library resources and give students the skills to find, organize, use, and share information, including Web site evaluation. Strategies for integrating technology with a love of reading are discussed. A…

Evaluates a project in which two library liaisons assisted freshman English students in writing library research papers. The need to develop new bibliographic instruction programs in conjunction with teaching faculty is also discussed, noting that this revives the aggressive 19th-century scholar/librarian model. (27 references) (KRN)