Discusses how to help students apply thinking skills to library research and provides examples of techniques for teaching comparing and contrasting, sequencing, classifying, cause and effect, problem solving, and decision making. Examples were effective with middle schoolers but could also be adapted for high school or older elementary school…

Discussion of the development of information literacy focuses on a study in New Zealand elementary schools that examined teachers' understanding of information skills; teachers' understanding of resource-based learning; the role of the library; a model of information problem solving; students' experiences; conflicting information; and reading and…

Addresses school inequity and the injustice of not providing inner city children with the same quality libraries available to public school children in wealthier areas. Notes that New York State schools remain among the nation's most unequal. Highlights a suit demanding fiscal equality for urban schools, and suggests that school librarians should…

Discusses criteria for evaluating school library information services. Highlights include types of services; physical facilities; library usage; circulation statistics; changes due to technology; fill rate, or the percentage of successful searches for library materials; OPAC (online public access catalog) reports; observation; and examining…

Discusses the growth of electronic commerce as well as electronic education and suggests ways that schools and public libraries can help overcome inequity of access. Highlights include access to the Internet and computers; educational levels; Blacks; race and ethnic origin; rural access; use of the Internet; and income. (LRW)

Discussion of the responsibility of school library media specialists for collection development and management focuses on the need to include materials on women's studies. Highlights include justifying collection expenditures; collection development guidelines; identifying relevant materials by genre; and the media specialists' curricular role.…

Describes an approach to developmentally appropriate library media skills instruction. Details the two phases involved: (1) describing library media center expectations according to grade level--which outlines skills for grades K-12; and (2) describing library media instruction in terms of reading level. Discusses browsing skills and includes six…

Outlines important issues to address when planning video production facilities in a school's media center. Discusses spatial, light, and temperature considerations; determining amount to be spent, what the studio will be used for, and selecting equipment; considering digital video and nonlinear editing systems; visiting schools that already have a…

Examines the role of the online catalog in school libraries. Addresses the evolution of the online catalog, discussing connectivity, integration of technical and public services, networked hardware and software, user interface, and searching the catalog. Discusses the dual role of the library media specialist, of managing the catalog and offering…

Presents a lesson plan in which students use an encyclopedia to research a famous person. Identifies library media skills objectives, curriculum (subject area objectives), grade levels (4 and 5), resources, instructional roles, activity and procedures for completion, evaluation guidelines, and follow-up activities. Includes a sample worksheet.…

Describes experiences of a school whose students use laptop computers to access school library resources, online databases, and local university online catalogs for research projects. Discusses use of a local area network that is partly wireless; and presents issues librarians should consider, including requiring print and electronic resources and…

This case study documents the initial implementation of "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning" that was developed by the American Association of School Librarians in 1998. Discusses introduction of the new guidelines to library media specialists, administrators, and classroom teachers, and describes the collaborative…

Reports results of interviews with teachers, students, and school librarians in eight United Kingdom secondary schools regarding their use of multimedia encyclopedias on CD-ROM. Focuses on a content analysis of their comments on how access to multimedia encyclopedias changes the way students learn, and how they perceive it affects their learning.…

Discussion of staff development in schools focuses on the role of school librarians. Topics include job-embedded staff development that emphasizes collaboration, including case studies, networking, and using technology for professional development; models of staff development; and effective approaches to staff development, including active teacher…

Explains how Baltimore County secondary school libraries increased their funding and staffing levels. Discusses a partnership with Towson University for staffing needs; the role of technology; the development of online learning modules; marketing efforts; state standards for library collections; and collection analysis criteria. (LRW)