The exponential influx of digital content and mobile devices into schools begs for school librarians to engage in discussions and decision making about the selection, classification, management, and distribution of content ranging from e-books to open educational resources. As information professionals, school librarians should channel their inner…

As knowledge brokers, librarians are living in interesting times for themselves and libraries. It causes them to wonder sometimes if the traditional tools like the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system can cope with the onslaught of information. The categories provided do not always seem adequate for the knowledge-discovery habits of…

Keeping a uniform, basic arrangement of the school library is essential if students are to be comfortable finding resources in other libraries. Two questions that must be answered if a new system were to be devised are: Who would decide on the particulars of that system? What criteria would be used to make the decision to ensure that use of the…

"Do what's best for kids!" The author's former principal said this often when they discussed media program needs. Media specialists can make media centers places where students and teachers want to be. This article looks at everyday, attainable, common sense best practices. These everyday best practices require time, energy, new ways of thinking,…

Over 2000 participants made the daylong programming at the "Library Journal"/"School Library Journal" Virtual Ebook Summit, September 29, a robust conversation and not just within the summit interface but also in tweets with the #ebooksummit hashtag (and beyond) and in libraries across the country where participants logged in to take part. The…

Four papers on meeting the professional information needs of teacher librarians focus on the responsibility of professional teacher librarian associations include: "The Responsibility of Professional TL Associations" (Norma Jeffrey); "Meeting the Professional Information Needs of TLs: The Responsibility of Professional Teacher…

This document represents the five-year Arkansas State Plan for the operating in accordance with the Library Services and Technology Act in Arkansas (fiscal year 1998-2002). The following are covered: vision statement; a description of the types of libraries in Arkansas (public, school, post-secondary education, special, and State Library); an…

This book explores how librarians can work to strengthen and improve the quality of service to young adults. The introduction is written by Mary Kay Chelton, whose dissertation, "Adult-Adolescent Service Encounters: The Library Context" (1997), inspired this book. The book has 12 chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the provision of best young adult…

This paper examines the purpose and history of the school library in the United States, and specifically in California, and discusses concerns and issues that need to be addressed to ensure that school libraries have a place in the future. The paper concludes that excellent school librarians are essential in ensuring that all young people have…

It is essential for all students to become life long information users in order to become quality citizens in today's information world. In this paper, a school library media specialist illustrates how she and other school district librarians planned and implemented a redesign of the school library facility and a change in the library program. The…

The purpose of this long-range plan is to describe the status of library development in Wisconsin, the needs and problems of libraries, and the possible ways of meeting these needs over the next 5 years. This plan was developed by the Division for Libraries and Community Learning staff, with advice from the Library Services and Construction Act…

The purpose of this long-range plan is to describe the status of library development in Wisconsin, the needs and problems of libraries, and the possible ways of meeting these needs over the next 5 years. The plan reflects reports submitted to the Division for Libraries and Community Learning staff, surveys, consultations with librarians and…

Presents findings of a study that examined the impact of a model urban library system in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) on children's literacy development, particularly for poor, minority families, and its relation to reading achievement. It is concluded that libraries are vital for children's achievement and developing informational needs. (MES)

The National Library in Slovenia was fully authorized to develop on the national level the library network made up of all types of libraries. To fulfill the tasks, a special advisory center/service was founded to perform advising and developing tasks, as well as supervisory tasks. In the last decade, a significant change of its role has come…

Discusses the need for library media specialists to develop a voice of authority. Discusses insights of the feminist perspective; gender differences and future characteristics of the next generation of librarians; combining strong voices of authority to lead the charge for equitable, fair access for all youth; and national investment in library…