Discusses the process of writing grants and requests for proposals (RFPs) from regional, state, or federal sources by school libraries. Topics include statement of need, goals and objectives, implementation of plans, staff development, evaluation methods, budget, and future issues. (LRW)

Lists networks, consortia, and other cooperative library organizations; national library and information-industry associations--United States and Canada; state, provincial, and regional associations; state and provincial library agencies; state school library media associations; international library associations; and foreign library associations.…

Discusses the lack of African American biographies for elementary school libraries and reports the results of a study that surveyed publishers from the Children's Book Council. Examines book reviews, discusses the number of sports figures included, and considers problems with a lack of appropriate materials to support the curriculum. (LRW)

Describes Jumpstart, a Web site providing remote access to government information in CD-ROM format, developed by Oregon State University's Valley Library, as a joint venture with the Oregon State Library and the Portland Area Library System to provide hardware, software, and training to rural school and public libraries in Oregon that have limited…

Profiles the Switzerland County high, middle, and elementary schools in rural Indiana. Discusses the district's library media program and collections; the High Tech School grant award; the role of the Internet; librarian teacher partnerships; affiliation with the public library; and the sense of community throughout the district. (AEF)

These four articles address issues related to teens and reading. Highlights include an interview with a young adult literature author; a community literature festival in St. Charles (Illinois) that introduces students to authors, poets, journalists, and storytellers; library services for youth in detention centers, including book discussion…

Describes the use of reader's theater in school libraries and suggests titles that are suitable to use for elementary school students and young adults. Topics discussed include using reader's theater with parents at parent organization meetings; collaborating with teachers for classroom presentations; the importance of dialog; and benefits to…

Discusses a Kansas court case that addressed First Amendment rights of students when a book was banned from a school library. Topics include motivation of school board members, students' rights to information versus denial of access to ideas, viewpoint discrimination, and educational suitability. A sidebar presents viewpoints of the book's author.…

Discusses four areas in school library media programs that media specialists are expected to develop. Topics include promoting information literacy among students; knowing how to evaluate and use various information technologies; consulting with teachers to strengthen student learning and outcomes; and serving on school-based management…

Presents techniques that in the author's experience have helped middle-school students produce better, more original work. Alternative formats to the traditional report project, clear assignment criteria, a grading rubric, and instruction in visual communication are all valuable. A model with which teachers can reduce plagiarism and promote…

Guides librarians in evaluating "filtering" software which schools may purchase for restricting access to potentially inappropriate Internet sites. This article discusses the workings of filtering programs and practical and ethical questions such as: how sites are restricted, who decides, and whether transactions are monitored.…

Discusses the value of school library automation, and suggests that an automated school library is the right of every child and teacher. Examines the role of the teacher librarian in the current environment; advantages of Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs); and trends towards greater convergence in information technology applications in the…

Describes how to incorporate a game into teaching the Dewey decimal system to elementary students in grades three, four, and five. Provides ideas for a nine-week session that includes five weeks of instruction on the Dewey decimal system, card catalog, and Boolean searching; and four weeks of competition. (LRW)

Describes the experiences of a school library media specialist on the school board. Topics include how to make presentations to the school board; how media centers can request extra funding; and the importance of good communication with the community and with the other board members. (LRW)

Reports results of a 1998 survey of 364 middle school and high school teacher-librarians that provides insight into the status of professional collections within schools. Discusses findings on availability, importance, description, location, size, usage, currency, and problems. Concludes with recommendations for developing and promoting…