Describes the role of the media specialist in the implementation of an important segment of Public Law 94-142 which requires parent and teacher interaction in planning programs of education for handicapped children. (Author)

Library journals are inundated with articles pertinent to the installation of electric security systems, but few relate directly to school media programs. School media specialists should use available studies and contribute to the available research to insure effective decision making about adopting appropriate security measures. (CMV)

Describes a collaborative project between a young adult literature course for prospective school library media specialists and a ninth-grade literature class. Describes how the students corresponded weekly, writing about young adult books they had chosen from a list. Notes their reflections on this collaborative effort, and reports that it was…

Examines patterns of uncertainty, complexity, and process in the perceptions of information users from different work environments. Zone intervention based on Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development is presented. A study with two early career professionals showed need for a more interactive, collaborative role for the library…

Discusses the role that school library media specialists can play in the development of children's writing skills. Recommends a number of reference books for student writers published by Scholastic, including a dictionary, thesaurus, dictionary of idioms, rhyming dictionary, dictionary of spelling, and a treasury of quotations. (LRW)

Describes a reference source for middle school students on biotechnology that is useful for science and social science curricula as well as interdisciplinary approaches. Explains the four-volume format and various features that make it useful to media specialists and students. (LRW)

Explains certification in library media by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Topics include candidate qualifications, including at least three years of experience; links between the media specialist, library media standards, accomplishments, and student achievement; assessments, including portfolio development; scheduling for…

Discusses the need for professional development opportunities for school library media specialists and describes the development of a workshop in Georgia for new media specialists. Includes the roles and responsibilities of media specialists, including collaboration with teachers; and decision-making responsibilities. (LRW)

Suggests library media specialists have a responsibility to make educational funding laws work for their children and communities. Discusses the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act; NCLB and libraries, and online resources; Reading First Grants; "VISIONS 2020: Transforming Education and Training through Advanced Technologies" and "Technology in…

Identifies emerging issues and challenges facing lab schools nationwide as they attempt to build support for their programs. Offers recommendations for strengthening the roles lab programs play in the early childhood field, such as expecting staff to be involved in leadership activities (like outside workshops) and making facilities attractive to…

Rethinks the use of teachers, a school's most expensive and important resource. Four categories could benefit from restructuring: teacher and aide allocation/assignment, teacher compensation, student support services, and general and special program administration. Middletown, New York, actually improved its student:teacher ratio by using its…

Discussion of library media specialists evaluation focuses on factors that compromise the utility of evaluations by the principal: increased demands on principals as instruments of accountability; the tendency to use an evaluation designed for teachers, not media specialists; and changes that have occurred in the work of library media specialists.…

Three successful American Indian women--film maker and businesswoman Valerie Red-Horse, Cherokee law professor and appeals court justice Stacey Leeds, and prolific artist Virginia Stroud--discuss their careers, emphasizing the importance of retaining cultural values, the struggles of being a racial and gender pioneer in their field, and the…

Discusses the role of the school librarian in East African countries and the information needs of a school community. The extent to which the role of a school librarian in East Africa is realized in the areas of financial support, library programs and policies, and staffing is discussed. (11 references) (MES)

Describes a process for evaluating school media specialists that was developed by a high school principal and librarian working as a team. The discussion covers the criteria and methods used in the evaluation process, and how well the evaluation meets the needs of both the administration and the media specialist. (CLB)