In those few moments when a baby relaxes and cuddles in your lap as you read them a book, a wonderful thing is happening—babies learn that books contain words, pictures, and stories that interest them. You can start teaching early literacy skills to babies without them or their grownups even knowing that that’s what you are doing!
School Library Journal article by Nancy Kranich which demonstrates that Americans need safe gathering places now more than ever. They need places where people of all ages can share interests and concerns, find information essential to civic participation, and connect with fellow citizens. Libraries and librarians have a unique, if fleeting, opportunity to carve out a new mission as creators of social capital for their communities.
Four articles (provided by Nancy Kranich) about civic engagement and libraries are available to read and/or download by clicking the article title links on this page.
The articles include:
Friends on Campus- Promoting Civic Engagement through the Campus Library by Nancy Kranich, Past President, American Library Association, published October 2004 in Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA) Newsletter
The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy has created what it hopes will be a helpful framework for seizing opportunities and providing a vision for “informed communities.” Informing Communities is the Commission’s articulation of community information needs and the critical steps necessary to meet them.
In this free podacst, Marsha L. Semmel, Acting Director, IMLS explains:
What are 21st century skills?
Where did the 21st century skills movement come from?
Where do museums and libraries fit in the 21st century skills movement?
Listen to the podcast and download a PDF of the transcript.
U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics offers a report presenting data on programs for adults in public library outlets. NCES used its Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) to collect data from public library outlets in fall 2000 about three areas of interest for adult programming: adult literacy programs, programs for adult lifelong learning, and Internet access for adult independent use. Offered as a free downloadable PDF file.
Chicago Humanities Festival's rich archive of past Festival programs is a fantastic resource for your classroom and curriculum. Peruse their library for study guides, lesson plans, and multimedia resources.
From THE CHRONICLE of Higher Education and written by a group of biologists, who provide a list of proven techniques, gathered in the course of serving on grant panels or as program officers, and, in some cases, through firsthand experimentation. Helpful article articulating what NOT to do when writing a grant.
