Today school library media specialists operate in an environment of daily challenges and controversies. "No Child Left Behind" established mandates that all educators are scrambling to meet. No matter how people feel about the way the legislation is being carried out, it is difficult to argue against its purpose--that all educators must…

Excerpts from testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources regarding the proposed Technology for Education Act highlights the need for strong school library media collections and programs in addition to the latest technology. Highlights include funding, expenditures, media centers and student achievement, librarians'…

Over 5 million students aged 6 to 21 received services under the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)" during the 2000-2001 school year. In partial response to this growing population of diverse learners, the relatively recent and highly controversial "No Child Left Behind (NCLB)" legislation has served as a…

Discusses imperatives for implementation of Omnibus Children and Youth Literacy through Libraries Act, including provision and prioritization of information about library services for youth, support from educational and community groups, improved library media education, cooperation among different types of libraries, leadership by state…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) directs public and private libraries--academic, public, school, and special--to provide services to people with disabilities that are equal to services provided to citizens without disabilities. Six chapters in this book provide information to help library administrators and staff to fully understand the…

Describes the first White House Conference on Library and Information Services and assesses its impact on youth services in school and public libraries. It is concluded that the conference had little influence on youth services and ways in which youth librarians can take a more active role in the upcoming second conference are discussed. (two…

Reviews issues identified by the White House Conference on Library and Information Services that relate to the needs of youth and offers specific suggestions for ways in which libraries can meet those needs. Proposed federal legislation is discussed, and a checklist designed to assess gaps at the state and local levels is provided. (CLB)

Reports on the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services. Highlights include conference delegates; an initiative providing recommendations for priority actions in the context of the Omnibus Children and Youth Literacy through Libraries Act, including school library services and public library children's and young adult…

Discusses political action that affects school library media programs. Topics addressed include education and school library media program statistics; learning resources and technology statistics; the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA) of 1981, particularly the disparity of collections and effects on student achievement; and…

Activities of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) for fiscal year 1987-1988 are reported under four braod categories--Literacy; Democracy; Productivity; and Policy, Planning, and Advice. The report under Literacy features three major projects: working with the National Center for Education Statistics to develop a…

Klasing discusses the inability of school library facilities to meet current challenges for the delivery of programs and information. Callison then provides an overview of this issue on planning learning environments for school media centers, which contains four articles covering space requirements, ergonomic design, legislation on equal access,…

This handbook provides local educational agencies with the necessary information and instructions for participation in Part B of Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which authorizes assistance for the purpose of acquiring school library resources and printed instructional materials to be used by children and teachers in…

Discusses the need for more adequate materials and personnel in school libraries and describes provisions of the proposed Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Act. Sidebars include views of the bill by the American Library Association (ALA) and instructions on writing to senators and representatives to encourage support for the bill. (LRW)

Discusses use of federal funds for school libraries provided by Chapter II Block Grants created by the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. Increased spending for such items as library materials, instructional equipment, and microcomputers is enumerated. Five ways for librarians to obtain and monitor funds are outlined. (EJS)

Highlights of the annual report for the 20th year of service for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Services (NCLIS) include: (1) planning for and the coordination of the second White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS); (2) technical amendments to the NCLIS enabling legislation; (3) continuing progress…