This document contains four papers that are answers to comprehensive examination questions of a doctoral student in instructional technology. The first paper, "Federal Support and Funding of School Library Media Programs into the 21st Century," includes sections on why federal support and funding are needed, how school library media programs (SLMPs) help K-12 students, and why school library media specialists (SLMSs) are needed. The World Wide Web (WWW) as a research tool is discussed in the next paper, including Internet tools, electronic data collection, e-mail discussion groups, electronic interviews, web-based surveys, and software tools Entitled "Using the WWW as a Research Tool for Collecting Data," this paper also describes use of the Internet to investigate the changing role of SLMSs in light of new technologies. "Technology and Learning: A Reaction Paper," the third paper, considers how two books--"The Children's Machine" (S. Papert) and "Knowledge as Design" (D.N. Perkins)--relate to current practices and attitudes about the use of technology in education. The final paper, "Focus on Selected Roles of School Library Media Specialists:," addresses the role of SLMSs; special skills and attributes of the instructional planning process; teaching, learning, and achievement; and collaboration with teachers. (Contains 122 references overall.) (MES)