Most school librarians do not think of copyright compliance and facilities planning in the same breath. Yet the design of space--physical and virtual--can discourage or promote compliance, or even help police it. Placement of and access to equipment, traffic patterns, signage, and student workspace all may influence copyright-compliance behavior…

Winter 2007 marked an episode of high anxiety in the library science profession, when the latest Newbery winner, "The Higher Power of Lucky," triggered discussion about words and their suitability for young readers. It seems that the entire world now knows that the word "scrotum" appears on the first page of the book. School…

Seventh grade students entering South East Junior High in Iowa City come from eight elementary feeder schools, as well as from schools around the world. Their information literacy skills and knowledge of reference sources vary, but since all seventh graders and new eighth graders are required to take one trimester of Visual Studies, all entering…

While the promotion of literacy is a fundamental mission for all librarians, over the past decades the definition has expanded and, paradoxically, fragmented into various multiliteracies, such as computer literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, and so forth. From these, a broader concept of student competencies, one that includes both…

Discusses instructional collaboration between school library media specialists and classroom teachers based on school interviews in California. Highlights include curricular standards; persistence and perseverance; recruiting student teachers to become involved; and districtwide or schoolwide expectations. (LRW)

Discusses how to overcome roadblocks to implementing the "Information Power" model for school libraries. Focuses on administrative problems; time and planning issues; school culture that lacks a collaborative environment; and developing planning units to achieve success. (LRW)

Discusses the importance of collaboration between the school library media specialists and classroom teachers from a principal's perspective. Topics include the problems with traditional scheduled library visits; media specialist as teacher; principals' expectations of teachers and media specialists; and barriers to successful collaboration. (LRW)

Profiles cooperative projects developed at elementary schools in the Miami-Dade County Library Power Grant. Discusses the librarian/teacher collaborative planning process. Describes the PEACE (Plan for Excellence in a Collaborative Environment) project which revolves around a multi-leveled, pyramid design for collaborative planning. (AEF)

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)

The Kansas Association of School Librarians (KASL) developed and tested a model that enables library media specialists to work with all grade levels and most subject areas to plan units of integrated information-skills instruction and to assess this instruction. The "Handy 5" Model (using Big Six framework) is explained, and research…

Discusses the role of school library media specialists (SLMS), the trend toward constructivism, "Information Power" and SLMS, and helping science teachers meet the National Science Education Standards. Includes relevant Web links and a bibliography of works concerning SLMS and science teachers. (LRW)

Discusses ten attributes of leadership and offers suggestions for school librarians to implement them. Highlights include communicating vision and ideas; ethical values and integrity; self-awareness and self-knowledge; context; cooperation; diverse skills and flexibility; organizational development; personal growth; and taking action. (LRW)

Explains the use of Web-based software for communication between classroom teachers and school library media specialists. Discusses threaded discussion forums; experiences using that forum by the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) at the American Library Association (ALA) preconference; and forum software. (LRW)

Presents an interpretation of the new "Information Power" guidelines for school media specialists formulated by a group of graduate students. Illustrates a global view of the school media program and highlights the vision statement, mission statement, and goal for the school media program. Discusses the role of the media specialist as…

Discussion of collaboration between classroom teachers and school library media specialists focuses on programs at an elementary school in the Katy Independent School District (Texas). Topics include knowing the faculty; knowing the curriculum; providing needed materials and services; cooperation with public librarians; and recognition of shared…