Increasing community involvement in out-of-school time programs can yield significant benefits to programs and the students that they serve. Community partnerships have the potential to meet a wide variety of needs, from improving participant recruitment and attendance to contributing volunteers or other resources to programs. This research brief…

Presents a philosophical and theoretical critique of community development's transformation into economic development. Introduces a successful rural revitalization process termed "community encouragement" and integrates a community's traditional values with progressive revitalization plans. (JOW)

Suggests tools to increase community interest and support for public libraries including a public relations campaign, neighborhood action group, and community board. The advantages of community independence and decision sharing are discussed. (SW)

Argues that librarians should become politically involved in order to support their library systems. The work of public librarians in Berkeley to get a special tax referendum passed is described, as well as the experiences of school librarians in Contra Costa County in organizing to protect their program. (BK)

To promote aquatic facilities, it is essential to assess the attitudes, needs, and desires of the community. Effective promotion, use of available community resources, and cost-effective operation are the realities of the future. (JMK)

Describes the plan used in Consolidated High School District 230, in Palos Hills (Illinois), for fostering an informed and interested school community by providing standardized test results to the school board, central and building administrators, parents, teachers, counselors, elementary educators, and the local press. (PGD)

Ten articles suggest ways to make youth farming organizations attractive to current students and adults. The organization's roles of teaching, training, providing leadership experience and activities are discussed. Also includes tips on promotion, change, and membership building, and a trends survey. (CH)

Encourages colleges to use television's public service announcements and "stars" in marketing efforts. Features Houston Community College's utilization of community resources and enlistment of public officials as college spokespersons. Suggests using representatives from both major parties; interfacing public officials' causes with institutional…

The superintendent of Coventry (Rhode Island) Schools explains how he converted annual town meetings from uncivil, interminable budget-slashing sessions to expressions of community support for student-centered reforms and a construction/renovation bond issue. The board grasped assessment difficulties by taking state-mandated tests for…

Monetary support is essential to the survival of speech interpretation programs in the 1980s, and the community is one viable alternative to dwindling academic channels of support. Two strategies have proved vital to securing community support for the interpretation program at an Indiana university: (1) networking, maintaining a group of faculty…

Describes the Family Advocacy Program's social services, including its focus on clients' strengths. Lists the program's guiding principles, which stress the caregivers' role. Establishes the framework of values in which the program operates and discusses practice implications of the services for social service practice. (BC)

Major elements, both external and internal, that affect the university's research mission and can contribute to the kind of environment needed for research are examined. A model for the development of a research plan is presented, and the role research administrators should play in the planning process is explained. (JMD)

Recounts problems facing community college arts programs. Considers college reputation and image essential to student recruitment. Focuses on Mercer County Community College's approach to arts programing, which stresses high-quality productions emphasizing community involvement, integrated services to campus constituencies, aggressive marketing,…

On the theme of image building, this series of articles examines ways to create a positive public image for agricultural education: community involvement, effective laboratory teaching, news media, public education programs, and professional dress and behavior. (SK)

The development and current status of Friends of the Library groups in Canada and the United States are discussed. Suggestions for forming a group and fostering cooperation between the Friends and the library are offered. The resulting benefits to the library and the community are explored. (25 references) (CLB)