Open educational resources (OER), which have existed over 15 years, consists of, in principle, fully open educational content, available for free to all and are adaptable to serve the needs of the user. They were created as a response to the high cost of textbooks and as a means of leveling the playing field in terms of ensuring equal access to…

Students in STEM and the health sciences have unique learning needs, including preparation for exams required for entering a STEM or health sciences profession. Students in these areas thus often seek, in addition to or instead of traditional course materials and library resources, digital study tools that utilize techniques such as spaced…

Many observers find it baffling that faculty in higher education have been slow to adopt open educational resources (OER). The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, a private foundation that makes grants to expand access to learning materials, defines OER as: Teaching, learning, and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been…

The Ohio State University Libraries has been working on affordability issues related to course materials for some time. This article details some of those efforts, going into detail about moving from reactive methods of dealing with course materials via instructor-initiated reserve requests to more proactive methods of a general education textbook…

In a climate of increased interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), school libraries have unique opportunities to grow collections and cultivate partnerships in the sciences. At the federal level and in many states, STEM initiatives encourage hands-on exposure to technologies and open the door for student-led discovery of…

Campus librarians play a central role in conversations revolving around copyright compliance. The sheer volume of information provided within library physical and virtual spaces affirms the role libraries play in current copyright debates. Regardless of the function of librarians on any particular campus, it is important to confront the myriad of…

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 Glendale Community College's Instructional Materials Center, an integrated center housing both print and nonprint media and serving the college community more than 75.5 hours per week. Highlights interaction between librarians and instructional faculty, the librarians' role, ??and the library's bibliographic instruction program. (DMM)

Reviews the role of a public school media specialist and suggests resources for further reading in various areas. Highlights include the instructional role; levels of instructional involvement; the role of school libraries; teaching information skills; and the evaluation process, including evaluation of instructional systems, student performance,…

Explores the role of library media specialists in school curricula enrichment and the possibilities for utilizing both print and nonprint media to this end. Examples of media support for social studies, science, mathematics, and the arts are presented. The importance of networking and support systems to the success of media centers is discussed.…

Describes characteristics of effective adolescent literacy programs and discusses the role of the public library. Library collections for adolescents with literacy needs and the professionals who work with them, referral to literacy programs, library sponsored programs, and staff development are identified as areas that public libraries need to…

Discussion of at-risk students focuses on the possible role of the school library in the prevention and reduction of dropouts. Topics discussed include locating relevant resources both within and external to the school; database searching; teaching information skills; integrating relevant materials into the curriculum; and making available…

Describes the DELTA (Direct Electronic Learning Teaching Alternative) project at California State University that was developed to promote distance education methods to prepare for future needs. Computer networks, the role of library and information science education, media access, collaborative work, and instructional resources are discussed.…

Summarizes the findings of studies that indicate serious deficiencies in the reading, writing, and basic information skills of American students. Possible causes are discussed including the lack of effectiveness of teaching methods and instructional materials. It is argued that the school library offers the best hope for creating a culturally…

Discussion of the use of comic books and graphic novels in school and public libraries highlights the role of school library media programs; how to use comics and graphic novels in teaching; the Japanese use of comic books; their use in literacy education; and the influence of comics on reading habits. (LRW)