State Reports
Items listed under "State Documents" have
been received by the Documents Unit, Illinois
State Library, Springfield, and are usually
available from public libraries in the state
through interlibrary loan. Issuing agencies
may have copies available. For items listed
under "Other Reports," write to publisher as
noted.
State Documents
• Residential Recycling: Curbside Options, Department of Energy and Natural
Resources, 325 W. Adams, Rm. 300,
Springfield 62704-1892 (1991), 63pp.
As increasing numbers of communities
see their landfills close and are forced to
face the issue of what they should do with
their garbage, the option of recycling becomes more appealing. This informative
and well-organized manual can help citizens and local officials begin to develop a
recycling program. It contains separate sections describing recyclable materials, what a
system might look like, its costs and how it
might be funded, the impact of curbside
collection on other collection activities, and
processing and marketing recyclables.
• Right in the Middle, State Board of
Education, 100 N. First, Springfield 62777-
0001 (February 1992), 17 & 33pp.
These two reports are the result of a 15-month study done by the Illinois Middle
Grades Task Force, one of 27 state groups
funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New
York. The shorter document is a planning
guide for the reform and transformation of
schools serving students in the age group
10-14. The longer report is an assessment of
middle-grade practices in this state. It contains the findings of a survey questionnaire
that was mailed to all middle and junior high
schools as well as all K-8 elementary
schools in Illinois. The recommendations of
the task force are also included.
• Illinois School Report Cards: Performance Profiles, 1986-1991, State Board of
Education, 100 N. First, Springfield 62777-
0001 February 1992), 33pp.
This document summarizes the statewide
information contained in the school report
cards released over the last six years and
presents trends on 17 indicators from those
reports, including student demographics,
ACT composite scores, nonpromotion and
graduation rates, teacher characteristics and
teacher salaries by district type.
Other Reports
• The Illinois Steward, Illinois Stewardship Committee, 110 Mumford Hall, 1301
W. Gregory, Urbana 61801; $10 per year.
The Illinois Steward is a new quarterly
publication designed to "enhance the use
and enjoyment of the resources which bless
your property while ensuring they will be
equally bountiful for future owners." It is
printed on glossy (recycled) paper that enhances the beautiful color photographs accompanying almost every article. The premiere issue contained such titles as
"Managing Your Woodlot for Wildlife,"
"Maximize Your Timber Dollar Sales" and
"In Search of Big Trees."
• Economic Development, University of
Illinois, Office of Continuing Education and
Public Service, Community Information and
Education Service, Suite 202, 302 E. John,
Champaign 61820.
As part of its Local Government Series,
the Community Information and Education
Service has produced four videotapes, each
focusing on a different aspect of the larger
issue of economic development. "Rural
Economic Development in Illinois" is 60
minutes in length and showcases the successes of six small Illinois communities.
"Financing Economic Development with
Available Resources," which is a 90-minute
tape, describes the strategies used by four
small communities to finance economic development efforts. The 90-minute tape,
"Preparing for Rural Economic Development," emphasizes the importance of planning and support to achieve success. The
fourth tape in the series, "Succeeding in the
New Retail Environment," is one hour and
40 minutes in length and focuses on maintaining a vital and competitive retail sector
in a small community. Each videotape costs
$19.95.
Anna J.Merritt
July 1992/Illinois Issues/29