This is Part 1 of a three part series of articles summarizing selected articles from the journals of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) over a period of thirty-five years from 1972 to 2007. Part 1 traces the evolution of the library media specialist to emphasize a greater student-centered approach to teaching and learning. Learning experiences and curricular integration in the use of the library media center resources are now being used to address student needs and interests rather than teacher-mandated lessons and activities. The articles that comprise this part are: (1) "Creative Inquiry and Instructional Media" by Kenneth J. Taylor; (2) "Keeping Children's Knowledge Alive through Inquiry" by Karen Sheingold; (3) "Implementing a Process Approach to Information Skills: A Study Identifying Indicators of Success in Library Media Programs" by Carol C. Kuhlthau;(4) "Learning-Centered Libraries: Implications from Research" by Barbara K. Stripling; and (5) "I-Search: An Inquiry-Based, Student-Centered, Research and Writing Process" by Julie Tallman. [To view part 2 of this series, please see, EJ837443.]