Work sampling is a research technique where workers are observed at random times and their activities recorded. Data are converted to percentages indicating the overall distribution of how time is spent in various categories. A background of work sampling, its history in libraries and the planning and implementation of a school library media study…

Discusses "Learning for the Future: Developing Information Services in Australian Schools" (1993), a contemporary standards and guidelines document that could be used to monitor the effectiveness of school library resource centers in a range of educational settings across Australia. Describes how outcomes-based education can provide a…

Discusses the role that school library media specialists can play in the development of children's writing skills. Recommends a number of reference books for student writers published by Scholastic, including a dictionary, thesaurus, dictionary of idioms, rhyming dictionary, dictionary of spelling, and a treasury of quotations. (LRW)

Describes a reference source for middle school students on biotechnology that is useful for science and social science curricula as well as interdisciplinary approaches. Explains the four-volume format and various features that make it useful to media specialists and students. (LRW)

Discusses reasons for including sports books in school library reference collections, explains why they should not be found only in public library collections, and provides six annotated bibliographies of sports books suitable for intermediate or middle school library collections. (LRW)

Explains certification in library media by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Topics include candidate qualifications, including at least three years of experience; links between the media specialist, library media standards, accomplishments, and student achievement; assessments, including portfolio development; scheduling for…

Discusses the need for professional development opportunities for school library media specialists and describes the development of a workshop in Georgia for new media specialists. Includes the roles and responsibilities of media specialists, including collaboration with teachers; and decision-making responsibilities. (LRW)

Explains the Primary Years Program (PYP), an inquiry framework developed by the International Baccalaureate Organization that describes the characteristics of an international student in the learner profile and describes its use in the Vienna International School. Discusses collaborative planning by teachers; real-life connections; and role of the…

Describes the library media center programs at Blue Valley High School (Kansas), the proactive stance it takes in the curriculum, and how it maintains an active role in the school community. Topics include developing a comfortable atmosphere for teachers and students, financial and moral administrative support, and the use of technology. (LRW)

Describes the design of notable school libraries and media centers, including the educational context and design goals. Includes information on architects, suppliers, and cost, as well as photographs. (EV)

Discussion of library media specialists evaluation focuses on factors that compromise the utility of evaluations by the principal: increased demands on principals as instruments of accountability; the tendency to use an evaluation designed for teachers, not media specialists; and changes that have occurred in the work of library media specialists.…

A library renovation class was offered to special education and low-income high school students during the summer, including lessons in Dewey Decimal classification, equipment repair and cleaning, and library organization and research skills. Students helped to plan and implement renovation of their school library media center. (MES)

Describes ways in which microcomputer technology can help school media centers with collection development. The need to map the media center collection is discussed, benefits of collection mapping are explained, the need to consider curriculum requirements is emphasized, and setting up a database and spreadsheet is discussed. (LRW)

Issues related to school library management and supervision are discussed in five articles. Topics covered include supervisory styles and strategies for improvement; workshop design; the use of the focus group approach for library planning; financial support for library automation; survival techniques for new librarians; and the management of a…

Describes a process for evaluating school media specialists that was developed by a high school principal and librarian working as a team. The discussion covers the criteria and methods used in the evaluation process, and how well the evaluation meets the needs of both the administration and the media specialist. (CLB)