Offers ideas for activities that elementary school library media specialists can use in the beginning of the year to welcome students back and reacquaint them with library rules and procedures. Describes songs, group activities, treasure hunts, games, and poster design for older students. (LRW)

Describes the use of video technology in elementary schools, particularly for social studies activities. Explains iMovie, a nonlinear editing software program for digital video nonprofessionals; discusses the possibilities for cooperative projects between library media specialists and teachers; and offers video production tips. (LRW)

Explains a work-study program designed for fourth and fifth grade students and describes pros and cons of using student workers in the media center for checking out materials, shelving books, straightening shelves, and dusting. Includes the student's job application, the teacher's application for student workers, and the work-study agreement and…

Discusses the value of having a good library media-center newsletter that ensures consistent positive visibility and suggests topics to consider, including requesting teacher input on collection development, explaining computer software, book talks, copyright issues, current Web sites, biographies of new teachers, and media-center projects. (LRW)

Offers guidelines for selecting picture books for library media centers. Topics include artistic media, with examples of titles for each type; elements of design, including color; style; layout; the story itself; quality of paper and binding; intended audience; selecting with specific teachers and students in mind; and recommendations from…

Suggests strategies for school librarians to build a power base and become involved with the teachers and students. Highlights include surveying teachers regarding their needs and then responding with bibliographies of resources and flexible lesson plans, joining planning teams and committees, and encouraging student use of the library. (LRW)

Discusses the benefits of reading informational books with young readers. Topics include how to choose books that will interest young readers; books for reading aloud or reading alone; and collaborative reading, which connects an informational book to a recent experience, or connects a fiction book with a book of information. (LRW)

Discusses how to write assessment instruments for student performance skills with computers that cannot be evaluated by standard paper and pencil tests and considers the library media specialist's role. Highlights include assessing content and the container, or format; using examples of high quality work; giving criteria; revisions; and using…

Examines how libraries can encourage and increase youth access to information. Discusses the role of the school library media center; law, illegal information, and censorship; parental rights; information policy; and promoting youth access before a challenge occurs in the library. (AEF)

Discusses censorship by librarians and media specialists and considers clashes between professional obligations and theoretical values. Considers the distinction between selection and censorship in both print and electronic sources of information and presents a variety of scenarios dealing with censorship issues. (LRW)

Discusses the benefits of collaboration between teachers and school library media specialists. Topics include teaching information skills, lack of planning by teachers, time constraints, public relations by the media specialist geared toward teachers and administrators, and promoting library resources. (LRW)

Discusses the role library media specialists can play in promoting community-school interaction through use of the media. Highlights include newspapers; television and radio; electronic media, including Web sites and electronic publishing; newsletters; journals and magazines; conferences and workshops; and honors and awards. (LRW)

Discusses how to plan for a new school library media center or renovate an existing facility. Highlights include the importance of a planning team; the role of the architect; brainstorming, including instructional needs, patron services, library administration, and technology infrastructure; site visits to other media centers; and needs…

Reviews misrepresentations of Native Americans that have stemmed from history books and the entertainment media so that school library-media specialists can select books that are free of bias, stereotypes, and inaccuracies. Topics include characterizations, culture, religion, language, the role of women, and quality of the writing and…

Describes Infoquest, a game of research questions that can be answered in a school library media center that was developed to increase student use of the media center. Discusses increased use by teachers, parent participation, and includes a master list of questions and answers as well as print and Internet sources. (LRW)