Learning through Books, Media and Technology

ARTICLES THIS ISSUE:

1996 Administrative Leadership Award for Library Media Services

1996 President's Award Winner

1996 Technology Award

Editorial: Learning Comes in Many Languages

From Cave Writing to Computers

A Theme's the Thing

Primary Languages, Primary sources on the Internet

Update on a Model Library Media Program

Limited? There Are No Limits

A Bilingual Student Population

Cooking Their Way to Literacy

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1996 Administrative Leadership Award for Library Media Services

Dr. Pedro E. Garcia

In the two years Dr. Pedro E. Garcia has been at the helm of the Corona-Norco Unified School District, libraries have become a top priority. Where once the 18 elementary and four intermediate schools were staffed with library clerks paid out of school improvement funds, the salaries now will be covered with district funds, so school improvement money can be spent on library books and other instructional materials. Where once school library budgets were eked out from fund-raisers, book fairs, PTAs, and school budget allocations, Superintendent Garcia convinced the school board to allocate $380,000 in state block grant money to be divided among the 18 elementary libraries to improve their book collections.

Other improvements orchestrated by Dr. Garcia include the employment of a permanent, credentialed district library coordinator to provide guidance and inservice to the library clerks, and a yearly commitment to purchase books and media for elementary libraries to help students become more information literate, more competent readers. At the high school level, the superintendent and board made commitments to staff each high school with full-time certificated library media teachers and clerical support personnel, extend library hours (with concomitant pay increases for staff), and allocate monies to upgrade their computer technology.

Dr. Garcia firmly believes that school libraries are a key to academic success. "We talk about improving reading scores and higher academic achievement, but fail to realize it cannot be done unless school libraries are a major ingredient of the formula. We must never cut access to the libraries by reducing funding. They are the lifeblood of our society, our culture, and our schools. Every child, regardless of race, gender, creed, or economic status, has access to the information available at school libraries to be challenged to dream, grow, and learn. 'Five years from now you will be the same as you are today,' said Charlie Tremendous Jones, 'except for the people you meet and the books you read.' It is through the frequent use of libraries that children can improve not only their reading and every academic area, but also their lives."

The California School Library Association salutes Dr. Garcia's work and vision and looks forward to hearing about his future achievements in expanding information literacy in his district.

• Dr. Pedro E. Garcia, Superintendent
  Ed Perez, District Library Coordinator
  Corona-Norco Unified School District
  (Grades K-12; enrollment 27,580)
  2820 Clark Avenue
  Norco 91760; (909) 736-5010