Summarizes findings from a study that investigated the impact of school library media centers on academic achievement. Findings in the following areas are presented: size of the resource center staff and collection; qualifications of staff; duties of the teacher-librarian, including the instructional role; collaboration with classroom teachers;…

Discusses the decline of African libraries and concludes that African libraries must find their own role within an African reality. Discussion covers failed internationally funded attempts to stem the decline, including establishment of national information policies and systems; donation of books and journals; staff training; development of rural…

Discusses academic and public libraries that expand the range and type of their services via fee-based information services and private information businesses that charge fees. Questions of billing the total cost to the patron versus part of the cost are considered; and the impact of such fees on library cooperation and networks is described. (six…

Discussion of the role of academic libraries in curriculum development activities focuses on their role in Nigeria. Relevant literature is reviewed; the Nigerian higher education system is explained; criteria used by accreditation teams are examined; and suggestions for improving and increasing the roles of academic libraries are offered. (22…

Describes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and discusses its implications for both public and private libraries. The term "disability" is defined; sources of federal regulations that pertain to libraries are cited; the need for sign language interpreters is discussed; Braille materials are considered; and staff requirements are…

Reviews and describes the current crisis in science literacy and formulates an information-based definition of the term. Library issues and concerns are discussed, including the role of librarians in defining the information-seeking behavior of science-literate users, describing users' characteristics, and evaluating and applying appropriate…

Individuals from minority racial and ethnic backgrounds can have subtly variant communication styles that members of the dominant culture fail to recognize and often misunderstand. In an increasingly diverse world, librarians must become aware of these differences for more effective communication. (13 references) (EA)

Describes Jackson Community College's Professional Development Center, a drop-in center housing print and nonprint materials on hundreds of professional development topics. Reviews college efforts to motivate staff to use the center. Outlines the center's evaluation criteria. (DMM)

Discusses the role librarians can take in the international transfer of information. Topics discussed include the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), preservation of materials, international networks and information services, international telecommunications, international librarian exchanges, and…

Examines the involvement of public and village libraries in literacy and postliteracy programs in Africa south of the Sahara during the last two decades. Issues discussed include the extent of illiteracy in Black Africa, populations served by village libraries, African rural strategies of development, and the implications for library services. (44…

Discussion of teacher-librarians in Canadian schools focuses on "Partners in Action," a document of the Ontario Ministry of Education that addresses the role of the school library media program. School funding is discussed, and results of a survey of school libraries in Ontario are described. (LRW)

Includes seven articles that deal with public relations (PR) for school librarians. Highlights include image problems librarians face and suggestions for promoting more positive images; PR plans that focus on the past, present, and future; nontraditional ways that librarians can attract students and teachers; publicity techniques; and media center…

The Center for the Book established in 1977 began reading promotion campaigns in 1987 to raise national awareness and create new partnerships for the Library of Congress. The "Building a Nation of Readers" campaign, which culminates in 2000, the year of the Library of Congress's bicentennial, emphasizes the importance of reading to…

Discusses whether to provide library instruction for undergraduate chemistry majors as a separate class or integrated into courses, particularly for those who receive a degree certified by the American Chemical Society. The authors suggest that a librarian coordinate course-integrated instruction throughout the undergraduate curriculum. (LRW)

Discusses the role of libraries in providing emergent literacy experiences for children in day care and preschool programs. The importance of exposure to print is discussed, and a study is described that evaluated a library outreach program that was developed to promote emerging literacy in preschoolers. (LRW)