A study to identify and evaluate methods used to teach library skills to elementary school children in Genesee County, Michigan

This study identifies and critiques the methods and resources used to teach library skills to elementary (grades K-5) school children in Genesee County, Michigan. It addresses the effects of budget and staffing cuts and their impact on the lifelong learning skills of the students.; Forty-six of the ninety elementary schools in the county, both public and private, were surveyed and the outcome of the survey was measured against the guidelines set forth on the national level by the American Association of School Librarians in Information Power (ALA, 1988), and on the state level by the Michigan State Board of Education in its Position Paper on Information Processing Skills (1992).; This study discusses the effectiveness of the teaching methods used for skills training and how they could be improved.; The study points out the weaknesses in the library media programs that have been the result of budget cuts that took place in the mid 1970's.; The outcome of the study indicates that the majority of the library media centers are staffed by persons with less than a bachelor's degree. They service the majority of the students and are responsible for the library skills instruction. The results also revealed that the money budgeted per student for library books is way below the national average.; Recommendations are made to increase the awareness of this problem to the school administrators, the boards of education within the district, and the State of Michigan, educators, and the library media staff.