From School Library Journal
An accessible approach to the "how-to" of doing research, which is broken down into steps that include developing a topic and subtopics, note taking, and sorting notes. Stanley successfully melds theory with practice and addresses real problems faced by library media specialists. She also illustrates how, despite programming constraints, it is possible to get results that will ultimately benefit students in their research. The author correctly asserts that a necessary part of the process is letting teaching staff know what the library media specialist can do for them, thus encouraging more successful student writing and, ultimately, making the teaching process easier. She also notes some effective public-relations techniques to use to this end. The book includes templates and sample lesson plans for three days of instruction leading up to individual hands-on research, rough drafts, and finished creative projects.-Karen Patricia Smith, Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Flushing, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Stanley presents a step-by-step approach to the research process based on her own wealth of experience. Her 15 steps aren't groundbreaking, but they are a refreshing look at research techniques, teacher collaboration, and student learning. She supports her text with an abundance of figures and forms, some of which are so detailed they may overwhelm readers. Ones appearing later in the text, including ones to reproduce as student handouts, are more user-friendly. A repeated outline of the research method and sidebar icons encoding different learning skills and modifications for special student populations help bring the information together. Best of all, Stanley's personal anecdotes assure readers that her information is based on concrete experience acquired from working in a vibrant, successful library media center.
Roger Leslie