Identifies current challenges to children's library services including inequality in access to information; integration of information skills in the classroom; rising costs, low budgets, and increasing demands; the state of book collections; and the need for research at state and national levels. Local examples of successful solutions are…

Compares results from 1982, 1986, and 1990 surveys of Texas public schools that were conducted to determine the status of microcomputers and their uses in public schools and school libraries. Data are reported that show an increased us of computers in libraries as well as in other areas of the schools. (LRW)

Discusses the role of the school librarian as change agent with emphasis on the implementation of school library programs through the cooperative work of classroom teachers and teacher-librarians. Shared goals are discussed, the attitudes and roles of teachers are described, and implications for future research are suggested. (13 references) (LRW)

Provides fully developed library media activities that are designed to be used with specific curriculum units. Highlights include elementary school activities for music appreciation and physical education, reading and language arts, and science; and secondary school activities for science and social studies. (LRW)

Reports on the Division of School Media Specialists of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). Highlights include the mission statement; publications; board members and committee chairs; activities at the AECT conferences; and future concerns, including public relations and marketing plans for media specialists and…

Provides six fully developed library media activities designed to be used with specific curriculum units in health, physical education, reading/language arts, science, and social studies. Library media skills, objectives, curriculum objectives, grade levels, instructional roles, activity and procedures for completion, evaluation, and follow-up are…

Describes a Texas survey of fourth and eighth graders that examined whether children experience information overload, what strategies they used to reduce it, and what words described their feelings while overloaded. Results are analyzed by grade level, gender, and content, and the role of the school library media specialist is discussed.…

Discusses censorship by librarians and media specialists and considers clashes between professional obligations and theoretical values. Considers the distinction between selection and censorship in both print and electronic sources of information and presents a variety of scenarios dealing with censorship issues. (LRW)

Presents a strategy for completing a library media center policy review, from evaluating existing policies through submitting policies to the school board for approval. Special attention is paid to issues related to the use of new technologies in middle and high school library media centers, including student/faculty technology use, circulation,…

Discusses the impact of block scheduling on secondary school library media centers. Topics include the need for more resources to support larger class groups, library networking to meet information needs, planning with teachers, impact on library staff, impact on teachers and students, and the need for flexibility. (LRW)

Presents a framework to help media specialists and other educators facilitate the process of integrating computer technology and the Internet into classroom instruction and curriculum design. Highlights include planning, including concept maps; research, including critical thinking; development, including knowledge construction and higher-order…

Reviews design factors to consider when planning library media centers. Highlights include planning teams; planning for more than one kind of learning; considering community as well as school use; planning for existing technology rather than future possibilities; considering ease of supervision; traffic patterns; lighting and sound damping; and…

Describes a program developed at Winona Middle School (Minnesota) to integrate the state standard for information literacy into the curriculum. Explains the role of the school library media specialist and discusses the final product which is a student portfolio, a HyperStudio multimedia presentation that incorporates the newly acquired skills.…

Reports the results of three statewide studies in Alaska, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, which show that a school library media program with a full-time library media specialist, support staff, and a strong computer network leads to higher student achievement as evidenced on standardized achievement tests. (LRW)

Discusses the role of the school library media specialist in student assessment. Topics include guidelines in "Information Power" (1998, American Library Association); formative and summative assessment; the role of classroom teachers and students; collaboration between teachers and media specialists; and the evaluation of…