ALA and SAGE Publishing release Libraries Transform tools for promoting critical thinking

This release was originally posted on the American Library Association's website and can be found here. 

The American Library Association (ALA) has released a new Libraries Transform toolkit with free public awareness resources relating to critical thinking. The toolkit was created through a collaboration with SAGE Publishing, a Library Champion whose generous financial support helps fund Libraries Transform.

Critical thinking is a crucial skill for students and lifelong learners: the ability to find and evaluate reliable information allows people to make smart decisions and hold well-reasoned beliefs. With their vast resources and staff expertise in information literacy, libraries play an essential role in empowering the population to think critically.

The toolkit offers messaging, data, and print and digital graphics for libraries to use in their marketing and advocacy efforts around critical thinking. Libraries and supporters are encouraged to download the free materials and use them throughout their communities.

SAGE believes that education and engaged scholarship are the key to a healthy society, a belief that has led to the creation of resources to cultivate critical thinking. In 2017, the company published Tom Chatfield’s Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study, for use in the classroom and beyond. A course on developing the skill is also in development. SAGE publishes resources that foster other introductory skills in students, such as critical reading, writing and studying skills, and recently launched a Critical Thinking Hub on their website with free webinars, quizzes and more.

The toolkit is available now on the Libraries Transform website (account required, but registering is free and anyone can join).

###

Libraries Transform is ALA’s public awareness and advocacy campaign, which highlights the essential impact of libraries and library workers. Anyone can sign up to access our free communications resources, which include graphics, talking points, and ideas for spreading the word about how libraries transform lives and communities. As of 2019, more than 11,000 libraries and supporters around the world have joined.

Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 1,000 journals and over 900 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. Our growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company’s continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC and Melbourne. www.sagepublishing.com

 

ALA Contact:

Lindsey Simon

Campaign Specialist

Communications and Marketing Office

312-280-2148

lsimon@ala.org

Contact (media inquiries only)

LibrariesChris BurnageThe American Library Association, Critical Thinking, Online Teaching & Learning