Rurality is rarely considered or oftentimes completely neglected in conversations about culturally relevant pedagogy. Yet, without a relevant curriculum, students both in and out of rural communities are left with dominant and deficiently positioned narratives about rural people. School librarians must provide counter and critical narratives for…

We are at a transformative moment in education with the almost universal adoption (forty-five states, the District of Columbia, and four territories) of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). As we move from adoption to implementation of these standards across the country, the climate for educational reform has led to expectations of change that…

During the past year, Wisconsin state legislators debated a series of bills aimed at closing low-performing public schools and replacing them with privately run charter schools. These proposals were particularly targeted at Milwaukee, the state's largest and poorest school district. Ultimately, the only legislation enacted was a bill that modestly…

Explains how the library professional staff in a Colorado Springs school district has changed the focus of their job role from technology implementation and support to increasing student achievement. Discusses reasons for the change, the library technology educator model, standards of performance, and collaboration with classroom teachers. (LRW)

This presentation addresses the issues of change in perception of the role and program of modern school library and information services (SLIS). A brief review of the various aspects of school librarianship over the past decade is addressed from the global perspective. The purpose and function of the modern SLIS is examined. The role of the…

Provides suggestions for teaching library skills to mainstreamed special education students for each of the four components of the instructional model: (1) determining skill level; (2) setting objectives; (3) instructing with modification (methods, materials, and motivation); and (4) monitoring progress. (seven references) (MES)

Argues that current technologies offer unique possibilities for instructional improvement and identifies probable obstacles to exploitation of these opportunities for all students, including female, handicapped, inner-city and rural, minority, disadvantaged, and average learners. A 2-tiered model is presented for the media specialist addressing…

Aimed at consultants and those responsible for the development of school library media programs, this paper outlines the functions of school library media personnel, with emphasis on their instructional role and their role as agents of societal change. A discussion of entry-level competencies which should be required for school library media…

This volume contains descriptions of 62 library programs that have been identified as being exemplary in one of the following program topic areas: (1) services to populations without library or media centers; (2) services to populations with inadequate library/media centers; (3) services to special populations, including the disadvantaged,…

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,…

This paper provides a framework for a plan for the utilization of technology in a school district. An example of a set of proficiencies for the use of computers by students at various grade levels is offered as a model for the computer literacy component of a district master plan. Other components discussed are the supervision and management of…

Discusses national standardized testing versus testing reform and provides an overview of the alternative assessment movement and its relationship to the school library media specialist. Highlights include criticisms of standardized testing; theoretical assumptions for alternative assessment; research and practice related to specific alternative…

Describing the outdoor program at the Lorado Taft Field Campus (Northern Illinois University) which is served by an instructional materials center specializing in outdoor learning, this article illustrates how to organize a small, centrally located resource center for outdoor education materials. (SB)

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…

Reports on a study designed to formulate a literature-based model describing what teacher-librarians do as they help students involved in information search and use (ISU). Whether teacher-librarians work with students in all phases of the ISU process and the extent to which their intermediary activities can be related to other models are…