Discusses the role library media specialists can play in promoting community-school interaction through use of the media. Highlights include newspapers; television and radio; electronic media, including Web sites and electronic publishing; newsletters; journals and magazines; conferences and workshops; and honors and awards. (LRW)

Describes strategic planning efforts in eight states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin) to implement guidelines in "Information Power" (1998, American Library Association) relating good school library media programs to student achievement success. Discusses Web pages; state conferences;…

Discusses the importance of parent involvement in increasing student achievement. Highlights include program ideas for PTA (Parent Teacher Association) and media specialist partnerships; the National PTA Standards for Parent and Family Involvement; technology education programs; and the role of library and media specialists. (LRW)

Discusses the importance of marketing library media programs to school boards and school district administrators. Suggests aligning library goals with district goals; hosting district board meetings; designing flyers to promote library services; developing library newsletters; annual reports that highlights achievements; networking; formal…

Describes Web-based reference products that are available to K-12 media specialists through the Gale Group. Highlights include the Student Resource Center (SRC), a collection of databases; searching in the SRC; the Junior Reference Collection; separate databases; and American Journey Online, containing primary sources related to American history.…

Discusses middle school students' hypermedia projects using IBM's "Linkway" that are developed with students, teachers, and the library media specialist. Assessment in the areas of presentation, cooperative learning skills, computer skills, and knowledge is described, and the development of scoring rubrics is explained. (LRW)

Offers suggestions for helping students find enjoyable leisure reading books. Highlights include identifying subject matter, characterization, setting, or pace similar to previously enjoyed books; tools of young adult readers' advisory, including annual lists, bibliographies, and catalogs; peer reviews and recommendations; review newsletters; and…

Provides six fully developed library media activities that are designed to be used with specific curriculum units in industrial arts, 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…

Reviews a variety of information models developed to provide support for student research that will help school library media specialists meet the needs of diverse learners when providing course integrated library instruction. Each model assumes learning as an active and creative process and promotes the development of critical thinking skills.…

Describes a reading camp-in program for third and fourth graders. Highlights include parent and teacher involvement, guest speakers, group activities, reading stations with teachers reading aloud, sleeping stations, and a sample schedule. (LRW)

Presents a case study of how educational reform can improve the library media program, based on experiences at one high school that was assisted by the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative (BASRC) project and its spin-off project, the Bay Area National Digital Library (BANDL). Discusses methods for increasing schoolwide information literacy,…

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…

Discusses how the author used administrative skills learned as a school library media specialist to meet the demands of a university department chair. Topics include the influence of decisions that are made; budgeting; evaluation concerns and responsibilities; determining guidelines and goals; political concerns; and the flow of information. (LRW)

The authors have developed collaborative partnerships with K-12 educators and school library/media specialist students to promote information literacy. This article traces the history beginning with on-site workshops collaboratively developed by K-12 and university library staff; a continuing education course in information literacy for teachers…

This guide is designed to facilitate the implementation of the Florida First Start (FFS) program, created to help at-risk children from birth to 3 years of age have the best possible start in life and to support parents in their roles as their children's first teachers. Emphasis is on providing early, high-quality education and support services.…