Discusses the importance of professional development for library media specialists and presents suggestions for staying current in the field, including participation in conferences, taking advantage of continuing-education opportunities, reading professional journals, and using Internet resources. (MES)

Discussion of free speech on the Internet focuses on three basic options open to schools trying to resolve the dilemma of protecting children while preserving intellectual freedom: commercial censorware, blocking, and filtering. Concludes that adult supervision is still the most effective means of regulating access to the Internet. (LRW)

Describes how to develop vertical file resources for school libraries. Discusses the importance of having primary sources that are not available in other formats; sources for obtaining materials, including the Internet and printed sources; how to organize the materials; providing access; and promoting the collection. (LRW)

Discusses the school librarian's role in helping teachers use the Internet effectively. Topics include access to the Internet, including bookmarks; pro-active Internet use by librarians, including notifying teachers about good Web sites; evaluating Internet information; making use of the Internet's interactive capabilities; and encouraging teacher…

A school librarian presents a plan for teaching Internet skills to all students. The lesson, taught to eighth-grade students, involved three class sessions, two homework assignments, and one written project. Goals and procedures are outlined for the two assignments described. (AEF)

Discusses access to Internet resources in school libraries, including the importance of evaluating content and appropriate use. The following online services that provide current factual information from legitimate resources are described: SIRS (Social Issues Resource Series), InfoTrac, EBSCO Host, SearchBank, and the Electric Library. (MES)

Guides librarians in evaluating "filtering" software which schools may purchase for restricting access to potentially inappropriate Internet sites. This article discusses the workings of filtering programs and practical and ethical questions such as: how sites are restricted, who decides, and whether transactions are monitored.…

Presents a strategy for completing a library media center policy review, from evaluating existing policies through submitting policies to the school board for approval. Special attention is paid to issues related to the use of new technologies in middle and high school library media centers, including student/faculty technology use, circulation,…

Explains how media specialists can use departmental meetings to develop and promote better public relations within the school community. Topics include changes in the media center; new programs or services being offered, including new software and Internet resources; teacher requests for materials to support their curriculum; and interlibrary-loan…

Provides a synopsis of classes developed by the Winona (Minnesota) Middle School media center to provide staff with current Internet skills. Includes navigation techniques using browsers; e-mail; search engines; selecting and evaluating Web sites; Internet ethics and Netiquette; critical evaluation of Web sources; graphics; interactive video…

Archbishop Chapelle High School (ACHS) is an award-winning, girls school in Metairie, Louisiana. This article describes the library supporting the ACHS curriculum, highlighting library skills courses, block scheduling, educational technology and Internet access, the role of the librarian in administration and curriculum development, and public…

This supplement assembles six articles covering Internet usage in the library media center, including: selecting and evaluating Internet resources; developing information literacy skills to reach educational goals; and citing Internet resources. It examines demographic profiles of schools that are connected to the Internet and provides tips and…