Some 300 reviews of non-fiction, young adult books were examined to see if they contained information needed by librarians. Six essential items were identified: authoritative treatment, comparisons with other books, a scope statement, a description of the author's background, a basis of work statement, and a purpose statement. The study was…

A stratified sample of library books in an English junior school were analyzed in comparison to students' reading ages and interests. Findings indicated that the readability level of most books was too high and that a negative correlation existed between children's professed interests and the subject matter of library nonfiction. (Author/SJL)

Reports the results of a survey which examined the availability and use of comic books in school libraries and the attitudes of librarians, teachers, and administrators toward such materials. A selected bibliography of articles that discuss the use of comic books as instructional materials is provided. (CLB)

Discusses the popularity of prebound paperback books in secondary school libraries based on a survey of librarians in four states. Highlights include cost considerations, appeal, durability, selection, services, catalogs, and premiums. (EM)

Reports results of survey of purchasing patterns of school libraries in Ontario, Canada, for five periodicals--"OWL,""Chickadee,""Hibou,""Ranger Rick," and "World." Reasons for purchasing magazines, magazine use, personnel background, materials budget, and a discussion of those libraries not…

Reviews the literature in library and information science to identify factors that influence the outcome of challenges to school library materials. A conceptual model is developed that encompasses district selection policy, librarian characteristics, school environment, community environment, and initiator of the challenge, and tentative…

In late 1981 and early 1982, a total of 775 public secondary school librarians, 507 elementary school librarians, and 324 public librarians in Minnesota were sent questionnaires asking about instances of censorship in their institutions from 1979 to 1981, and about their library selection and reevaluation policies. Response rates of 29 to 32% were…

A periodicals use study was conducted in a public high school library media center to determine whether its periodicals collection supported the curriculum needs of the students. For this study, 3,924 magazine requests by the students over an 8-month period were collected and analyzed. The analysis revealed that 96% of the magazine date requests…

Data collected from library acquisition records on microfiche helped ascertain the effects of the Thor Power Tool Company Supreme Court decision in 1979 on a sampling of four randomly selected schools in the Atlanta Public School System between 1978 and 1985. Prior to this decision, some publishers kept a substantial inventory of backlist titles…

Student-teacher contracts are used to individualize instruction in a course on the selection of instructional materials for a school library collection. The course was designed as part of a graduate library/media training program. Included are: (1) a description of the course and its student objectives, (2) student contracts for each course topic,…

A survey investigated the existence and extent of censorship in the Wisconsin high schools. Questionnaires were sent to the principals, librarians, and some English, social studies and science teachers at 426 high schools. Tallies of the 728 questionnaires returned showed that censorship was a common event; 57.8% of respondents said there had been…

Describes a study which examined reviewers' treatment of controversial juvenile books in Booklist, Bulletin of Center for Children's Books, Horn Book, and School Library Journal. The total number of controversial books reviewed by each journal, promptness of reviews, and extent of discussion of controversial features are discussed. (MBR)

This action research study looks at a sample of 30 juvenile computer books from the past 30 years and analyzes the illustrations for evidence of gender and racial bias as well as career depiction. Examines the gender of authors and illustrators and discusses library media implications. (Author/LRW)

The purpose of this study was to examine the science and technology books in 18 elementary school libraries in 18 Maryland school districts and: determine the age of the books; identify what percent of the books matched a professional selection source; determine the number of books per student; and estimate costs in upgrading the collections. (AEF)

Overlap (two libraries own same title) and duplication (one library has more than one copy) in children's collections of books and audiovisual materials were measured. It was found that there was less overlap between two school libraries than between a school library and a public library. Six references are cited. (EJS)