This article profiles Orson Scott Card, the winner of this year's Margaret A. Edwards Award for his outstanding contributions to teen literature, specifically for Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow (1999, both Tor), a companion tale. Card, the magician behind both of these best sellers, is one of the nation's most prolific--and contentious--authors.…

This year's "School Library Journal's" spending survey showed that, despite the recession, the vast majority of media centers around the country have retained their credentialed media specialists. For example, almost 85% of elementary schools and more than 95% of middle and high schools have a full-time certified librarian. In addition, salaries…

Gives advice on how to break up an existing elementary school library closed because of declining enrollments. Items covered are: preparing for the closing, procedures to follow, problems encountered, reprocessing materials, and lessons learned. (LLS)

Discusses problems with obtaining backlist titles of children's books, based on the experiences of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (Ohio). Types of book order lists, selection, and ordering procedures are described; and examples of out-of-stock items and fill rates for new juvenile, young adult, and adult titles are presented. (MES)

In this article, the authors discuss how Google Earth provides more than a geography lesson. For starters, Google Earth is perfect for teaching geography. Subscribe to Where in the World, for example, and have their students listen to podcast clues in a find-the-location game created by students worldwide. Clues relate to math (the population of…

Offers advice on how to obtain grant money for libraries. Highlights include outcome-based goals; finding funding sources; and parts of the proposal, including the need or problem statement, objectives, methods, evaluation, budget, and program continuation. A sidebar lists 10 tips for winning grants. (LRW)

Describes the government publishing program for children, including Smokey Bear materials. The advantages and disadvantages of acquiring children's materials from the government are discussed. An annotated bibliography, including cost and contact information for 19 government publications for children on topics such as space exploration,…

Identifies six areas of children's librarianship that need attention: definition of the role of children's librarians; clarification of the goals and worth of children's services; an improved professional image; determination of the appropriate education to enable librarians to meet changed circumstances; and a better understanding of what…

Presents an interview with David Macaulay, author and illustrator of the book and CD-ROM title, "The Way Things Work." Focuses on Macaulay's opinions of the current and future promises and problems of publishing books on CD-ROM, and draws on his experience with transferring his book from print to CD-ROM. (JMV)

Describes the renovation of the library at Walnut Hill School for the Arts (Natick, Massachusetts). Topics discussed include initial planning; packing up the collection for storage; dealing with construction delays while maintaining some library service; moving into the new space; student and teacher reactions; and the effects on library use. (LRW)

Discusses improving student test scores based on an interview with Bob Berkowitz, co-developer of the Big6 approach to problem solving. Highlights include experiences at Wayne Central High School (Ontario Center, NY); cooperation between library media specialists and classroom teachers; viewing instruction as a series of information problems; and…

Describes methods that can be used to encourage appropriate behavior in school libraries and media centers. Creating policy statements is discussed; differences between policy and procedures and rules are explained; reprimands and disciplinary measures are suggested; and sample statements of policy, student responsibilities, and media center…

Discusses how to help students apply thinking skills to library research and provides examples of techniques for teaching comparing and contrasting, sequencing, classifying, cause and effect, problem solving, and decision making. Examples were effective with middle schoolers but could also be adapted for high school or older elementary school…

Describes a pilot program at Briar Glen School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, in which academically gifted fifth grade students are introduced to microcomputers, taught basic programing skills, and allowed to develop computer programs in BASIC after they have mastered some fundamental computer skills. (JL)

Describes a districtwide project to provide elementary school children with flexible library access. The importance of flexible access, factors leading to project success, how the project was sold to librarians and principals, project problem solving, and lessons learned during the project's first year are discussed. (Contains seven references.)…