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Excellence in School Media Programs: Essays Honoring Elizabeth T. Fast by Thomas J. Galvin; Margaret Mary Kimmel; Brenda H. White Review by: Sara Innis Fenwick The Library Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 2 (Apr., 1981), pp. 240-241 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4307361 . Accessed: 10/06/2014 06:59 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . The University of Chicago Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Library Quarterly. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 91.229.229.190 on Tue, 10 Jun 2014 06:59:58 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Excellence in School Media Programs: Essays Honoring Elizabeth T. Fastby Thomas J. Galvin; Margaret Mary Kimmel; Brenda H. White

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Excellence in School Media Programs: Essays Honoring Elizabeth T. Fast by Thomas J. Galvin;Margaret Mary Kimmel; Brenda H. WhiteReview by: Sara Innis FenwickThe Library Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 2 (Apr., 1981), pp. 240-241Published by: The University of Chicago PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4307361 .

Accessed: 10/06/2014 06:59

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

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The University of Chicago Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to TheLibrary Quarterly.

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240 THE LIBRARY QUARTERLY

alizations; for example, he states that death "is almost completely taboo in books for younger readers, particularly in fiction for seven- to ten-year-olds where it is conspicuous by its nearly total absence" (p. 69). Of the many fictional works on death for children and young people, there are in fact almost thirty for that age range.

Does Rees reach his stated goals? Interesting as his critical analyses are, they do not so much explore similarities and differences in the books of the two nations (although they do this at times) as much as they explore the development and achievements of individual authors. His second purpose, to call attention to authors whose work is unjustifiably ignored, seems unfulfilled, for in addition to the authors mentioned here (Blume, Farmer, and Le Guin) he discusses Elaine Konigsburg, Paul Zindel, Philippa Pearce, Alan Garner, E. B. White, Doris Smith, Rodie Sudbery, Beverly Cleary, Mildred Taylor, Paula Fox, Nina Baw- den, Jill Paton Walsh, Robert Cormier, Jill Chaney, and Penelope Lively. Few of them have been ignored. He does make a strong case for his third purpose, pointing out the reasons why, in his opinion, some famous authors do not deserve the kudos they receive.

Zena Sutherland, University of Chicago

Excelknce in School Media Programs: Essays Honoring Elizabeth T. Fast. Edited by THOMAS J. GALVIN, MARGARET MARY KIMMEL, and BRENDA H. WHITE. Chicago: American Library Association, 1980. Pp. x+228. $12.50. ISBN 0-8389-3239-8.

A volume of essays on excellence in school library media services is a particularly appropriate memorial for Elizabeth T. Fast. In the words of Thomas J. Galvin, "This book is about several things-children, schools, learning, libraries, read- ing, viewing, and listening. But it is chiefly about the life and enduring legacy of an extraordinary woman-Elizabeth T. Fast" (p. 1). Conceived by the American Association of School Librarians as a living memorial for Betty Fast, who had given leadership in great measure to the Association, the book includes a collec- tion of original articles written by recognized leaders in the school library media field, organized on a framework of four themes: the child, the school media center, the community, and the future. Each section is introduced by selections, 9 in all, from the wide range of professional writing by Betty Fast. Galvin's introduction explains, "One major objective of this book has been to assure that at least a portion of the written record of Betty Fast's thinking about key professional issues and concerns is preserved in an easily accessible form for both practicing and prospective library-media professionals" (pp. 1-2).

Nineteen contributors are represented in the collection, and they have pro- duced papers that emphasize contemporary issues with a high degree of profes- sional attention and a unity that is not always characteristic of anthologies of professional literature. The editorial design of the collection strengthens the cumulative impact of the essays, even though the invited authors were free to select their subjects within the framework of the four thematic topics.

Four of the topics treated in the papers will be noted as examples of interest- ing and original material.

In writing "Bias, Prejudice and the Growing'ism' Schism," Lillian N. Gerhardt develops a pointed statement on the inconsistency in selection standards of children's librarians: "'Bias' and 'prejudice' are now such emotionally charged terms that they are used as accusations rather than descriptors of part of the

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REVIEWS 241

judgment process, subject to self-identification, self-analysis, and self-control" (p. 26). She is particularly critical of the several organizations of librarians in their failure to analyze critically the area of high-interest, low-reading-level materials.

In "The Inside Story: School Media Specialists and Their Public Relations Effectiveness," Cosette N. Kies analyzes the problems of accurate measurement of public relations effectiveness in developing school media services, and pre- sents a suggested communication audit survey questionnaire form based on school media standards.

Patricia B. Pond's study, "School Library Media Specialist and Professional Associations," recapitulates the history of school library interests in educational associations-National Education Association, National Council of Teachers of English-and the joint organizations and activities of the American Library Association with NEA, NCTE, and the Association of Educational Communica- tion and Technology. This thorough and documented survey provides not only a useful historical background for the organizational experience of AASL, but gives emphasis to the current status through reference to the 1977 Miller Downen study of AASL membership. The author examines areas for further cooperation and liaison activities at several levels-in areas of supervision, au- diovisual resources, and, of current importance, in networking.

The final essay, "Power, Survival, and Betty Fast" by Peggy Sullivan, is an appreciation of Betty Fast as a librarian whose career illustrated the develop- ment of an ever-widening vision and a knowledge and ability to mobilize her own visions and resources as well as those of her colleagues to achieve her goal of better libraries. That these powers have a great survival potential is attested to in this volume. It is highly recommended.

Sara Innis Fenwick, University of Chicago

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