Reviews the history of school libraries and librarians and changes that have occurred; discusses present conditions, including the need for collaboration, leadership, and greater visibility; and considers future possibilities, including strategies for successful change. (LRW)

Discusses recent books and articles on the minimalist model of education, children as users of information systems, the new information superhighway in relation to schools, the future of reading and computers, and children's use of online information resources. (EAM)

Discusses challenges facing the school library media profession during the next decade and the response needed to ensure that the profession continues to exist. The lack of attention to the role of media specialists in the aftermath of "A Nation at Risk" and the role articulated in "Information Power" are described. (KRN)

Discusses the "axemaker" school librarian, drawing the concept of innovators for survival and growth of the human species, from Burke and Ornstein's "The Axemaker's Gift: A Double-Edged History of Human Culture." Examines contributions of library science to society and suggests that "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning" is the…

Discusses the role of the media specialist and offers ideas for library orientation. The concept of invitational education (i.e., education aimed at creating a total school environment that summons teachers and students to realize their potential and to make classrooms inviting) is considered and several related resources are suggested. (MES)

Reviews the Fall 1996 issue of "Daedalus," entitled "Books, Bricks, & Bytes," which explores social, economic, and technological demands on libraries; and "Buildings, Books, and Bytes: Libraries and Communities in the Digital Age" (1996) which describes the perceptions of library leaders and the general public concerning the future of libraries.…

Discusses "revisioning" the school library media program. Highlights include the power of school media specialists; comparisons to community businesses, including marketing, displays, themes, and materials and staff; library services and staff attitudes; and creating a new image. (AEF)

Discusses the need for adequate staffing in rural public libraries to meet expanded information needs. Topics include libraries' changing roles in the community to meet future information needs, the difference between training and education, and the development of distance education programs by library schools for professional continuing…

Explores culture clashes experienced by school library media specialists that have influenced the development of the library profession. Highlights include educators and noneducators; different levels of education; varied access to information technology; male versus female; print versus electronic media; intergenerational relations; and present…

Examines new guidelines for library media programs developed by the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Discusses future developments, mission statements, the relationship of information use to standards, the dimensions of library services, and the role of the library media…

Discusses current initiatives to restructure the U.S. educational system and interpretations assigned to those initiatives. Sources of information about educational restructuring are recommended, site-based management is discussed, some of the implications of these current trends in education for library media specialists are explained, and…

Describes resources useful to library media specialists in planning future programs. Areas addressed include library and information skills instruction; collection management; global trends; educational trends; changes in an information society; technology background and maintenance; hypermedia; educational television, including cable; and books…