In this article, the author talks about the school librarian as information specialist. She stresses that the school librarian's information specialist role is more important than ever. She offers her personal toolkit that consists of four strategies in helping and teaching students to use content responsibly.

This article presents an interview with Terry Pratchett, one of the world's most beloved storytellers. And with sales of more than 65 million books in 37 languages, he's indisputably one of the most successful. The English novelist's many honors include a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth, more than a half dozen honorary doctorates, and the 2008…

This article presents an interview with Joyce Karon, a former school librarian, district coordinator, and former member of the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Board of Higher Education. She is currently a member of the Illinois P-20 Council and has always been a passionate advocate for school libraries. In this interview, Karon…

All librarians, even those working one job, can become victims of burnout. Burnout can occur throughout the course of any career, and can pose a serious threat. On a daily basis, librarians help patrons fight their way through a haze of misinformation and disinformation. A good librarian is always on the ready, shifting gears from MLA source…

The Teacher & Principal School Report series showcases the results of a national survey of more than 4,700 public school Pre-K-12 educators on critical issues affecting schools and districts across the country. With two in-depth reports, Scholastic has explored equity in education as well as literacy, each with a special look at factors from…

The African American male psyche is a complicated multi-layered mixture of outside media influences, stereotypes, peer pressure, how they see themselves, and how they think others see them. This article describes how school and public librarians can help raise the literacy efforts of young African American males. It cites the need for libraries to…

"Dewey or don't we?" is the question that hundreds, if not thousands, of school librarians across the country are currently asking themselves. Do they throw out what is old but trusted for new organizational systems, or do they continue using the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system and make changes and adjustments to the…

In 2010 the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) responded to rapid changes in school libraries by convening the "Wisconsin School Library Summit: Envisioning 21st Century Learners and School Library Media Programs." Summit participants discussed the future of school libraries in Wisconsin. During the summit, several…

Digital libraries and collections are a growing facet of today's traditional library. Digital library technologies have become increasingly more sophisticated in the effort to provide more and better access to the collections they contain. The evaluation of the usability of these technologies has not kept pace with technological developments,…

This article outlines an integrated STEAM project based on "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate (2012). Elementary students focused on real-world, authentic problems presented in this 2013 Newbery Award-winning novel. The novel deals with difficult issues such as the humane treatment of animals, and has a powerful message of…

Reviews general trends in teaching basic elements of community analysis, highlights some of the courses in which these elements are introduced, comments on cases of in-depth treatment where they appear, and notes selected problems associated with the teaching of the subject. (Author/PF)

Julia Emmons, an assistant professor at Emory University's Division of Librarianship, comments on librarianship and library education. (PF)

Survey results indicate that the number of faculty declined over the past five years; new faculty appointments increased in 1977-78; salaries of new assistant professors did not increase significantly; and the greatest per cent of salary change (which was negative) was in fiscal year appointments of professors, lectures, and instructors.…

The concept of intellectual freedom, and its presence or lack of presence in library education programs, is discussed. (KP)

On the basis of information available to prospective students, the availability of courses and programs in special librarianship is described. (Author)