What's in Store for 2004

Some crystal-ball gazing mixed with a few sure things

By Evan St. Lifer -- School Library Journal, 1/1/2004

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We've made it through 2003, albeit somewhat battered and perhaps a little bruised, but no worse for the wear. And although we will have to wait patiently for the changing economic tides to reach the public sector, 2004 does hold some potential for a turnaround, fiscal and otherwise. However, there is no fun in auguring the promise of a new year without going out on a limb with some predictions. Here then, are some of the developments you can "expect" to see in 2004:

If 2003 represented the cold reality that indeed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is here to stay, then 2004 will be the year librarians learn how to become effective, frontline players in the President's plan to improve literacy skills among our nation's children.
Public libraries' influence on students will continue to rise, given their established role as the community's preeminent source of homework help, as well as their emerging role as a resource partner with school districts. Expect to see more grants similar to the Wallace Foundation's $6 million donation to New York City's three public library systems (see News, p. 17) to help bolster after-school programming. Also, both private and federal funding will support a growing number of public library/school collaborations.
Essential research articulating the librarian's impact on student achievement will gain more significant traction. In addition to the already influential studies by Keith Lance, stay tuned for a body of research from Rutgers University's Ross Todd and Carol Kuhlthau, via their Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries.
On the children's book publishing front, two paradoxes will continue unabated: the number of titles published in the U.S. appears destined to rise, and, secondly, the number of nonfiction series titles will continue to proliferate beyond anyone's comprehension, both despite the threat of oversaturation and a less than robust economy.

Departing from the requisite new year crystal-ball gazing, here are a few "sure things" readers can unequivocally look forward to seeing in the pages of School Library Journal in the coming year:

Seeking to ensure that No Librarian is Left Behind, School Library Journal will periodically offer primers on NCLB, to help readers confirm their essential involvement in the program. We begin the endeavor with this month's cover story, chronicling ways to help librarians find their niche in NCLB.

From divorce and depression to poverty and pregnancy, today's teens face an unprecedented array of challenges. After our August 2003 cover story, "Saving Kids From Despair ," we realized that we needed to provide more sustained teen coverage. Hence, we debut Teen Talk, a new column offering innovative programming ideas to both school and public libraries. Teen Talk will alternate with another new column on helping public libraries craft early childhood strategies, in line with their expanding preliteracy role.

We plan on building on the successful debut of Curriculum Connections this past fall, with two more issues—one in the spring, the other in the fall. We will be adding educational materials to our wide-ranging list of resources, organized by subject and grade level, as well as offering insightful articles that will help you assist teachers on how to use these valuable resources in the classroom.

Saving our biggest news for last, we expect to launch a brand new Web site by late spring/early summer 2004. The new "SLJ.com" is being developed as a comprehensive online resource to help librarians meet all of their professional needs. One of the new site's most exciting features will be a searchable book review database.

We hope SLJ readers are as excited about these new developments as we are, and we look forward to helping you have a productive, fulfilling, and successful 2004.

Evan St. Lifer, Editor, estlifer@reedbusiness.com