In this article, "School Library Journal's" ("SLJ") advisors talk about book apps for kids. They discuss what they like, what one should look for in discerning the best for kids and teens, and where this all might be headed.

"School Library Journal's" ("SLJ's") Job Satisfaction Survey, conducted online in spring 2008, asked school and public librarians about their salaries, pay raises, and opportunities for advancement; level of job satisfaction; major causes of dissatisfaction; on-the-job challenges; and how well they were prepared for their positions, among other…

Minneapolis is a book lover's paradise. There are dozens of neighborhood bookstores, a sleek new $125 million Minneapolis Central Library, and Open Book, the nation's first facility devoted to the literary arts. No wonder it was dubbed America's most literate city last year. But one of the best-kept secrets is that Minneapolis and nearby Mankato…

This paper presents the Fort Washakie School/Community Library and Technology Center, cowinner of this year's SLJ/Thomson Gale Giant Step Award. Nearly four years old, this combination school-and-public library is located in the town of Fort Washakie, on the Wind River Indian Reservation, a vast 2.8-million-acre tract about a three-hour drive…

One lousy starred review. That was all, initially, that Susan Patron had to show for the 10 years she spent writing "The Higher Power of Lucky," her funny, tender story of a little girl struggling to gain control over her life. One star, from "Kirkus Reviews," for the heart and soul Patron poured into her second novel. Positive notices had…

Getting kids excited about the library isn't as difficult as media librarians think. All it takes is giving them some control. They'll be surprised at how quickly their attitudes change once they let them play a role in everything from programming and technology to book selection and design. It may take some getting used to, but listening to what…

Description of public libraries that are combined and housed with school libraries focuses on successful library combinations in Canada and Australia. Topics discussed include community needs; cost factors; staffing and administrative issues; cataloging differences; location considerations; services offered; funding; and advantages for rural…

Greater use can be made of fewer materials if there is public library and school library involvement in satisfying the library needs of all children. (Author)

Describes the Tall Tree Initiative for Library Services, sponsored by the Reader's Digest Foundation and administered by the public and school library systems of Westchester County, New York. The initiative focuses on improving services offered children in the 21st century, and demands a new level of school-public library cooperation. (AEF)

Describes the ongoing development of school libraries in the Birmingham (Alabama) Public School System. Highlights include commitment of the Board of Education and the city; accreditation; planning; communication; cooperative planning with classroom teachers; cooperative projects with the public library and cable company; Reading Is Fundamental…

Highlights examples of outreach and lending programs that bring the museum experience into school and public libraries and suggests that the school library media specialist can act as the link between museums and teachers. A list of contacts for the nine programs mentioned is provided. (EAM)

Describes the School Corps program in Portland, Oregon that was formed to promote a stronger partnership between public and school libraries. Topics include effects of school budget cuts on library services; encouraging students to get public library cards; and in-service training for teachers on computer use, including the Internet. (LRW)

Discusses topics related to public and school library volunteers: (1) recruitment and reasons for volunteering; (2) training; (3) job satisfaction; and (4) other motivating factors including recognition, achievement, and responsibility. (MES)

Discusses events and trends involving libraries in the 1980s, including: "The Satanic Verses"; censorship of children's literature; educational reform; funding, fees, salaries, programs, and preservation in public libraries; the literacy movement; school libraries; the international library scene; status of the profession; book and…

Describes the development of a term paper resource center in public libraries that supports school assignments. A cooperative effort between the public library and school library is discussed, a topic file with appropriate resources listed is described, instructions for writing outlines and bibliographies are suggested, and provision of software…