At its heart, social media has less to do with technology or a particular application than forging connections with others. How one creates those connections is the question the author posed to some insightful social media users. From a publisher of multiplatform books and a passionate educator to an Internet pioneer and a children's book author,…

With budgets threatened in schools nationwide, students, parents, and educators have begun to realize that they cannot wait around for state or national organizations to act. Web applications have made grassroots advocacy a lot easier, and homegrown efforts on behalf of libraries have sprung up across the country via blogs, wikis, Facebook, and…

This year's "School Library Journal's" spending survey showed that, despite the recession, the vast majority of media centers around the country have retained their credentialed media specialists. For example, almost 85% of elementary schools and more than 95% of middle and high schools have a full-time certified librarian. In addition, salaries…

Today's new media tools are incredibly powerful communication vehicles that allow organizations to connect and engage with many different audiences. With more than seven million users, Twitter is growing at an annual rate of 1,382 percent, Facebook boasts over 250 million active members, and aspiring writers have started more than 133 million…

Online safety is obsolete. A concept little changed since the 1990s, it's one size fits all, emphasizing fear instead of facts, with young people stereotyped as potential victims in a hostile media environment. It's past time for Online Safety 3.0. Why 3.0? Previous versions--1.0 and 2.0--focused on inappropriate content, adult-to-child crime, and…

When asked to weigh in on what might be the next best thing in educational technology, the author scanned the horizon for the next gizmo or software advance that would eventually grow legs, rise up, and utterly transform the library profession. But what he saw was more about evolution than revolution. Sure, Windows Vista will become Windows 7, USB…

A librarian may be comfortable with the idea of using a blog, wiki, or other social application with students, but other stakeholders in his or her community may not be so sure. Any technology maverick looking to sell the use of Web-based applications will, at some point, have to make the case. This article presents some of the most common…

The library, as we once knew it, may no longer be relevant. And, yet, this is undoubtedly the most exciting time in history to be a librarian. The future of the school library as a relevant and viable institution is largely dependent on librarians and how quickly they respond to change. They worry about their field and their practice. They worry…

Blogs, wikis, podcasting, social networks... it seems the entire world has gone 2.0 crazy. Among the followers are educators, who, in ever increasing numbers, are integrating these online, interactive tools into their classrooms and even libraries. This article presents profiles of a few of educators who have taken the plunge, launching blogs,…

Describes 48 Web sites, listservs, and search engines for librarians serving children and youth in the following categories: professional topics; networking opportunities; literature; libraries; the "Net"; education and general resources; and resources on children and youth. Lists 11 ways to use the internet as a source of professional…

Discusses important considerations for library media specialists creating a virtual-resources-collection policy, including selecting the right resources, navigating licensing fees, and free, searchable online sources. A sidebar lists resources for evaluating Web sites and places that lead to recommended sites for students. (AEF)

Comparing 1994 and 1996, the eighth biennial survey of school libraries found median expenditures for books unchanged; audiovisuals, periodicals, microforms, and CD-ROM expenditures down; and software, local area network, and Internet expenditures up. The report also examines the extent of collaboration between library media specialists and…

Presents results of a survey of school library media centers in 1995 and 1996 that was conducted to examine technology use. Highlights include growth in Internet access, increased CD-ROM use, local area networks, distance education, funding sources, staffing, expenditures for technology, library collections, and librarian/teacher and…