Library media specialists are a literacy model. They hold the world of literacy at their fingertips and in their collections. Everything individuals need to know about literacy can be found in some form in the library domain, either in the stacks or in the professional repertoire that librarians posses. There are plenty of ways that library media…

Discusses leadership of the school library media specialist in the areas of curriculum and instruction. Presents case studies of principals who were media specialists and recognize the importance and leadership potential of media specialists, and provides a leadership model for school library media specialists. (LRW)

Georgia's Choice/America's Choice (GC/AC) is a school reform model, which was adopted in approximately 160 schools across the state to focus on student work and achievement, to align the instructional process and to place emphasis on results. Library Media Specialists (LMSs) are important to school community's spirit of acceptance and should serve…

Argues that current technologies offer unique possibilities for instructional improvement and identifies probable obstacles to exploitation of these opportunities for all students, including female, handicapped, inner-city and rural, minority, disadvantaged, and average learners. A 2-tiered model is presented for the media specialist addressing…

Aimed at consultants and those responsible for the development of school library media programs, this paper outlines the functions of school library media personnel, with emphasis on their instructional role and their role as agents of societal change. A discussion of entry-level competencies which should be required for school library media…

Discusses national standardized testing versus testing reform and provides an overview of the alternative assessment movement and its relationship to the school library media specialist. Highlights include criticisms of standardized testing; theoretical assumptions for alternative assessment; research and practice related to specific alternative…

Reports on a study designed to formulate a literature-based model describing what teacher-librarians do as they help students involved in information search and use (ISU). Whether teacher-librarians work with students in all phases of the ISU process and the extent to which their intermediary activities can be related to other models are…

Discusses current problems in professional education for school library media specialists, including the closing of programs, declining enrollments, and a lack of intellectual focus. A model is proposed which defines three purposes of school library media programs and provides a template against which specific professional programs can be…

Communication with the entire educational team and school community about the benefits to expect if a school library media specialist has the opportunity to fulfill his or her professional responsibility is critical. The school library media specialist can then develop objectives based on school needs and be evaluated on the outcomes. (EM)

Explains the concept of diagnosing information needs as part of the role of the school library media specialist. Topics discussed include the diagnostic process, i.e., the reference interview; information psychology; theories of information transfer; a model for diagnosing information needs; and implications for practitioners and for research. (19…

Describes Brock's Information Intermediary Process Model, which focuses on the role of the library media specialist as information intermediary. Highlights include information seeking and use; use of the model by teachers and librarians as well as their collaborative roles; guidelines for use of the model; and problem solving and use of time. (LRW)

This third and final part of a study focusing on the consultation and teaching roles of elementary school library media specialists examines relationships among scheduling methods, consultation activity, information skills instruction, and the planning process, culminating in a model for collaboration between media specialists and classroom…

Discussion of the evolving role of the school library media specialist focuses on a model of the teaching role in the development of a critical thinking curriculum. Topics addressed include literacy redefined; restructuring media programs; collection development and information access; staffing changes; and intervention and evaluation strategies.…

This report discusses the development of a school library program for Canadian schools that departs from tradition by focusing on the instructional role as the most significant work of the teacher-librarian and presents a new program model paradigm. The paradigm is examined under three main headings: (1) the instructional component; (2) student…

Discusses future education for library media specialists that will reflect the changes being brought about as a result of school restructuring. Topics include an educational model based on instructional specialization, realigned staffing patterns, a global perspective, information literacy, and helping students construct effective mental…