Chronicles the California Library Association's battle against anti-Communist censorship attempts from 1946 to 1956 in schools and public libraries as well as on the legislative front. An overview of the "Fiske report" is offered as an explanation of how intellectual freedom challenges impacted California librarians of the period.…

Discusses the variation in state requirements for school library media specialists that may or may not include teacher certification; describes the work of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a voluntary certification program for experienced teachers; and explains current work on a standard for library media specialists. (LRW)

Discusses the need for state standards for school library media programs and describes efforts in Minnesota to develop new standards. Highlights include implementing standards from "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning"; three graded levels of standards; contributions of teacher-librarians; possible uses of standards;…

Presents results of a descriptive survey that analyzed high school library media center use in one area of north Texas in 1991 and was designed to determine the nature and extent of student use of library media centers and to describe the characteristics of users and nonusers. (Author/LRW)

Reviews standards whose goal is to improve student achievement. Discusses standards in information technology from ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and NISO (National Information Standards Organization) and focuses on learning standards from NSSE (National Study of School Evaluation), ACR (Alliance for Curriculum Reform) and AASL…

Discusses the nature and quality of visual dictionaries and other reference sources heavily dependent on graphics; and considers whether they are useful reference tools for elementary school libraries, criteria that determine whether they are successful, and how they fit in an information literacy program. (LRW)

Discussion of how school and public librarians can make children's lives better focuses on a list of 40 developmental assets that children need to become responsible, successful, caring adults. Considers both internal and external assets, the importance of relationships with patrons, and the importance of involving youth. (LRW)

Describes an evaluation that provided data regarding the roles of school library media specialists and whether they align with guidelines in "Information Power". Reviewed job descriptions via a listserv; compiled a list of performance responsibilities to develop a model job description; and concluded that a leadership role needs to be…

Suggests titles for elementary school reference collections that are basic adult resources to support teacher's curricular needs and general reference questions that are beyond the scope of most children's reference sources, and which will be used by teachers and by library media specialists rather than by children. (LRW)

Discusses the appropriate use of colors in school libraries. Highlights include how colors affect students' learning and behavior; influences on users' moods; users' ages; the use of colors to bring out the best physical attributes; and the use of color for floor coverings, window treatments, furnishings, and accessories. (LRW)

Discusses marketing techniques for teacher librarians based on six levels: basic assumptions; library resource program, including attitudes for success; school, including a collaborative environment; administration, including program support; community, including awareness; and state and national, including professional participation. (LRW)

Considers the differences in meaning between collaboration and cooperation and suggests methods to help library media specialists collaborate with faculty members. Topics include benefits in co-planning and teaching; barriers to collaboration; encouraging teachers to collaborate; and resources to help plan and teach collaboratively. (LRW)

Discusses the benefits of storytelling by teachers or librarians to elementary and middle school students. Topics include listening; sharing versus performing; finding stories, other than folk tales; guidelines for telling stories; and resources, including print sources and Web sites. (LRW)

Provides a review and listing of literature for K-8 school librarians and teachers that focuses on the geography, history, and culture of Tibet and the diverse experiences and folklore of Tibetans. Includes references, other recommended works, and an annotated bibliography divided into folklore, biography, culture and history, fiction, videos, and…

Offers suggestions for a successful volunteer program in a school setting. Topics include recruitment strategies, including advertising for parents, grandparents, other groups, and students; training programs for adult volunteers and for students; how to keep volunteers; how to afford rewards; and helpful resources. (LRW)