Synergy may be defined as the collaboration between two or more parties to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate parts. That is exactly what happened in Denton, Texas, when all types of librarians collaborated on a community reading initiative. In 2007 Denton Reads--a One Book, One Community organization--was formed with…

This report explains the key role that school librarians and libraries should play in state- and district-wide efforts to transition to digital learning, or the effective use of technology to improve teaching and learning. The report calls for district and school leaders, policymakers, and boards of education to support, encourage, and fund the…

This digest brings together the various views on curriculum-related roles for library media specialists. The first section considers reasons why a disparity between theory and practice exists in regard to the involvement of library media specialists as curriculum consultants. Several sources addressing this issue are reviewed in the second…

A study was undertaken to determine what type of curriculum leadership roles school librarians were exerting in the nation's nineteenth largest school district, the Clark County Public Schools of Nevada. A 15-item questionnaire was mailed to 75 Clark County School District librarians; responses were received from 59 libraries (79%). Following a…

Suggests that the school library must be valued enough to have trained library staff that are able to assist teaching staff with developing their technological expertise, to see the vital connections between curriculum and the library and to advocate for sound and balanced educational change. Discusses the role of the school library, teacher…

School librarians have a vital role in improving the curriculum and assisting students to be happy, contented, and achieving individuals. Continuous progress of each librarian is a must through inservice education. Means of assisting librarians to attain well include: (1) a professional library with time set aside for reading and discussing ideas…

Discussion of censorship against books in public and school libraries focuses on intellectual freedom; First Amendment rights; and curriculum development to include lessons on the First Amendment. Offers suggestions for activities focusing on censorship and banned books. (LRW)

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)

Examines the evolution of the Whole Language curriculum, its current theory and practices, and its effect on the school library media center. The similarity between Whole Language and the Montessori approach to literacy is discussed, and the role of the media specialist in a Whole Language library media center is described. (31 references) (LRW)

Examples of school library media activities that illustrate instructional involvement currently taking place in various parts of the nation are classified according to David Loertscher's taxonomy. (CHC)

Describes a study that examined the communication patterns of teachers who used UNITE (Unified Network for Informatics in Teacher Education), an electronic mail system designed to encourage curricular collaboration and resource sharing. Highlights include computer-mediated communication, use of UNITE by librarians, and recommendations for…

Reports research based on an ongoing three-year investigation of changes that have taken place in two Library Power schools in a large urban school system in the southeastern United States; the Library Power initiative emphasizes that library media specialists integrate information literacy skills throughout the curriculum. (AEF)

This discussion of the political implications of implementing programs that develop students' critical thinking skills uses the proposals developed by Mancall, Aaron, and Walker as a model. Highlights include marketing the model, extending it to include library instruction in literature, implementing it in teaching reference and research skills,…

Although the need for adequate exploitation of limited resources is a recurring theme in discussions on school based curriculum development, surprisingly little attention in the education literature has focused on the possible role of the school librarian as school resources coordinator and contact point for resources outside the school. The…

This 11-item annotated bibliography deals with two issues that are inextricably bound: idea that school librarians/media specialists are curriculum consultants and that the school library/media center is the support center for the curriculum. Peripheral issues include the professional preparation of school librarians and library skills that…