Discusses action research and its implications for library media centers; measurement and study; and steps in the action research process: clarify research need and define research problem, plan research to provide relevant data, collect and organize, analyze and interpret, report to relevant audiences, and integrate the results into library media…

Describes composition and objectives of the Task Force on the Status of Media Centers in Higher Education and the questionnaire developed to poll centralized media centers. This report discusses their findings on the general health of media centers, funding and personnel patterns, moral support, and services provided, and task force…

To determine how the Subject Matter Service (SMS) of the Agricultural Education Department at Mississippi State University could more effectively meet the needs of vocational agriculture teachers, this study focused on three problems: (1) evaluation of materials developed by the SMS, (2) determination of sources and uses of teaching materials, and…

Presents a strategy for using output measures to make a case for a flexible school media center schedule. Highlights include gathering the data; doing the calculations; and avoiding misinterpretation of the figures. A sidebar describes a step-by-step strategy for presenting a convincing case. Two sample charts are included. (AEF)

This book provides a format for taking information traditionally collected by library media specialists and showing how it can be used to examine existing programs or to document the need for a program change. Field-tested in several school districts, this new tool includes all the necessary forms and worksheets school media specialists will need…

Presents methods used to justify the need for additional library resources or services to school administrators based on the library's role in meeting educational objectives. Suggestions for gathering data for the assessment of library needs and presenting the results to administrators are provided. (CLB)

Reports an interview with the director of School Match, a firm that has created a database of information on public and private schools to assist relocated families in identifying the best local schools. The firm's finding that library and media services' expenditures relates most significantly to student achievement is discussed. (CLB)

This report is the result of a project which analyzed the current collection of statistics from academic, public, and school libraries by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and by state agencies and prepared recommendations for a more efficient and effective national data collection system. Current data collection methods are…

This project report describes the development and implementation of a model of qualitative measures for evaluating the use of school library resources by students and teachers. It explains a record-keeping system for school librarians to use in tracing media from purchase, through processing, to eventual utilization. Using parts of sample…

Discusses three main ways information on a school's software collection may be organized for access by school personnel to maximize its use--annotated lists, keyword database searching, and cataloging for inclusion in card catalog. The basic steps of data collection, storage, and retrieval required for all three methods are outlined. (MBR)

Examines the need for and uses of statistical data about school library media centers; describes data currently collected by the states; discusses national data collection efforts, including an increasing emphasis on output measures; recommends further actions that should be taken; and suggests future possibilities. (six references) (LRW)

Explains collection mapping for library media collections. Discusses purposes for creating collection maps, including helping with selection and weeding decisions, showing how the collection supports the curriculum, and making budget decisions; and methods of data collection, including evaluating a collaboratively taught unit with the classroom…

This descriptive study investigated the numbers of unique and overlap titles in selected elementary schools which may influence resource-sharing decision making. A convenience sample of seven elementary schools in DeKalb County, Georgia, using the Follett Software Company's "Circulation Plus" system was used. Each school printed a shelf list…

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…

Designed to provide guidance to elementary or middle school library media specialists in the selection of periodicals that will support a school's multicultural goals and objectives, this study developed a checklist and used it to analyze the treatment given to children and adults of various racial and ethnic groups in 15 of the most popular…