In this article, the author profiles Carolyn Brodie, winner of this year's Scholastic Library Publishing Award. One can be completely charmed by Brodie's soft-spoken Arkansas accent, warm demeanor, and genteel manners. While the graciousness is authentic, the woman behind it is fearless, with a clear vision for youth services, remarkable tenacity,…

Identifies six areas of children's librarianship that need attention: definition of the role of children's librarians; clarification of the goals and worth of children's services; an improved professional image; determination of the appropriate education to enable librarians to meet changed circumstances; and a better understanding of what…

Describes school library reform efforts in New York City's elementary public schools initiated by a private foundation to help improve education and fight poverty. Topics include funding; successful public and private collaboration; librarian training; and research to determine the role and influence of libraries. (LRW)

Presents a regional comparison of school library programs, collections, and services. Highlights include education and training of media specialists; planning; funding sources and priorities; collection size; local expenditures; resources, including access to the Internet, videos, and CD-ROMs; computers and technology; and responsibility for Web…

Describes programs developed by the Chicago School District to renovate and revitalize its school libraries. Topics include funding, other educational reforms in the district, updating library collections, updating librarians' skills, increasing budgets through grants, flexible scheduling, corporate support, relations with the Chicago Public…

Summarizes nine papers commissioned by the Department of Education for "Rethinking the Library in the 1990s." Common themes include user education, technological and social change, public policies, and changing roles for librarians. It is argued that these papers, which address adult services, need to be critiqued in terms of library…

It is essential that secondary school librarians accept the concept of a unified media service if their programs are to remain viable educational forces. (Author/NH)

Discusses the use of distance education for library education courses based on experiences at the University of Illinois. Topics include the importance of real-time interaction; the availability of technical support; requiring some on-campus time; and the suitability of distance education for youth services and school librarianship courses. (LRW)

Considers ways to teach the Dewey Decimal System and suggests teaching about Dewey himself. Relates interesting segments of Dewey's life, including activities at the Amherst College library, his simplified spelling system, and women and his library school. (LRW)

Describes the National Library Program supported by the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. The program's national goals and guidelines and results of eight projects are presented. Brief descriptions of five new projects and nine planning sites are given. Continuation plans and the possibility of funding beyond the three-year project period are…

Presents guidelines to help children's librarians develop libraries that will meet the future needs of children. Highlights include developing leaders; winning allies; improving public relations efforts; policy formation; organizational change; changing library education; doing research; and the need for evaluation. (LRW)

This essay addresses the role of the children's librarian in introducing youth to the characteristics and use of information technologies. Discussion covers the Electronic Utopia, library education's view of services to youth, problems of illiteracy and semiliteracy, and differences between oral and literate cultures. Nine sources are given. (EJS)

Changes in requirements for school library certification are listed by state in chart form. (Author/PF)

Discusses the art of storytelling for librarians, focusing on programing trends, stage fright, and selecting stories. Several books and videotapes providing storytelling instruction or suggested stories are described. An annotated bibliography of eight items is included. (MES)

State certification requirements are listed for school librarians and media specialists. Two charts are included for comparision and study: the first delineates basic core courses or subject areas as required by states, and the second gives certificate information, number of hours required, audiovisual education information, and the accreditation…