SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — September 14, 2009 — As it moves into its next quarter century, with its September 2009 issue the acclaimed monthly magazine published by Libraries Unlimited, School Library Media Activities Monthly (SLMAM), will now be known as School Library Monthly.

"The 2008-2009 volume year of School Library Media Activities Monthly marked the 25th anniversary of this magazine. As we begin this volume year (2009-2010), the goal is to look to the future as we begin the next quarter of a century for our readers in the school library profession," said Managing Editor Deborah Levitov. "With that in mind, it has been with great consideration that we introduce the new name for the magazine, School Library Monthly (SLM)."

The name change is the latest step in the evolution of the magazine, a process which began with determining what was most important for the readers of SLMAM, with those goals and objectives then outlined for the magazine. Recent changes have included:

• The addition of new columns
• An update to the overall look of the magazine
• The creation of a new Web site and blog
• The formation of an advisory board that represents the geographic U.S. and is made up of accomplished leaders in the profession; this board helps reflect the changing needs of its readership, and to adapt the content of the magazine accordingly

With those changes in place, it is the right time to move the magazine forward and offer readers a new, more concise name to go with the fresh look and updated content. The new title is shorter, yet still honors the history of the magazine and maintains the connection to SLMAM by retaining the three main words of the title that best describe the content: School Library Monthly. There are 10 issues published in each volume that span the school year, thus the magazine fits the description of a monthly publication. The content is written by and for school librarians, so it is appropriate for the new name of the magazine to be School Library Monthly, emphasizing the readership as school librarians.

As leaders in professional development for librarians and educators, Libraries Unlimited and SLM provide the next generation of resources, workshops and tools for professional development for the school library marketplace. SLM will continue to offer content with fresh ideas that can be used today in the school setting, and to provide an environment for conversation and promotion of the instructional practices and professional development relevant to school librarians, moving into the future. The mission of the magazine to provide information that can make school libraries and school librarians the best they can be now and into the future, just as it has done in the past. So, look forward with us as we launch Volume 26, Issues No. 1-10 with the new name, School Library Monthly.

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About Libraries Unlimited
Libraries Unlimited is a leading publisher of books, magazines and professional development products serving the needs of libraries, librarians and teachers. Founded in the 1960s, Libraries Unlimited has a tradition of publishing in all areas and topics that represent core competencies of librarians, and its titles are used by librarians from their first year in library school and throughout their professional careers. Through the Teacher Ideas Press imprint, Libraries Unlimited also produces material for teachers that encourages the teacher/librarian partnership and the advancement of literacy. Libraries Unlimited is an imprint of ABC-CLIO, an award-winning publisher of reference titles, academic and general-interest books, electronic resources, and books for librarians and other professionals.

Contact: Laura Mullen, 805-880-6836, lmullen@abc-clio.com