Classroom libraries are a literacy necessity; they are integral to successful teaching and learning and must become a top priority if students are to become thriving, engaged readers. Students who have ready access to books in their classrooms have better attitudes about reading, reading achievement, and comprehension than their peers with less…

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that every year 76 million Americans get some kind of food poisoning, more than 300,000 are hospitalized, and approximately 5,000 people die. A 2004 analysis by the Center for Science in the Public Interest indicates that contaminated produce is responsible for the greatest number of food-borne illnesses.…

How can families and early childhood professionals provide quality, inclusive early childhood education for young children with and without disabilities? That's the question posed in this "Impact "issue. In its pages, parents reflect on their experiences with early childhood education and inclusion for their children--what was helpful, what was…

The purpose of this paper is to consider the nature of small and rural public libraries in the United States in the light of the existing opportunities that they provide for adult lifelong learning, and to ponder the future of collaborative services. The role of the public library is explored in relation to lifelong learning, and rural libraries…

Attention to school libraries must be at the heart of any comprehensive plan for improving youth literacy. Excellent school libraries are essential if young people are to have access to the reading resources to help them gain the level of literacy achievement vital to meeting the challenge of the twenty-first century. Sections of the booklet…

This paper focuses on book-centered and "non-book" children and the role of the Internet in changing literature and children's reading habits. Highlights include diversity in children's books; differing magazine readership across the continents; the concept of narrative; the problem of book-centered children becoming outsiders in a more…

This document summarizes the activities of a 2-day conference (April 12-13, 1995) during which educators heard eight papers and discussed federal research priorities in the areas of libraries, community-based education, and lifelong learning. Libraries, museums, agricultural extension services, religious organizations, health care organizations,…

Although librarians in approximately one-third of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) have a rank or status similar to other faculty, their activities, responsibilities and involvement vary considerably. A survey was conducted to determine the autonomy of library faculty organizations and their role in library and university governance, and…

This learning package on parents and children using the library is designed for implementation either in a workshop atmosphere or through individual study. The package includes an overview of the topic; a comprehensive search of the ERIC database; a lecture giving an overview on the topic; copies of articles and existing ERIC/Reading, English and…

This videotape discusses how technology is rapidly changing the roles of information providers. It is important that information professionals continue to provide good customer service while helping the public feel comfortable with new technology. This videotape covers issues common in libraries today: making time for adequate staff training;…

The papers in this proceedings describe similarities and differences in state libraries and examine the state library role in local, regional, and national network development and in the dissemination of information to various client segments. The papers are: (1) "The Commonalities of State Library Agencies" (Barrat Wilkins); (2)…

Continuing an emphasis from earlier editions on such areas as early education and the use of electronic teaching aids as an integral aspect of the classroom program, this book views language arts instruction as based on a comprehensive instruction plan composed of many different teaching strategies and types of materials. This edition of the book…

"Information Power," the national guidelines for school library media programs, specify three roles for today's school library media specialist, i.e., information specialist, teacher, and instructional consultant. As school library media specialists plan with teachers, they are performing the instructional consultant role. The Media and…

This issue of "The Bookmark" presents 20 articles focusing on the theme that libraries foster imagination. The articles are: (1) "Imagination and the Magic of Libraries" (Elizabeth S. Manion); (2) "Powerful Partners--Discovery and Democracy, An Interview with Cynthia Jenkins" (Anne E. Simon); (3) "Fostering Imagination in Children" (Susan Lehr);…

This paper discusses the roles and responsibilities of the delegates to the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS2), which revolve around the three conference themes: Literacy, Democracy, and Productivity. These themes form the three major sections of this paper. The first section discusses how library and…