ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


480 / C&RL News ■ April 2001

→ Fast
Ann Viles

→ Information literacy is key to Internet learning

 Facts
According to a report issued in late December by the U.S. Congress’ Web-Based 

Education Commission, “Those who work with the technology that supports 
[Internet] access must have the skill and understanding to apply it well. If the 
user—whether teacher or learner, parent or administrator—does not know how 
to work with technology or where to go on the Internet to find material of 
value, that learner does not have real access to what the Internet offers.” Kathleen 
Fulton, project director for the commission, writes, “Information literacy is the 
key for all of these users and is a unifying principle for the effective integration 
of technology in education.”
Kathleen Fulton, ”From Promise to Practice: Enhancing Student Internet Learning,” Multimedia Schools, March/ 

→ Five million American history items online
April 2001. http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/mar01/fulton.htm. Mar. 1, 2001

The Library of Congress has reached its goal of placing 5 million items online in 
the American Memory project. The Web sites of the 91 American history collec­

tions are visited more than 18 million times per month.
“National Digital Library Program Reaches Goal of 5 Million Items Online,” News: The Library of Congress, Jan. 
10, 2001. 
→ Thirty-seven percent increase in the number of 

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2001/01-004.html. Mar. 1, 2001
challenged 

books
The number of formal challenges reported to the ALA Office for Intellectual 

Freedom increased from 472 in 1999 to 646 in 2000. The most challenged 
books during both years were the Harry Potter series of children’s books by J. 
K. Rowling. Other titles included in the “Ten Most Challenged Books of 2000” 
include: The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, the Alice series by Phyllis 
Reynolds, Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, 
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Fallen Angels by Walter 
Dean Myers, Scary stories series by Alvin Schwartz, The Terrorist by Caroline 
Cooney, and the Giver by Lois Lowry.
”Harry Potter Series Again Tops List of Most Challenged Books,” ALA News Release, American Library Associa­

→ Internet access increases for Americ
tion. http://www.ala.org/pio/presskits/midwinterawards2001/challenged.html

an adults
. Feb. 27, 2001

Pew Internet & American Life reports that 56% of American adults (more than 
104 million) now have Internet access, an increase of 16 million during the last 

six months of 2000.
”More Online, Doing More,” Pew Internet & American Life, http://www.pewinternet.org/releases/ 

→ Research on the Internet
release.asp?id=15. Feb. 28, 2001

A Harris Poll during December found that 6l% of adults using the Internet are 
doing “research for work or school” and 9% are taking courses.
”Online Activities,” PollingReport.com. http://www.pollingreport.com/computer.htm. Feb. 28, 2001
→ Libraries in the United Kingdom

There are six national libraries in the United Kingdom, 4,630 public libraries,
623 university libraries, and 100 college libraries.

Library and Information Statistics Unit, Loughborough University, ”2000 Library & Information Statistics Tables 
for the United Kingdom,” http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/lisu/lisuhp.htmi. Mar. 1, 2001
Ann Viles is coordinator of reference and instruction at Appalachian State University in Boone, North 

Carolina, e-mail: vilesea@conrad.appstate.edu

http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/mar01/fulton.htm
http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2001/01-004.html
http://www.ala.org/pio/presskits/midwinterawards2001/challenged.html
http://www.pewinternet.org/releases/
PollingReport.com
http://www.pollingreport.com/computer.htm
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/lisu/lisuhp.htmi
mailto:vilesea@conrad.appstate.edu