Library of Congress and ALA announce new educational series

CHICAGO — ALA Editions, the book publishing arm of the American Library Association, is pleased to announce a new educational series, “Discover and Learn with the Library of Congress,” to be published in association with the Library of Congress.

Combining facsimiles of primary sources from the Library’s unparalleled collections with background information and teaching strategies, titles in the series will present classroom-ready materials for teachers, librarians, and home educators working with grades 6–12. Organized thematically around topics frequently taught nationwide—and designed to support state curricula and teaching standards— these accessible resources will provide proven, student-centered, inquiry-based strategies for teaching with primary sources. Selections feature perspectives and voices that are often missing from typical textbook narratives and reflect best practices in information literacy by providing source citations, information about the sources’ origins, and guides to additional online resources.

“Discover and Learn with the Library of Congress” reframes research as an engaging process that feeds curiosity, creativity, and change, while preparing students for the future by developing their critical thinking skills. The goal of the series is to help educators identify the most compelling and relevant items for their students from the Library’s extensive collections, help them integrate primary source materials into their instruction, and provide them the flexibility to customize the materials to meet the unique needs of their students.

Titles in the “Discover and Learn with the Library of Congress” series will be published as full-color larger-format (8.5 x 11-inch) 32–64-page softcover books, each complete with a background essay, an in-depth usage guide, and a variety of curated primary sources, teaching ideas, links to additional resources, and other tools for educators. The new series will launch in late 2024 with publication of The Civil Rights Movement, which includes material that highlights the era’s most frequently taught milestones: Rosa Parks’s arrest and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Brown v. Board of Education, school desegregation in Little Rock, the Birmingham campaign, the March on Washington, the Selma civil rights marches, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The series will be promoted by ALA Editions in partnership with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

Learn more about the series in the Library of Congress’s digital booklet.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

“Discover and Learn with the Library of Congress” is a product of the Library’s Center for Learning, Literacy, and Engagement. The center connects public audiences with Library collections to produce dynamic experiences that value curiosity, model research, and celebrate community. As part of the center, the Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives Office works to engage, inspire, and inform educators, librarians, early researchers, and literacy champions about the Library’s resources. The Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives Office administers the Library’s Teaching with Primary Sources Grant program and the Library of Congress Literacy Awards program, develops content for teachers, and facilitates in-person and online professional development opportunities for educators and school librarians.

ALA Editions publishes resources used by library and information professionals, scholars, students, and educators to improve programs and services, build on best practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, develop leadership, and promote advocacy. ALA Editions authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a variety of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at editionsmarketing@ala.org.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.