Review of literature on instructional improvement services and the role of the media center concludes that such services will enhance media center value to postsecondary faculty and institutions. Five recommendations are offered to media centers and their management-level personnel to prepare them to take on this role. (MBR)

Suggests skills students should develop for working with atlases and specific activities for teaching them. A list of books, films, filmstrips, and cassettes for teaching about atlases is provided, as well as a list of atlases for student use. (EM)

Presents a simplified technique for students to use in producing an animated film using cutouts, including the equipment needed, planning steps, and procedures. The production of such a film for a social studies project combining map skills with facts about the United States is described, and additional resources are suggested. (EM)

Discusses the impact of changing technology on learning resource centers (LRC's), reporting on a survey of LRC directors at 15 multicampus colleges conducted to determine changes in use, shifts in technological emphases, budget support, discarded forms of instructional media, telecourse utilization, and computer use in instruction. (AYC)

Discusses the problem of serious dangers in current and backlist chemistry experiment books. Discarding of older books and careful evaluation of the dangers inherent in newer books are recommended. Safe alternatives are suggested, including some criteria for evaluating dangers, and a safer approach used by a current author. (EM)

Reports on a survey of the directors of the learning resources centers (LRCs) of Florida's public community colleges, conducted to identify the knowledge, educational background, and abilities needed by professional librarians to work in LRCs. Emphasizes the importance of reference and bibliographic instruction skills. (DMM)

Explores areas of middle management in which community/junior college librarians could be more involved and productive (e.g., planning, coordination, and public relations). Offers guidelines for effective group decision making. (DMM)

The editors of School Library Media Activities Monthly discuss the debate between advocates of a strong instructional development or design role for library media specialists and advocates of strong library media skills programs. They suggest that well-planned and interesting lessons can incorporate both library media and classroom objectives. (EM)

Discusses the services provided by the Iowa-based National Resource Center on Family Based Services. The 4-year-old Resource Center disseminates information, provides technical assistance and training in the "thinking systems" approach to family therapy and social casework, and conducts research to help agencies develop alternatives to…

Reviews components of school library media standards and outlines funding sources for media programs. School library media specialists are challenged to work with the educational community to strengthen media programs and to establish visible, vital, and viable programs of excellence. Eleven references are noted. (EJS)

Presents methodology and results of a study of media center personnel in institutions of higher education to determine their status in terms of job titles, salary levels, sources of funding, and educational/training requirements. Recommendations based on study findings and job descriptions for the seven positions investigated are included. (MBR)

This study identifies administrative practices in resource centers of small, 2-year, publicly supported community and junior colleges in following areas: components of resource center, staffing patterns, organization of collection, format of card catalog, online systems and reference services, anti-theft systems, and assistance to faculty in…

This discussion of the impact of technological developments on information services highlights the influence of growth and development of video and electronic media on library, use of new media in comprehensive learning assistance centers, problems related to adoption of new technologies, and library role in adult education. (19 references) (EJS)

Outlines steps to follow in construction of educational games (theme, purpose, grade level, players, format, method of checking, designing materials, players' roles, procedures and time, trial run, evaluation). Discussion covers motivation, feedback, interaction, competition and cooperation, position and self-image, gaining information and using…

Among the ways organizations are providing career development for supervisors are (1) in-house career resource centers, (2) individual development plans, (3) formal career paths or ladders, and (4) career counseling. (CT)