Highlights findings from the American Association of Museums' 1989 survey. Presents national statistics about museums in the United States. Tables and charts explain the number of museums by region, distribution by type and budget size, attendance figures for 1988, and total staff by type. Sample size was 1,000 museums. (NL)

Describes a 9-month intergenerational program designed to establish a more intimate involvement between a group of 25 fourth graders and 25 elderly volunteers from Senior Neighbors, a multipurpose senior citizens center. Presents the format used to organize the project and identifies ongoing activities and program benefits. (Author/PVV)

Examines rewards and costs to "natural helpers," service-providers separate from any established group. Survey of 19 rural helpers identifies lack of appreciation, time and energy loss, and emotional-spiritual fatigue as costs of helping. Suggests mental health professionals collaborate with helpers. Recommends ways of enlisting helpers'…

The relationship between reading subcomponent efficiency and comprehension processes in terms of resource competition was studied in 2 experiments with 138 undergraduates and college-age volunteers. Results suggest competition for limited attentional resources when readers follow text presented at a preset rate, supporting a compensatory-encoding…

Describes Panther Paw Press, a school-based publishing program that is built on the efforts of teachers, parents, students, and a succession of supportive school principals. Discusses the details that make this publishing program work framed in the six goals articulated in the Panther Paw Press Handbook. (SR)

Describes one decision-making approach for quickly implementing a communications network into a school district. The use of volunteer labor for wiring installation, computer selection focusing on standardization to aid in troubleshooting, and an intranet system to achieve efficiency and learning opportunities for teachers and administrative…

Provides tips for designing effective training programs for library assistants. Discusses general points to consider; acquainting new assistants with the library; and assigning jobs that reflect assistants' interests. Suggests special projects for assistants including: arranging displays; cataloging; covering paperback and hardback books;…

Contends that Christ's mission to proclaim God's good news of salvation is reaffirmed in the upcoming millennium. States Catholics must help accomplish Christ's mission by answering the baptismal call to missionary work in the community. Lists local and national agencies, dioceses, parishes, and schools that provide mission resources. (11…

At Owsley County Elementary School (Booneville, Kentucky), the number of parent and community volunteers has doubled over the past 5 years. The school employs a full-time coordinator of parent involvement, has a parent center, and reaches out to the wider community with a monthly newsletter delivered to every county household. Benefits of parent…

Evaluates the effectiveness of one-year participation in a program of volunteer-facilitated peer support groups conducted in a southwest Texas high school. Results of program evaluation by participants (N=118) indicate that the program was highly accepted even though two-thirds of the students had initially felt uncomfortable in the group.…

Successful college and university telephone fund-raising campaigns depend on basic techniques such as asking for larger donations and attaining a high fulfillment rate, but these techniques require careful caller training. Specific approaches include role-playing, encouraging taking time to build rapport, requiring follow-up on pledges, letting…

Describes the author's psychology class, in which she required students to do service work with a resident in a nursing home. Reports that students met for a minimum of eight hours with the resident and wrote both a history of the person and a reflection on the project. States that half of the students decided to continue volunteering after the…

Reports that those who work as professional directors of religious education and coordinators of religious education have often been compensated with a volunteers stipend only. States that the National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors met to share information on what can be done to better compensate these leaders. (CJW)

Describes a service learning program aimed at improving balance and mobility in a group of older adults from an independent living center while giving college students (mainly exercise and sport science majors) an opportunity to interact with this population. The program has resulted in improved balance and mobility for the older adults and…

Describes the results of the American Chemical Society Public Outreach Office's research program to measure the impact of the Kids & Chemistry program on both the children and the volunteer scientists. Highlights include objectives of the program, pretest research, focus group results, field tests, and pre- and posttest survey results.…