Issue Summary

Spotlight Feature Story

This issue's feature story takes a retrospective look at a Center for Digital Literacy (CDL) program called E*LIT which stands for Enriching Literacy Through Technology. E*LIT was created by CDL director, Dr. Ruth V. Small. After 6 years, the program comes to an end. We interviewed some of its participants and discovered quite a bit about the impact it has made. You are sure to come away with ideas that you, too, can implement to enrich literacy through technology.

Guest Writer

Dr. Renee E. Franklin is this issue's Guest Writer. She presents the results of a pilot study (with 31 respondents) and a national study (with 213 respondents) conducted to answer two research questions: (1) What do future school library administrators believe is an appropriate title for their position and (2) What reasons do future school library administrators give for why they chose a particular job title as most approriate? Study participants were individuals enrolled in school media programs throughout the U.S.

College Connection

Abby Kasowitz-Scheer interviews academic librarians to discover how information and learning "commons" work to enhance library learning spaces.

TIPS

Robert Schroeder takes a look "From Both Sides Now" when he surveys Oregon school and academic librarians to discover what they think tranisitioning students need in terms of information literacy skills.

Motivational Strategies That Work!

If you are facing library cuts, AASL has published a tookit with many suggestions that may help.

ACRL FOCUS

"Tips and Trends" is a recent addition to the ALA Web site that provides reports on technologies that can be used effectively in library instruction.

NEWS

Dr. Tiffany A. Koszalka, Associate Professor at Syracuse University's School of Education and Co-Director of the Center for Digital Literacy reports on an after-school computer club with an environmental theme. The club uses the children's Web site Curiosity Creek which provides middle school kids with an opportunity to publish stories and videos that help younger kids learn about endangered species and other environmental issues. 

Jennifer Sullivan reports the winners of this year's E*LIT competition featuring author Andrea Davis Pinkney.

Finally, a call for papers, strategies, tips, and features for the Educators' Spotlight Digest.