Describes the ideal environment in school libraries for retaining professionals who combine the best tasks and skills from library science and technology. Institutions should have: a desire for change; ample support staff; staff development opportunities; high priority on people skills; and high expectations of staff and leaders. (AEF)

Anecdotes of adventure activities with children and staff at two Russian camps demonstrate that Russian people, historically dependent on strong leaders, are fascinated by experiential education because the core concepts of shared leadership and cooperation disrupt old models, ask them to look anew at their capabilities, and create a sense of…

Using ethnographic techniques, this article explores the complex interaction of control and caring in two alternative education programs for students resisting traditional schooling in Cincinnati (Ohio) Public Schools, a predominantly low-income, African-American urban school district. A community-based orientation for staff proves essential in…

Offers a descriptive account and critical analysis of three cooperative collection development projects undertaken by the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a consortium of Virginia academic libraries. Reviews cooperative collection development processes and explains objectives that included cost effectiveness, improved access to information…

A staff training intervention, Active Support, designed to increase the participation in activities by adults with severe mental retardation living in community residences, was evaluated in 38 residences involving 303 staff members and 106 persons with mental retardation. Active Support resulted in increased engagement in activities, especially…

Presents staff development activities to enhance parental involvement in Head Start programs. Outlines specific activities, format, contexts, materials requirements, and instructions addressing the following areas: (1) staff role in empowering parents through involvement; and (2) understanding and recognizing empowered parents. (SD)

Analysis of 202 questionnaires completed by childcare center personnel found 90 percent of respondents agreed with the concept of integration of young children with special needs and 76 percent thought integration was beneficial for typically developing children. Curriculum adaptations, classroom integration, and identification of developmental…

Educational reforms fail because they are usually based on certain myths about training, advocacy, theory, knowledge dissemination, complete restructuring, paradigm shifts, and small-scale studies. These misconceptions result in wasted resources for staff development and dissemination, few professional validation standards, repeat cycles of…

High school improvement is possible with visionary leadership and common goals. Ayer (Massachusetts) High School is a small, comprehensive school that has restructured itself to meet 21st century needs. Revolutionary changes have occurred in instructional improvement, core curriculum, technology education, class size, graduation requirements,…

The evolution of an award-winning Total Quality Management (TQM) program for administrative and academic staff development at Oregon State University is chronicled. Special attention is given to application of TQM for faculty and corporate interaction, instructional improvement, and curriculum development. Special challenges for implementation of…

Proposes a new transitional budget model to help make libraries adept at and comfortable with change during the transition to an increasingly electronic knowledge environment, emphasizing staff education and training, new service opportunities, user responsiveness, teamwork, fiscal empowerment, and more effective management systems. (Contains nine…

This study identified common themes that school principals experienced in managing school work culture change. Interviews with principals who completed Managing Productive Schools training established six independent work culture dimensions and three kinds of effects. The paper uses the nine quality areas as a model for reporting the common…

The Little Lake (California) School District's process for selecting principals includes various elements: an application, a writing exercise, a portfolio presentation, a staff-development presentation, a traditional interview, and a final interview with the superintendent. The process allows candidates to showcase their achievements and…

Suggests ways child care directors can support staff in their professional and personal development and still maintain a solvent operation. Suggestions include conducting an all-agency training audit, creating a training accountability chain within the agency, providing information about and expectations for training and its outcomes, and…

A study investigated practices of two teachers regarding communication intervention for students who are congenitally deaf-blind, prior to and following an in-service program with follow-up coaching. After instruction on the communication intervention model, teachers were able to plan and implement communication interventions addressing students'…