This article presents an interview with Rick A. Sheets, who has been working in learning assistance, faculty training, and technology support for over 30 years. He collaborated with Frank Christ as the co-founder and webmaster of the Learning Support Centers in Higher Education (LSCHE) website, a resource established in 1996 for learning center…

The article argues for the participation and involvement of students in developing learning spaces within higher education. In early childhood education there is a strong emphasis upon rights, democracy and planning learning through listening to young children. Taking inspiration from this, the study explores the use of participatory approaches in…

Frank Christ is the founder and co-director of the Winter Institutes for Learning Assistance Professionals and has been actively involved with learning assistance and learning centers for the past 40 years. In this interview, Christ talks about how learning centers today differ from those with which he was associated at the beginning of his…

This article clearly defines the three crucial pre-implementation principles to maximize the success of Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) in large high schools. Establishing clear understanding for the need of the SLC initiative is the first of these principles. Long term commitment to a sustained plan for relevant SLC professional learning…

In this article, the author talks about the concept of school library as a place of learning for students. He contends that a school library must be conceived in terms of three aspects. First, it should have a creative school library media specialist to lead the principal through a meaningful vision of what the library could be in terms of…

Describes various forms of budgets and discusses concepts in budgeting useful to supervisors of school media centers: line item budgets, capital budgets, creating budgets, the budget calendar, innovations, PPBS (Planning, Programing, Budgeting System), zero-based budgeting, cost-benefit analysis, benefits, benefit guidelines, and budgeting for the…

Small audiovisual center facilities may have advantages over their larger counterparts in areas of cost-effectiveness, encouraging media specialist creativity and instructional effectiveness. (CMV)

This document prepared by Calgary Board of Education, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, discusses a systematic approach to strengthening the library media collection. A statement of principle, what to weed, specific guides to weeding (by Dewey Decimal classification and type of material), what not to weed, procedures, and weeding follow-up are…

Stresses the importance of management skills and budgeting expertise for school library media specialists, and discusses the budgeting process as it relates to identifying needs, sharing responsibility in securing funds, and justifying budget requests. A list of references is included. (FM)

In these opening remarks, the First Lady welcomes the attendees to the White House Conference on School Libraries, including four members of Congress and several guest speakers. Presents conference focus on libraries - school libraries, community libraries - as places that are designed to enrich lives and learning. (MES)

Presents the views of six librarians on the new version of "Information Power" (IP 2) by AASL (American Association of School Librarians) and AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology). The new version includes guidelines for school library media programs and introduces national student standards for information…

Comments that library media specialists have not been adequately utilized in schools, especially at the elementary level. Reasons why the library should be an integral part of the instructional program are discussed, and several ways in which the librarian, as a generalist, can aid students in academic achievement are listed. (MES)

Discusses role of teacher-librarian in process of "resource-based learning"--programs which involve students in use of wide range of print, nonprint, and human resources. Administration of the school library, selection and purchase of materials, and the working relationship between teacher-librarian and classroom teacher are highlighted. Two…

Describes a model for a school media center which will serve as a strategic learning facility. The model is based upon research in both media and education dealing with behavioristic psychology, personality theory, cognitive psychology, and theories of learning as information processing. (Author/FM)

Discusses childrens' interest in messages and messengers; describes the role and impact of messages in a variety of books; and presents ideas for activities for elementary and secondary school students that suggest imaginative ways of using words, symbols, and language to offer children the chance to become messengers and communicators. (36…