Describes instances of automation in school media service programs and presents an annotated bibliography of professional literature related to the automation of school library services. (Author/CMV)

These introductory remarks by Robert S. Martin, the director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), briefly summarize the role of IMLS and the purpose of the White House Conference on School Libraries. (MES)

Lists 21 Web sites that are helpful for school librarians. Includes general search engines and how they determine hits; specialized search engines on specific topics; and other topical sites. (LRW)

This article discusses the importance of faculty collaboration and outlines the process of creating a library instruction session while obtaining and utilizing faculty collaboration. The article maintains that library instruction is improved when combined with faculty collaboration and that ultimately library instruction is linked to academic…

There is reason to believe that media literacy is gaining a higher profile in schools across the United States. For the first time, most states' teaching standards include elements of media literacy and textbook publishers are beginning to include media education. The inclusion of "viewing" and media literacy presents school library…

Look through any library promotional catalog and one will see a t-shirt, tote bag, bookmark, whatever, with the slogan "So many books, so little time." For librarians entering the world of children's literature, these six words become their mantra. Not only do beginning library media specialists face the challenges of scheduling, discipline, prep…

Elementary school library media specialists state that one of the most frustrating issues they face is the fixed schedules in their library media centers. Beyond the cost effectiveness issue, the fixed schedule severely limits using the resources of the library media center for inquiry learning and collaborative teaching experiences between the…

Most children have heard that money does not grow on trees. But it does on paper--in books! This column features paired book titles and related activities that can be used in the classroom or the library media center to celebrate National Coin Week in April. Time devoted to students while sharing books on money and its uses will be well spent.

In many professional roles, long-term vision may help guide short-term decisions. This is especially true for school library professionals as library media programs are constantly evolving. This author suggests strategies to assist library media specialists to nurture their vision and provides reviews of several sources and experts in the field…

Any successful library media center or program requires advanced planning. In this column, the author advocates the development of measurable goals for library media programs and describes several resources that can be used to help meet these goals and, at the same time, succeed in providing what the patrons most want out of the library media…

In this article, the author stresses not to give up on a site when a URL returns an error message. Many web sites can be found by using strategies such as URL trimming, searching cached sites, site searching and searching the WayBack Machine. Methods and tips for finding web sites are contained within this article.

As a profession librarians are stereotyped as frequently as engineers and accountants--if not more so. They are bifocal-wearing bunheads, collectors of cardigan sweaters, middle-aged women in polyester suits, Naturalizer shoes, and baggy stockings. Besides being fashion disasters, librarians are generally thought of as being exceptionally unsexy,…

It is not surprising that major bookstores are always crowded. They offer big comfy chairs, warm lighting, and all kinds of coffees and treats. Staff tried to create a similar environment in the library at Cedar Valley Middle School, and even started selling mocha and hot chocolate. But the most significant part of the marketing campaign was to…