Reviews four articles from the "Phi Delta Kappan" that describe the educational context impacting the school library media profession. Topics covered include the educational system from the viewpoint of the National Commission on Excellence in Education report "A Nation at Risk"; strengths and weaknesses of American education;…

Focuses on four issues related to providing government numeric databases in libraries: hardware, access software, staff skills, and organizing services. Basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of service and a guide for selecting an appropriate level are presented. Examples of screens from actual searches are included. (Contains eight…

Discusses ways in which media specialists and media center administrators structure their tasks and responsibilities in the areas of equipment purchasing; collection building, especially content-relevant videotapes and videodiscs; copyright considerations; and the repair of equipment. (LRW)

Discusses resources and strategies that libraries can use to evaluate competing database management software for purchase. Needs assessments, types of software available, features of good software, evaluation aids, shareware, and marketing and product trends are covered. (KRN)

This first article in a three-part series on environmental databases focuses on sources for general multidisciplinary environmental information. Databases that provide access to periodical literature, news information, press releases, magazines, books, and environmental education literature are examined; and a suggested list of environmental terms…

Describes the process used to select a local area network (LAN) for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Library and Information Science. The use of computers at the library school by staff, faculty, and students is described, technical aspects of a LAN are explained, and the future of LANs is discussed. (LRW)

Describes online databases available through the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) that focus on research in the humanities. A survey of five databases (AVERY, ESTC, RIPD, SCIPIO, and AMC) is presented that includes contents, search capabilities, and record formats; and future plans are discussed. (12 references) (LRW)

Describes personal experiences of two American teachers who were evacuated from Beijing Foreign Studies University three days after the massacre of students and workers in Tiananmen Square. The Chinese system of education is described, library education is briefly discussed, and student attitudes and interests are examined. (LRW)

Includes nine articles that suggest ways to improve communication in junior and senior high school libraries. Highlights include how to communicate effectively with principals and other administrators, students, teachers and other staff members, and the community; types of information that administrators need; annual reports; newsletters; and…

Covers the following topics: aging of the Japanese population, restructuring social customs, age norms in adulthood, intergenerational interaction outside the family, continuing education for seniors, University of the Air, public library services to the elderly, nursing curricula for an aging society, preretirement education and life planning,…

Describes a literacy project (Preschooler's Outreach Program) sponsored by a public library and staffed by students from the children's literature classes at a Texas university. Shows that college students participating in this project have unique insights into literacy acquisition among young children and are able to put into immediate practice…

Discusses the need for graduate principal-preparation programs to include information about school libraries based on a survey of programs, as well as telephone interviews. A three-step plan for change is outlined, including a curriculum for principal-preparation programs, suggestions for practicing principals, and steps library media specialists…

In a time of unprecedented information growth and rapid social change, the school library program should shift from collecting resources to developing a community of learners. The Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning should help students become lifelong learners, think critically and ethically, and develop social responsibility. (10…

Provides reasons for using dome architecture in building educational facilities and describes the development of two such dome facilities in Arizona: a pre-kindergarten through Grade 8 multipurpose facility for Native-American students, and a school library and parent center. Highlights the facilities' interior-design features and some cost…

Examines what occurred when the mental models of library media specialists teaching electronic information literacy database access interconnected in the complex changing environment of a lesson. Discusses changes to the mental models the library media specialists held with respect to the electronic database, role of the library media specialist,…