Political advocacy continues to gain ground in the state of Washington after the landmark Washington state legislative support of emergency funding ($4.09 million) for library media centers during the 2008 legislative session. This stepped-up political advocacy is due to the efforts of the Washington Library Media Association Advocacy members…

The 65% Solution seems to be in the news on education these days. Some governors have endorsed it, a growing number of legislators are trying to legislate it, and, in more and more states, petitioners are trying to get it on the ballot. Backers want this initiative to be spread across the nation. In short, this movement hinges on a simple, but…

Discusses a brief history of the role of women in developing school library media programs; and includes the relationship of the American Library Association and the National Education Association. (AEF)

The new edition of "Information Power, National Guidelines for School Libraries" has a focus on change as reflected in technology, educational philosophy, role of the library media specialists, and importance of information literacy across the curriculum. These changes are explored, new trends are related to practice, and the impact on…

Examines the Pitts/Stripling model of information literacy, describing its key aspects and showing the relationship between the model and Stripling's vision of the library media center for the twenty-first century. The model promotes caring, student-centered, holistic, humanistic, and realistic library practices that are respectful of the…

Examines new guidelines for library media programs developed by the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Discusses future developments, mission statements, the relationship of information use to standards, the dimensions of library services, and the role of the library media…

Describes the publication of the American Library Association's new school library media program guidelines and standards, "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning." Discussion includes the library mission; the constant state of evolution of the library and information services profession; and the importance of standards.…

Presents thought from school library media specialists regarding collection development. Topics include first-year experiences; the importance of cataloging; selection criteria; selection sources; and weeding. (LRW)

Discusses reasons for including sports books in school library reference collections, explains why they should not be found only in public library collections, and provides six annotated bibliographies of sports books suitable for intermediate or middle school library collections. (LRW)

Discusses library collection development by school library media specialists and describes selection sources for new books and materials; retrospective selection sources for materials published in preceding years; and an acquisition source. Provides an overview of the selection process and includes 10 suggestions for selection. (LRW)

Focuses on evaluating the school library media collection. Discusses how to figure the age of the collection; comparing the collection to a professional selection source; and how to estimate the cost of upgrading the collection. Includes a sample letter to principal and supporting fact sheet. (AEF)

Two articles describe ideas for school library media centers interested in promoting space education. The first article explains how to construct an inexpensive simulation of a space shuttle and suggests associated activities. The second presents steps for identifying resources and organizing them into a resources file; relevant information…

Discussion of the changing environment and role of the school media specialist focuses on the adaptation of the Library of Congress classification, professional standards, staffing, the possibility of keeping school libraries open in the summer, the librarian as evaluator of material content rather than organizer, and school librarians as…

Describes four peer networking projects initiated by school library media specialists in Georgia that promoted curriculum development, collection development and library services, cooperation between school and public libraries to share online resources, and cooperation between public and school libraries to share magazine articles. (LRW)

Discusses the importance of nonfiction as part of children's and young adults' reading. Topics include library collection development practices to keep nonfiction collections up-to-date; electronic formats that allow interaction; nonfiction picture books; booktalks; results of research on reading and skill development related to nonfiction; and…