Discusses the school library media specialist's responsibility to address students' cultural differences, including those related to religious practice and spiritual beliefs. Topics include the separation of church and state; resources that address spirituality and religion; and additional resources from ERIC. (LRW)

Presents a resource on the ethics of the use of information developed by the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians Association which supplements the Information and Communication Technology Integration Project for teachers of grades 6-9. Highlights include plagiarism; resources sheets; citing references; Internet privacy; Internet communication; and…

Discusses the importance of fostering learning communities in today's school reform movement and the potential role of the school library media specialist as a leader in building collaborative networks with classroom teachers. Highlights include a comparison of traditional and collaborative models; linking collaboration and leadership; and…

Considers ways to use electronic books (E-books) to involve students in literature. Highlights include E-book technology; costs; digital content; acquiring versus accessing information in libraries; title availability; storage capacity; sources of E-book content, especially Web sites; downloading software and E-books; sources for current,…

Describes a high school summer reading program that was developed to encourage a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure by assembling a booklist of fiction and nonfiction titles, each sponsored by an administrator or teacher who then led a discussion of that book in the fall. (LRW)

Asked to list ways their school library media specialist could help them become better teachers, teachers wanted training in instructional technology and design as well as access to high-quality instructional tools. In turn, teachers said, they could help media specialists help them by enhancing cooperative communication and providing emotional…

Describes how the media center at Mt. Bethel Elementary School (Marietta, Georgia) was redesigned to make better use of electronic resources. Discusses the initial preparations and the remodelling process. Outlines the four components of managing change--vision, planning, funding and implementation. (AEF)

Presents a checklist for school librarians to use in evaluating World Wide Web pages. Highlights include content; authority; ease of navigation; the "experience"; use of graphics, sound, and video; treatment, including stereotyping and age appropriateness; speed and types of access; and costs and search engines. (LRW)

A study of 40 public school children ages 8-12 from three communities in the Los Angeles (CA) area (Beverly Hills, affluent; Compton, working class; and Watts, working and under class) found that less affluent children had access to fewer books in the home, public libraries, and school and classroom libraries. (PEN)

Describes the building design of the library and technology center named in the title, including the educational context and design goals. Includes a general description; information on the architect, construction team, and manufacturers and suppliers; and a case study of costs and specifications. (EV)

Discusses the increase in online plagiarism and what school librarians can do to help. Topics include the need for school district policies on plagiarism; teaching students what plagiarism is; pertinent Web sites; teaching students proper research skills; motivation for cheating; and requiring traditional sources of information for student…

Describes changes brought about by a Library Power initiative at an inner city magnet school in Chattanooga (Tennessee). Highlights include: Library Power beliefs; collaborative planning between the library media specialist and teachers; the new role of the library media specialist as an information specialist, teacher, and instructional…

Discusses concerns over the increase in computer-aided plagiarism among secondary and higher education students. Considers technological factors; cultural reasons and background, including time constraints; possible responses and deterrents, including clear policies regarding plagiarism and designing assignments that are more creative; and the…

Discusses challenges to the library media specialist, particularly the collection developer, in developing a global perspective, analyzing the impact of new technologies on the collection, and promoting understanding of the connectedness of information within the collection. Strategies for promoting global education are suggested. (31 references)…

Discusses "Information Power: Guidelines for School Media Programs" in terms of its ability to provide direction in establishing a needed commonality among school library media preparatory programs. The implications for a national framework for curriculum reconstruction, course revisions, and course content are explored. (five references) (CLB)