Library of Congress Brings Free Workshops to Kansas Educators and Communities
The Library of Congress, in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education, is launching a professional learning initiative to support K-12 educators and school librarians.
This program will take place in four Kansas cities—Hutchinson, Scott City, Lawrence, and Girard—in February and April 2025.
Designed to introduce rural communities to the Library’s digital collections, the initiative offers free workshops and hands-on training for educators, alongside public events for community members.
Engaging Educators with Primary Sources
Educators attending the workshops will gain valuable insight into using primary sources as teaching tools. The program focuses on enhancing lesson plans with historical documents, photographs, maps, and more from the Library’s vast digital archives.
These resources offer students a unique way to connect with history, literature, and civic engagement.
Workshop Benefits:
- Hands-on experience with primary source materials.
- Strategies for incorporating digital collections into classrooms.
- Guidance from Library of Congress education specialists.
Community Events: Bringing History to Life
Alongside the educator workshops, the Library of Congress is hosting free public events, offering demonstrations on accessing digital collections. These events feature interactive sessions on topics such as genealogy, local history, and the Veterans History Project.
Event Schedule
| Location | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson | February 18, 2025 | Hutchinson Public Library | 10:30 AM – 7 PM |
| Scott City | February 22, 2025 | El Quartelejo Museum | 10:30 AM – 7 PM |
| Lawrence | April 5, 2025 | Watkins Museum of History | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Girard | April 8, 2025 | Girard Public Library | 10 AM – 5 PM |
Highlighted Sessions
- Genealogy and Local History: Learn how to trace family or town histories using digitized maps, newspapers, and archival materials.
- Veterans History Project: Discover how the Library preserves firsthand accounts of U.S. military veterans through oral histories, photographs, and correspondence.
- Kansas Talking Book Program: Explore free resources for residents with reading disabilities, providing access to audio books and literacy programs.
The Library of Congress: A National Resource
“The Library of Congress is truly a library for all,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “This initiative highlights how people can access and engage with these vast collections from their own communities.”
Exhibition banners from “Collecting Memories: Treasures of the Library of Congress” will also be displayed at each event, offering a glimpse into rare global artifacts housed in the Library’s archives.
How to Get Involved
Educators can register for workshops through the Kansas State Department of Education, while community members can attend the public events without prior registration.
For further details, visit Library of Congress Digital Collections.
Sources: Library of the Congress.
