Discusses criteria for evaluating school library information services. Highlights include types of services; physical facilities; library usage; circulation statistics; changes due to technology; fill rate, or the percentage of successful searches for library materials; OPAC (online public access catalog) reports; observation; and examining…

Includes 10 articles that discuss issues relating to school library management. Highlights include the one-person operation; an annotated bibliography of popular how-to books that are useful for librarians; strategies for negotiating in bargaining sessions; budget management; designing or redesigning a library; recycling; managing computers; and…

Reports on three companies that offer "on approval" books to school libraries; i.e., companies send books to be reviewed, simplify paperwork, and offer low prices and free shipping. Sales procedures, company addresses, and telephone numbers of Garrett Book Company, National Library Service, and Ollis Book Corporation are noted. (EJS)

Describes the Knapp School Libraries Project that was developed in the 1960s to create model libraries in elementary and secondary schools by upgrading their materials and qualified personnel. Visits from librarians, educators, students, and community members that helped disseminate the model libraries' characteristics are discussed. (Contains 14…

Issues related to school library management and supervision are discussed in five articles. Topics covered include supervisory styles and strategies for improvement; workshop design; the use of the focus group approach for library planning; financial support for library automation; survival techniques for new librarians; and the management of a…

Presents guidelines to help school library media specialists create and maintain an attractive, accurate, and current collection of science resources. Discusses weeding; calling for help; and collection rebuilding. Describes several valuable resources for accurate and up-to-date science information. (AEF)

This five article section addresses the public relations program in the school library. Topics covered include a public relations philosophy; reaching full creative potential; public relations ideas aimed at students, teachers, administrators, the school board, and community; the power of a positive attitude; and school and public library…

Responds to an earlier article regarding school librarians. Topics include professionalization through education and certification programs; the mission statement for library media programs; instruction and training roles; service versus instruction; and the value of information skills. (LRW)

Outlines the pros and cons for preparing a mini-collection of school library resources in advance and for having students locate their own resources. Discusses collection use, library/information skills, and facilities management for all possibilities. (AEF)

Describes the value of an electronic database to record information for school library materials being considered for addition to the collection. Discusses marking titles from journals, entering the information into the database, sorting options, fields to include, and transferring records to other databases when materials are received and…

Focuses on effective data gathering in school libraries. Discusses the connection between program goals and statistical information; budget data; using spreadsheets to track and compare costs; circulation data and trends; copyright assessment of materials; material-quality evaluation; lab usage data; computer information; data on services and…

Presents a rationale for keeping the school library media center's vertical files. Discusses reasons related to: student accessibility, supplement to the school curricula, local topics, and limited financial resources. Outlines ten guidelines for maintaining a useful and current file collection. (AEF)

Provides librarians who are responsible for implementing a new school library with an overview of the process. Topics include ordering circulating and reference books; computer hardware and software; supplies and other miscellaneous items, including other media formats such as videotapes; furniture and shelving; and a time line for planning. (LRW)

This five-article section discusses changes in the management of the school library resulting from use of the computer. Topics covered include data management programs (record keeping, word processing, and bibliographies); practical applications of a database; evaluation of "Circulation Plus" software; ergonomics and computers; and…

Presents a humorous approach to the question of how to recycle catalog cards necessitated by the results of library automation and online catalogs. A sidebar summarizes an article that appeared in the "New Yorker" magazine regarding the discard of card catalogs. (LRW)