Reviews 18 articles on Israeli libraries published between 1978 and 1995. Highlights concerns about the lack of a clear national role for the Jewish National and University Library, the slowness of libraries to adopt MARC standards, a weak national policy on public libraries, slow development of school libraries, and the limited professional…

Explains how school librarians can write a grant proposal to obtain new equipment that is not covered in their normal budget. Topics include designing a grant for a specific need; finding a grant and following the guidelines; statement of need; collaboration and partnerships; and a list of Web sources for writing grants. (LRW)

Discusses the importance of family literacy. Highlights include daily reading at home before children go to school; the home/school connection; examples of successful programs implemented by school library media specialists; and ideas from the National Center for Family Literacy for starting family literacy programs, including community needs,…

Discusses sequential art, also known as comic books or graphic novels, as reading motivators, as content, as literature, and as the subject itself. Includes comic resources for school library media specialists and describes the White House Conference that Laura Bush has promoted that has given library media centers national visibility. (LRW)

Discusses the importance of collaboration between the school library media specialists and classroom teachers from a principal's perspective. Topics include the problems with traditional scheduled library visits; media specialist as teacher; principals' expectations of teachers and media specialists; and barriers to successful collaboration. (LRW)

Discussion of information literacy and school library media specialists focuses on work outside the United States and the need for a more global approach. Describes guidelines, standards and policies and reviews programs in Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, and New Zealand. (LRW)

Considers the role of school library media specialists in helping teens cope with developmental and emotional challenges. Discusses resiliency research, and opportunities to develop programs and services especially for middle school and high school at-risk teens. (LRW)

This section includes five articles on research and librarianship including a case study on research and practice in academic libraries; select peer-reviewed journals that examine the current state of public library research (1996-2000); development of research on school library media programs; benefits of collaborative authorship for librarians…

Discusses ways to evaluate school library media programs and how to demonstrate quality. Topics include how principals evaluate programs; sources of evaluative data; national, state, and local instruments; surveys and interviews; Colorado benchmarks; evaluating the use of electronic resources; and computer reporting options. (LRW)

Explains the copyright policy battles now pending in Congress and the courts, with a discussion of what they mean for free speech, access to information, and democratic culture in school libraries. (MES)

Discusses the key role of the school library as an information commons that prepares tomorrow's citizens to recognize their rights and responsibilities in the information age. An action agenda for school librarians aimed at ensuring that young people will continue to have opportunities to participate in a digital age democracy is suggested. (MES)

Describes school library reform efforts in New York City's elementary public schools initiated by a private foundation to help improve education and fight poverty. Topics include funding; successful public and private collaboration; librarian training; and research to determine the role and influence of libraries. (LRW)

Describes how one elementary school created small, cross-grade-level groups to made their school a smaller place for students and to encourage interaction and support. Explains the role of the library media specialists in choosing read-aloud picture books that teach virtues mandated by the school district to be used by all groups. (LRW)

Discusses how school libraries can provide valuable services to parents and develop meaningful partnerships with new computer technology. Suggests school librarians should analyze parental resources and needs and match them with the library's mission, as well as being sensitive to possible barriers to service. (Author/LRW)

Suggest five ways for promoting school library media centers. Discusses the use of e-mail for communicating with teachers and staff; school newsletters for communicating with parents and students; involving community members; showing new library materials at staff development meetings; and booktalks using older books as well as new titles. (LRW)