The purpose of this study was to identify what principals perceive to be the most and the least effective methods of communicating professional information and their preferred methods of receiving information. The researcher also sought to discover the factors principals indentified as preventing them from receiving information and using the communication methods they prefer and the factors that enable them to receive information using the methods they prefer.

This research was initially undertaken to find how communications between school librarians and principals could be made more effective in light of research that shows the importance of principal's support for school librarians and library resources in promoting and enhancing student academic achievement. The researcher saw that it would be necessary first to examine the questions identified in this research.

A sample of 86 school principals from around the United States completed an online Preferred Communication Survey (PCS) developed by the researcher. Findings indicate that principals ranked meetings with other principals, visits to other schools, and discussions with school staff, which provide the opportunity for face-to-face communications, as both the most effective methods of receiving information and as their preferred methods. Principals identified mandates and notices from district and state officials, faxes, and unsolicited mail as both the least effective and their least preferred. These findings were true regardless of level of school or principals' years of experience.

The findings from this research relate to all professional communications with principals including information on library resources.