This essay addresses concerns surrounding the censorship of library materials and responds to comments received on a previous article by the same author ("Top of the News," Winter 1984). Discussion covers the American Civil Liberties Union, vulgar language and inadequate vocabulary, library collections, library material selection, and…

Describes the intentions of mass-market children's book publishers, reviews the nature of mass-market children's books, discusses the interests of librarians in relation to recent developments in mass-market children's publishing, and considers the value of mass-market books to young readers. (JL)

Concludes that too often secondary school and public librarians merely accumulate works of fiction as they appear on the market rather than develop fiction collections. Librarians should use bibliographic aids, patron suggestions, and critical reviews to identify and purchase books to truly develop a collection. (RAA)

Offers suggestions for the acquisition of visual aids in a children's library, addressing such factors as collection criteria, size, scope, sources, processing, access, storage, display, circulation, and promotion. (FM)

Compares specific aspects of 16mm film and the videocassette that should be considered in making media software and hardware purchase decisions for library media collections: aesthetics and intended audience size, compatibility and format, costs, copyright, market trends, and major advantages and disadvantages. A four-item bibliography is…

Uses general developmental framework to explain relationship of play, toys, and development of young children, and to support toy lending in libraries. An evaluative approach for library toy selection which is based on meeting children's psychological needs is suggested together with 11 titles to aid librarians in establishing toy-lending…

Summarizes results of analysis of 209 reviews of fiction books for children and adolescents appearing in six major selection aids in 1979, and discusses classification of statements in reviews--descriptive (objective statements); analytical (literary elements); and sociological (nonliterary considerations). The Classification of Book Reviews form…

Presents results of research designed to determine whether there is discrepancy between high school library fiction choices adolescents would make and those made by professional librarians. Data concerning sex of student, sex of fiction's protagonist, type of fiction, and student grade level were collected. List of books included in study is…

Reviews recently published bibliographies of bilingual works to assist librarians in the selection of suitable materials for Hispanic-American children. Thirty-nine additional titles found in various libraries' children's book collections are also reviewed. (RAA)