In many ways, science classrooms and school library media centers are parallel universes struggling with their own reform issues and with documenting their own positive impacts. As the trend toward data-driven decisions grows in the school setting, it is increasingly important for every component of the learning environment to have demonstrable…

Includes three articles about research in the school library media field: (1) "The State of Research Today" (Michael B. Eisenberg) (2) "Recent Trends in School Library Media Research" (Robert Grover and Susan G. Fowler); and (3) "Notes from ERIC" (Barbara Minor) provides references to 10 research overviews and…

The purpose of this four phase quasi-experimental study was to determine if putting selected books into a display controlled by a theme in a school media center would: (1) increase the circulation of the display books; (2) cause an increase in the circulation of the entire collection; and (3) encourage children to read a type of book they did not…

This study was designed to determine the level of faculty support for the Learning Resources Center (LRC) at Ricks College, and to establish the degree of their encouraging student use of the LRC. The procedures used included a review of the literature, use of an inquiry committee of faculty and librarians to help identify pertinent questions to…

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 primary objective of this project was the study of the utilization of nonprint media in the public schools of the State of Maryland in order to determine current patterns and identify developing trends in the use of media materials and equipment. Secondary objectives were to determine variations in patterns of use of media materials and…

This study reports the findings of two surveys conducted in 1983 by the University of Wisconsin-Stout's (UW-Stout) Library Learning Center. The main objectives of these surveys were to question users with regard to which library services and resources users are aware of, which ones are used by what groups, how they are used, and what value is…

Describes a study undertaken to determine the effect of teacher-utilization of media center resources in teaching upon student use of media center materials. The methodology and findings of the study are reviewed, a set of conclusions is presented, and sources for further study of experimental research are provided. (JL)

Introduction to the second part of a two-part series on collection development invites the reader to evaluate current collection development practice while considering changes, in light of recent innovations in library automation, resource availability, and format. Three major themes discussed in as many articles are briefly reviewed. (SD)

This article presents the results of a survey designed to assess students' experiences with media resources as a means to better understanding academic media center student patron needs and as a first step towards assessing student levels of media literacy, an important but often overlooked component of information literacy. Results indicate a…

A study was conducted at Cincinnati Technical College (CTC) to determine why students were underutilizing the Learning Resource Center (LRC), as well as to assess the opinions of students who did use the collection and services of the LRC. Telephone surveys were conducted by LRC staff members with 142 of 360 randomly selected students in the study…

Describes two studies conducted in the DeKalb County (GA) School System's secondary school libraries, one on DIALOG, the other on the use of the Internet and media specialists' perceptions of that tool. Discussion includes the application of experience from the DeKalb library to other new school library Internet projects. (16 references) (KRN)

This report describes a spring 1982 survey of faculty and student users and nonusers of library audiovisual collections at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Buffalo. User frequency, the composition of user patronage, preferred media formats for learning, and users' perceptions of audiovisual services offered are described. A brief history is…

The impact of an automated circulation system and online catalog on interlibrary loans at a county college is evaluated in terms of activity by patron type, periodicals usage, costs, borrowing activity, and interlibrary loan activity. (CLB)

Describes a study of 13 techniques used to collect data from media centers in 11 schools on the school library media specialist's involvement in instructional consulting; student use of media programs; percentage of students that come to the center. Seven survey forms are reproduced and data collected from participating schools are given. (14…