Building Civic Literacy Skills: How to Guide Students Through Today’s Toughest Debates
This year carries unusual weight for anyone thinking about civic education. 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, arriving in the same year as the midterm elections, when all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and 39 governorships go before voters. A quarter-millennium of self-government and a fresh round of decisions about […]
Information Literacy in History Education: An Opportunity for Academic Libraries at America’s 250th
America’s 250th anniversary is about to generate a flood of scholarship, syllabi, and campus programming. Political science courses will revisit founding debates. History seminars will reexamine primary sources. Journalism and media studies programs will dissect how the anniversary itself gets covered. For academic librarians, this moment is a chance to sharpen something bigger than a […]
Information Literacy in History Education: A Public Library Opportunity for America’s 250th
Every milestone anniversary brings a predictable wave of interest. Family history questions pile up at the reference desk. Kids start National History Day projects. Book clubs pick up Revolutionary War fiction. Retirees suddenly want to know how their hometown got its start. America’s 250th will bring all of that, just bigger. That’s exactly why public […]
Welcome to the Stack — May Edition
Welcome to The Stack—a monthly program that gives librarians and teachers a curated set of ready-to-use resources that turn “I’m done” and “I’m bored” into an hour they didn’t see coming. Each month’s stack includes: A quest printable that sparks a new research adventure A visual literacy printable that prompts closer, deeper thinking A monthly […]
Teaching Learners to Think Critically About the Planet
How educators and librarians can equip K-12 students, college learners, and public library patrons to analyze scientific claims, interpret environmental data, and distinguish evidence-based research from advocacy — with the help of authoritative digital resources. Why Environmental Literacy Is a 21st-Century Essential Every day, learners of all ages see many environmental claims. They find them […]
Welcome to the Stack — April Edition
Welcome to The Stack—a monthly program that gives librarians and teachers a curated set of ready-to-use resources that turn “I’m done” and “I’m bored” into an hour they didn’t see coming. Each month’s stack includes: A quest printable that sparks a new research adventure A visual literacy printable that prompts closer, deeper thinking A monthly […]
From Page to Screen: How Video Helps Learners Engage with Literature
Many students encounter classic literature the same way: staring down dense language, unfamiliar social codes, and worlds that feel impossibly distant. Whether it’s the moral ambiguity of Heart of Darkness, the social constraints of Middlemarch, or the shifting narration of The Sound and the Fury, classic texts can feel like locked doors. For many students, […]
Teaching News Literacy to Learners in a Misinformation Age
For decades, librarians have been at the forefront of media and information literacy—guiding learners in source evaluation, research practices, and ethical information use. Today’s news ecosystem has only heightened both the need for that expertise and the range of educators who rely on it. In an era shaped by algorithmic feeds, AI-generated content, polarized commentary, […]
Help Students Master Math with Infobase
We rely on many kinds of technology every day. We use it to turn on lights, take life-saving medicine, and make calls on pocket-sized computers. In fact, we rely on them so often that we take them for granted. In addition, they seem to improve over time. They are tools that help us better understand […]
Iran Nuclear Program: A Featured Controversy from Issues & Controversies
Israel and U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Program On June 12, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion. It carried out coordinated air strikes and drone attacks on dozens of targets in Iran. Since 1979, Iran’s regime has defined itself in opposition to the United States, Israel, and the West. The attacks hit Iranian nuclear sites, […]
Do Tariffs Benefit the Economy? A Featured Controversy from Issues & Controversies
On April 2, 2025, a day called “Liberation Day,” President Donald Trump announced broad tariffs on imported goods. The tariffs covered goods from dozens of countries worldwide. He said the move would create U.S. jobs by restoring manufacturing. He argued free trade policies had hurt U.S. factories for decades. Trump also blamed unfair competition from […]
Get Students Ready for Life after Graduation
Students have many opportunities after graduation, but they may not know where they want to go. They may also not know how to get there. Are higher ed students “career ready”? Is college the right next step, or is it a more technical route? Are any of them really prepared for the job hunt? Fortunately, […]
