Discusses the process of future search conferences and describes one held to consider the future of school library media centers and information services in the state of Washington. Highlights include participation by students, librarians, teachers, administrators, and others; strategic and participatory planning; and change processes. (LRW)

Examines the results of a study of the role of the secondary school library media program in easing the adolescent immigrant's struggle with assimilation. Highlights include student-centered learning environments that value cultural diversity; a focus on personal beliefs; use of technology; and a literature program based on the archetypal hero.…

Discusses the role that teacher-librarians should take in public schools. Highlights include the impact of teacher-librarians on learning outcomes; sexism; administrators' and teachers' views of teacher-librarians; and a strategic planning process, including external and internal scanning, organizational analysis, and vision and mission…

Discusses ways in which library media specialists can help teachers who are using the whole language approach. Topics addressed include reading aloud to children; wordless picture books; decoding; writing; core literature selections; automaticity in reading; independent reading; re-reading; reading across the curriculum; literature as content; and…

Describes a study that examined the perceptions of middle school principals and media coordinators in North Carolina about the role of the school library media program in the school's instructional program. National media program standards are discussed, recommendations for practice are offered, and further studies are suggested. (five references)…

Reports on a study that provides evidence of the positive impact of library media centers on academic achievement in 221 Colorado public schools during the 1988-89 school year. The importance of library media expenditures in making staff and collections available and the library media specialist's instructional role are verified. (two references)…

Reviews research that addresses four major themes about library and information skills instruction in library media programs: (1) the value of library and information skills instruction; (2) the content of library and information skills; (3) teaching library skills in the context of subject area curriculum; and (4) alternative methods for teaching…

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.…

Reviews research on school library media programs from the ERIC database that addressed the status of school library media programs, the information seeking process, the use of technology, censorship, school library media collections, collection development, funding, use studies, the role of the library media specialist, and professional training.…

Describes scenarios that justify the need for a middle school librarian. Services provided to users, including students, student teachers, guidance counselors, teachers, and parents are discussed; and appropriate responses provided by a librarian, including information sources, reference interviews, online searches, interlibrary loans,…

Discusses the need for library media specialists to develop a voice of authority. Discusses insights of the feminist perspective; gender differences and future characteristics of the next generation of librarians; combining strong voices of authority to lead the charge for equitable, fair access for all youth; and national investment in library…

Discusses the technology plan of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS). Highlights include articulating the role of the information specialist; defining the competencies of the information specialist as teacher, instructional partner, and program administrator; establishing an instructional-technology support team; and making the…

Discusses the major findings of the 1988-89 study that investigated the impact of school library media centers on academic achievement in Colorado public schools. Highlights include research methodology; the effects of staff size, collection variety, funding, and library media specialists' instructional role; and suggestions for further research.…

Explains curriculum mapping, a computerized method for use in educators' decision-making in elementary and secondary education. Topics include the role of media specialists with information literacy, collection development, and curriculum support; identifying gaps in skills and assessment; aligning assessments with standards; and timeliness.…

The 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), provided estimates of library/media center resources and helps to put into perspective the question of the role of libraries/media centers in school reform. Education reform has prompted increased attention to the role school…