Public libraries have long been considered important spaces of adult education and learning. However, major social changes over the past few decades, and the impact these have had on libraries' work, have received little attention. Our three-year cross-national study of libraries in Canada and Britain explored how librarians navigate the discourse…

Since their inception, free public libraries have been a source of information, knowledge and culture for all. They are spaces where anyone can go, for as long as they like, without feeling pressure to buy anything, and without feeling judged for whatever it is they want to read. For these reasons, library services are crucial to adults who wish…

Describes programs at the Toronto Public Library that teach Internet skills to adult learners, including English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes and undereducated adults. Highlights include a sample lesson plan; experiences with adult-literacy classes; expanding Internet training; and Web sites for ESL and adult-literacy classes. (LRW)

A British librarian reviews a number of studies on adult education and lifelong learning and the part that public libraries play in helping adult students, particularly the independent learner. (MF)

Ten articles focusing on adult learning services in public libraries highlight global trends, support for intentional change, counseling and information needs of adult learners, adult learner services at Pratt Library and North York (Ontario) library, process of learning, administrative considerations, political factors, and implications for…

These annotated bibliographies are intended to assist researchers, students, and other practitioners interested in the topic of education and aging. How-to guides, research studies, literature reviews, essays, state-of-the-art reviews, and program descriptions are included. Works are arranged by the following subject areas: general, learning…

In the past decade, significant advances in information technologies in the Euro-American world have fostered the creation of information monopolies. The prices imposed by the monopolies, whose products are largely in the English language, have caused academic libraries to focus almost exclusively on international scientific and cultural materials…

This handbook contains 48 articles on adult and continuing education. Part 1, which deals with adult education as a field of professional practice, includes articles on such topics as the social and historical contexts of adult and continuing education, adult education and international development, the voluntary sector and adult education, and…