Graduate Research Papers

Availability

Open Access Graduate Research Paper

Abstract

This research examined messages sent to the LM _NET (School Library Media and Network Communications) listserv by school library media specialists during the month of October, 1999. A content analysis was used to address the first research question: "What areas of concern are school library media specialists who are LM _ NET subscribers addressing with their questions and postings to the LM _ NET community?" The second research question, "Are there underlying patterns addressed in LM _ NET messages posted by school library media specialists?" was approached with a textual analysis. The researcher used a sample of 95 messages that were initial postings by school library media specialists. It was found that the majority of these messages were posted in order to request information, rather than to share information or engage in professional conversation or debate. Message content consisted largely of discussion of resources and products for the school library media center, followed by reference questions for school staff and others. These two categories, combined with discussion of professional issues, accounted for over half of the discussion in the sample. Other topics of discussion included professional communication; Internet resources; policies, practices, and procedures of the media center or school; software use; curricular applications; and other miscellaneous topics. Four of the messages examined contained evidence of their writers feeling professional isolation from other media specialists or teachers.

Year of Submission

2000

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Department

Division of School Library Studies

First Advisor

Barbara Safford

Comments

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Date Original

7-2000

Object Description

1 PDF file (iv, 183 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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