Discusses the importance of fostering learning communities in today's school reform movement and the potential role of the school library media specialist as a leader in building collaborative networks with classroom teachers. Highlights include a comparison of traditional and collaborative models; linking collaboration and leadership; and…

Explores differences in the academic library use of Asian American, African American, Latino, Native American and White undergraduates. Results indicate that students of color reported more academic library use while all undergraduates who engaged in writing activities and read more non-assigned books reported greater library use. (Author/LRW)

Considers the roles of teachers and school librarians in comparison to J. K. Rowling's muggles and wizards in the Harry Potter books. Presents a technology assessment tool that asks teachers what skills they would like the library to provide to support curriculum, including reference, technology, literacy, and collaborative learning, and provides…

Suggests that libraries use a military model of organization, in favor of a big-business approach, to address job dissatisfaction among paraprofessional staff. Military concepts that transfer to the library milieu include clear responsibility delineations, demonstrable recognition of the value of individual workers, continuing education programs,…

A study of 40 public school children ages 8-12 from three communities in the Los Angeles (CA) area (Beverly Hills, affluent; Compton, working class; and Watts, working and under class) found that less affluent children had access to fewer books in the home, public libraries, and school and classroom libraries. (PEN)

Discusses a study conducted at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia) to reassess the need for information literacy programs, identify factors influencing non-attendance, and evaluate program impact. Concluded that information literacy was needed, participants found the programs useful, and one-on-one methods coupled with…

Describes the development of InfoSkills, a Web-based library tutorial at Bournemouth University (United Kingdom) designed to provide an interactive introductory library skills tutorial as an adjunct to conventional instruction. Discusses key objectives, methodologies, content, technology, and evaluation that included usability issues of content…

Discussion of online instructional design by academic librarians focuses on a study at the University of Minnesota that compared mental models of librarians and students as they relate to online library tutorials. Reports on a review of existing library tutorials, usability studies, and student interviews about the research and writing process.…

Describes a new program at Gavilan College, California, that introduces Allied Health students and faculty to information technologies. States that the program's goal is to reconfigure Allied Health curriculum to reflect the impact of information technology on the health professions by inserting information competency components into courses.…

Examines perceptions of challenges reported by academic library directors and chief academic officers to whom they report. Highlights include user satisfaction; challenges of diversity; hardware; serials; organizational change; crime in libraries; the influence of age and length of tenure; and suggestions for future research needs. (Author/LRW)

Presents an overview of the National Library of Medicine's 1988 field test and evaluation project on the use of MEDLINE products on CD-ROM. Results are summarized in the areas of user characteristics, search characteristics, user satisfaction, product features and costs, and impact on online searching. (10 references) (LRW)

Provides seven fully developed library media activities to be used in conjunction with specific curriculum units in French, mathematics, reading/language arts, science, and social studies. Grade levels, objectives, curriculum objectives, resources, instructional roles, activities and procedures for completion, evaluation, and followup are…

Describes results of a citation analysis of library and information science journals that was conducted to identify factors associated with subjective rankings of a journal's value in promotion and tenure decisions. Discussion covers citation measures used; hypotheses tested; and correlations between prestige rankings--from a survey of research…

Describes a "scavenger hunt" approach to teaching research and critical thinking skills to high school and college students. Students are provided with lists of challenging questions, supporting materials (cartoons, quotations, odd facts and humorous excerpts), and clues for developing a research strategy. Examples of questions, clues…

Reviews new guidelines for school library media centers which present an expanded definition of the role of the media specialist. The main points are discussed, including a mission statement and its challenges; developing increased proficiency in instructional technologies; and forging partnerships with principals, teachers, and students. The…