This article is Part 3 of a three part summary of selected articles from the journals of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) over a period of thirty-five years from 1972 to 2007. This three-part series in the April, May, and June (2009) issues of "School Library Media Activities Monthly" ("SLMAM") illustrate the evolution in…

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has placed a significant focus on standards. Understandably, classroom teachers are focused on effectively covering their content area standards and are often reluctant to add information literacy skills to their lessons because they see no direct connection to the state achievement tests. However, a close…

In this first of two articles on making the most of fixed schedules in library media centers, the author discusses the fixed library media center schedule at her school, which allows for some flexibility to help the library media specialist support authentic student learning through collaboration with teachers. She discusses the administrative and…

The new "AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner" offer significant potential for helping library media specialists tailor instruction to student needs. These standards are precise and clear, and they align themselves to reading strategies as well as language arts and content area standards. The new standards will also help strengthen lesson…

The American Association of School Librarians "Standards for the 21st Century Learner" (2007) expresses nine fundamental common beliefs. One of these beliefs is that "ethical behavior in the use of information must be taught" (AASL 2007, 1). It is important for library media specialists to understand that teaching ethical behavior is much more…

This is Part 2 of a three-part summary of selected articles from the journals of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) over a period of thirty-five years from 1972 to 2007. This three-part series in the April, May, and June (2009) issues of "School Library Media Activities Monthly" ("SLMAM") will illustrate the evolution in…

This is Part 1 of a three part series of articles summarizing selected articles from the journals of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) over a period of thirty-five years from 1972 to 2007. Part 1 traces the evolution of the library media specialist to emphasize a greater student-centered approach to teaching and learning.…

The development of "library evidence folders" for assessment purposes was featured in a previous "School Library Media Activities Monthly article, "Building Evidence Folders for Learning through Library Media Centers" (Harada, November 2006). The project developers challenged participants to change their mindsets from…

Describes a process approach to library media skills instruction which would focus on the development of students' critical thinking skills and give them the ability to examine and utilize information. The importance of instructing students in database searching and ways that database searching will enhance information skills development are also…

This article presents a poem aimed at library media specialists. This poem relays how elementary school library media specialists can survive the monthly demands of their jobs.

Combined craft and library media activities with Christmas holiday themes are suggested to develop card catalog and indexing skills, Dewey decimal classification system and location skills, and literature appreciation. (MES)

Descriptions of activities designed to enhance the learning of library and information skills focus on the location of materials (ready-to-use library skills games); finding materials in the card catalog; and Aesop's fables. Games and puzzles are provided. (CLB)

Several activities, games, and puzzles designed to teach elementary school children how to use a thesaurus are described and copies of worksheets are provided. (CLB)

Describes seven activities for use in the classroom or school library media center to teach encyclopedia skills. (EM)

Discusses the concept of multidisciplinary study and ways that the media specialist can coordinate this approach. A brief history of library instruction is provided, and the New York State Regents Action Plan, an example of state involvement in ensuring the level of competence in library skills, is described. (23 references) (MES)