This digest brings together the various views on curriculum-related roles for library media specialists. The first section considers reasons why a disparity between theory and practice exists in regard to the involvement of library media specialists as curriculum consultants. Several sources addressing this issue are reviewed in the second…

Designed for elementary and secondary school library media personnel, this fact sheet briefly outlines the need for and methods of public relations. The document emphasizes that because library media programs are vulnerable to budget cuts, the need exists to educate those making fiscal decisions on the role of these materials in the curriculum. A…

This digest discusses the role of the library media specialist. The first section notes the lessons and legacy of "Information Power," the American Library Association's standards for school library media specialists. Technology and opportunity for library media specialists are discussed in the second section, and the third section…

This monograph looks at the need for distance education technology as a result of demographic and socioeconomic changes and examines the role of the school library media program in facilitating the changes in education resulting from the utilization of distance education technology. The first section presents the mission of the school library…

This annotated bibliograpy is intended to serve as a resource for library/media specialists engaged in the process of planning for and implementing mainstreaming in their media centers. It (1) presents background information and reviews legislation related to the mainstreaming of handicapped children; (2) reviews and analyzes the literature…

Demographic and economic trends indicate that in the future there will be fewer teachers available to teach growing K-12 school enrollments. In addition to this, public education is also experiencing funding shortages. Distance education seems to provide a solution for both of these problems as it offers an equitable way to distribute educational…

This digest notes that the terms and conditions of computer software package license agreements control the use of software in schools and libraries, and examines the implications of computer software license agreements for classroom use and for library lending policies. Guidelines are provided for interpreting the Copyright Act, and insuring the…

This guide addresses the role of online searching in school library media centers. The first section reviews the literature in the area and presents guidelines for planning and implementing online access for students based on the experiences reported. This section lists 44 references. The second section summarizes the results of a 1986 survey of…

Basic options for the automation of management functions in the school library media center are the circulation system, the online catalog, the acquisitions system, and the serials check-in. In order to select the most appropriate system, library media specialists must: (1) research both the library's needs and the technologies available, and (2)…

This study assesses the role of online searching in school library media centers as it has been reported in the literature and also as seen in the results of a 1986 survey of school-based online providers and vendors. Although online searching in the school environment was not found to be broadly reported in the literature, the survey showed the…

This publication contains six "capsulized" reports concerned with research in learning resources centers and school libraries, and the role of school media specialists. Each report follows the same format design, i.e., questions previewing the topic; introduction, methodology, findings, conclusions, and marginal notes; and a pathfinder to the…

The traditional role of the school librarian encompassed collection development, reading guidance and literature promotion, and reference. Over time these functions have expanded and participation in carrying out functions has become more active. For instance, the teaching role of the library media specialist is a dramatic and far-reaching…

Much of the concern among librarians and educators as to the legality of library lending and classroom use of copyrighted videotapes is the result of "Home Use Only" labeling and other information supplied by the Motion Picture Association of America and some of its members. Much of this labeling and information is misleading and…

Living in an "information society" implies dealing with a barrage of information on a daily basis, with success and survival dependent on the ability to locate, analyze, and use information skillfully and appropriately. Information literacy, which has been defined as the ability to effectively access and evaluate information for a…

This digest begins with a brief discussion of the current status of the relatively recent phenomenon of online searching in schools. The advantages and disadvantages of online access in this context are then outlined, and some suggestions are offered for school library media specialists who wish to initiate online information retrieval for their…