| While international schools throughout the world are generally considered to be at the forefront of educational change and innovation, their media resource centers (M.R.C.s) tend to be their weakest elements. The lack of available finances for media resources, the minimal emphasis upon global perspectives, and the high transiency of overseas library media specialists have resulted in M.R.C.s which do not yet parallel the overall excellence of the international schools. This guide offers specific standards and recommendations for the improvement of the international school M.R.C.s.; The guidelines presented are based primarily on ideas and practices which presently exist among some sixth international schools in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. For the non-professional or para-professional library media specialist, this guide offers an overview of basic library and media programs and services, as well as descriptions of the various roles which the specialist may be expected to fulfill at an international school. For the professional library media specialist, this guide offers insights into the many unusual aspects of developing M.R.C.s at international schools. For all users of this guide, the practical aspects which are included focus on instructional programs, collection development, technical services, financial management, and M.R.C. administration in general. On a somewhat more philosophical level, suggestions are presented for the establishment of goals and objectives, the setting of policy, and the implementation of methods for evaluation of the international school M.R.C.; The M.R.C. is shown to be the ultimate center of learning at international schools, able to meet the challenging demands of the highly varied, multinational student bodies and professional staffs. The standards and recommendations which appear in this guide will assist library media specialists in meeting those demands. |
