A Cambridge, Massachusetts, alternative public school's basic reading program is a rich combination of whole language and individualized phonics. Other strategies to hook kids on reading include 20-minute recreational reading periods with parent volunteers, a weekly book-bag program, reading buddies, special projects, and community helpers from…

Provides an instructional plan for integrating electronic media in the study of current events for grades six through eight through the collaboration of the classroom teacher and the library media specialist. Library-skills objectives, curriculum objectives, activities, evaluation, and follow-up are included. (Author/LRW)

Considers characteristics of successful school library media programs based on information from surveys of schools that participated in the national Library Power initiative. Discusses the importance of shared vision, professional development, planning opportunities, leadership from the principal, support staff, complementary school reforms, and…

Presents the table of contents of award winners for outstanding architectural design in educational facilities. Winning designs listed cover those for common areas, classrooms, libraries and media centers, cafeterias/food service, auditoriums, laboratories, multipurpose rooms, physical/recreational centers, residence halls, student/service…

Explains how media specialists can use departmental meetings to develop and promote better public relations within the school community. Topics include changes in the media center; new programs or services being offered, including new software and Internet resources; teacher requests for materials to support their curriculum; and interlibrary-loan…

Provides four fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in science and social studies. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up are described for each activity. (LRW)

Describes the publication of the American Library Association's new school library media program guidelines and standards, "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning." Discussion includes the library mission; the constant state of evolution of the library and information services profession; and the importance of standards.…

Discusses picture books as resources for middle and upper grade classrooms. Topics include the value of picture books for ESL students; interactivity; brevity; young adult content; writing style; visual art; picture books in school libraries; and suggestions for using them in social studies, language arts, reading, art, and math and science. (LRW)

Describes a survey of Kentucky high school library media specialists that was conducted to determine what kind of electronic resources were available for research needs and what instruction they were provided with regarding the retrieval of electronic information. Discusses implications for academic librarians who may be instructing college…

Provides six fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in reading, language arts, science, and social studies. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up are described for each activity. (LRW)

Explains how media specialists can play an active role in providing staff development that helps teachers use technology to teach in a changing learning environment and integrate technology in the curriculum. Highlights include key research about staff development, the changing role of the media specialist, and examples of successful staff…

Considers the school library media center as an information learning laboratory. Topics include information literacy; Kuhlthau's Information Search Process model; inquiry theory and approach; discovery learning; process skills of laboratory science; the information scientist; attitudes of media specialists, teachers, and students; displays and Web…

Considers the effects of an electronic environment on students and the role of the school library media specialist in student achievement. Topics include how students learn differently as a result of computer access; interactivity in mass media; political aspects of educational technology; and whether technological changes are good or bad. (LRW)

Offers suggestions for teaching information skills to kindergarten through second-grade students. Highlights include book titles to use as discussion lead-ins; library group activities; the use of technology, including computer software and electronic mail; and problem-solving skills. (LRW)

Explores relevance issues for elementary school children through the use of think-aloud, shadowing, and participant observer techniques as they searched electronic resources for a class assignment in a school library. Describes types of electronic resources used, identifies relevance criteria applied for textual and pictorial information, and…