The Emerging School Library Media Center: Historical Issues and Perspectives » (1st Edition)

KATHY HOWARD LATROBE is Professor, University of Oklahoma School of Library and Information Studies, Norman.

The school library media center is a relatively recent phenomenon. Its development throughout the 20th century has not always been predictable or peaceful, but neither has it been static or dull. Through personal and objective perspectives, this book relates the often turbulent history of the school library movement to times of rapid change. The authors address the mission of the school library program and how its realization has been shaped by professional organizations, standards and guidelines, accreditation associations, the education of library media specialists, collection development, evaluation, instruction, research, and technology applications. The relationship of the program to educational paradigms and to local, national, and international partnerships is also discussed. Students and instructors in school library media programs will find this work essential, and practicing library media specialists will find it a fascinating professional read.

School Library Journal

A complete, detailed look at the history and development of school libraries. Self-contained chapters include historical accounts of the development of school libraries, the certification process, media-center standards and guidelines, resources and tools for collection development, and the history of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Other chapters examine the impact of technology and internationalization on media centers. Unfortunately, they were written before the publication of the latest edition of Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (ALA, 1998); thus, that information and perspective are not included. Additional features include a list of library-related abbreviations and acronyms and a chronology of significant events in school librarianship. An excellent choice primarily for professional collections on library education.-Jessica Foster, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.