Election 2024
February 2024
Our
Election 2024 information guide continues to be updated with key information about candidates, voting, and other topics.
Russia & Ukraine Conflict
February 2022
News and information about the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, subsequent events, and related topics:
- BBC:
- Britannica
- European Union:
- Google News (multiple sources): Russian & Ukraine
- National Geographic:
- NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
- The New York Times (free account required):
- NPR (National Public Radio)
- PBS News
- U.S. Government
- Department of State - fact sheets, embassies, consulates, travel advisories:
- The White House - statements by President Biden, sanctions, and more:
- United Nations (UN) - Secretary-General's statements, Security Council meetings, news, and more
You can also explore related materials in our library system catalog (RCLS):
New Space Telescope
January 2022
James Webb Space Telescope - learn about this exciting new mission to explore the universe as never before!
Coronavirus Information
COVID-19 Pandemic Resources
Visit our
Coronavirus information guide for information about the pandemic.
Election 2020
July 2020
Our
Election 2020 information guide continues to be updated with key information about candidates, voting, and other topics.
Impeachment
October 31, 2019
UPDATED: December 11, 2019
As the topic of
impeachment finds frequent mention in the news lately,
we've assembled a variety of resources below to help you learn more about the process,
who and what it involves, how it proceeds, and more.
Update: Articles of Impeachment references have been added below.
Articles of Impeachment - Official Information & Related Media Coverage
-
Government Information
See also:
Related Media Coverage:
Impeachment - General Resources, Hearings, & Related Media Coverage
-
Government Information
- From the Intelligence Committee, U.S. House of Representative:
See also:
- From the U.S. House of Representatives:
- Impeachment - An overview of the process, including Constitutional context.
- H. RES. 660: "Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes."
- H. Rept. 116-266 (report accompanying House Resolution 660 above)
See also:
- From the U.S. Senate:
Related Media Coverage:
Other Websites:
Library System (RCLS) Materials (books, DVDs, etc.):
- Subject Searches:
- Title Searches:
Net Neutrality Update
October 2019
Our
Network Neutrality information guide has been updated with recent news involving this topic at State and Federal Government levels.
Election 2020 Guide
June 2019
We invite you to visit our
Election 2020 information guide to learn about elections, current and past U.S. presidential candidates, voting, voter registration, and more.
Our guide will be updated as necessary.
The Mueller Report
April 2019
A redacted version of the The Mueller Report has been released to the public.
For more information, and the report (PDF), please see our Government Information blog.
Algorithms + Artificial Intelligence (AI)
December 2017
As "intelligent" computers are an increasing part of daily life, it is important to be aware of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and to learn how the many algorithms already out there are influencing our world in subtle or surprising ways.
To help you keep pace with these concepts and technologies, we have established an
online informational guide with in-depth media coverage.
Please follow this link to explore this new guide.
Our guide will be updated as necessary.
Fighting Fake News
+ Seeking Truth
Updated: November 16, 2017
The unfortunate phenomenon known as "Fake News" continues to plague the world well beyond the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.
A number of news media outlets, universities, and others have studied how false headlines and stories quickly spread online and make the search for truth ever more difficult.
One of the most recent studies to be published comes from PEN America, a long-time international advocacy group for writers and freedom of expression. On October 12, 2017, they published a report:
From their
press release:
"Warning that the spread of 'fake news' is reaching a crisis point, Faking News: Fraudulent News and the Fight for Truth evaluates the array of strategies that Facebook, Google, Twitter, newsrooms, and civil society are undertaking to address the problem, stressing solutions that empower news consumers while vigilantly avoiding new infringements on free speech."
Here are some other recent studies and reports concerning Fake News:
- Columbia University: "Fake News More Likely to Thrive Online Due to Lowered Fact-Checking, According to Research from Columbia Business School" (Sept. 18, 2017)
Direct link to study: "Perceived Social Presence Reduces Fact-Checking"
See also:
- Facebook, Google, and Twitter Executives Testify Russia Election Ads Senate Intelligence - Videos and full text transcripts. "Facebook, Google, and Twitter Executives on Russia Election Interference The Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing on Russia and social media influence in the 2016 election. Officials from Facebook, Twitter and Google testified about what their companies were doing to protect users after the 2016 election from misleading and malicious content. They shared what they have learned about the number of Russian-based fake accounts and the impact and reach of posts from those accounts on other users." From C-SPAN.
- From The New York Times:
- Newsweek: "Trolls, Bots and Fake News: The Mysterious World of Social Media Manipulation" (October 14, 2017)
- Oxford University - Project on Computational Propaganda: "Social Media, News and Political Information during the US Election: Was Polarizing Content Concentrated in Swing States?"
Here is a direct link to their study (PDF). See also their Computational Propaganda Project.
- Reuters: "News You Don't Believe: Audience Perspectives on Fake News" - "What do ordinary people think fake news is? To provide a bottom-up supplement to a debate that has been top-down, driven by journalists, media critics, technology companies, policymakers and a few academics, we have analysed data from a series of focus group discussions with news users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Finland." From Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) and Oxford University. Direct link to PDF.
- Wired: "Humans Can't Expect AI [Artificial Intellgience] to Just Fight Fake News for Them" (June 15, 2017)
Just a glance at those headlines verifies this is neither a temporary problem nor one which will resolve itself.
Ultimately, this means we must become ever more aware and personally proactive when confronted with information of any kind. We must consider what is being stated or claimed or intentionally implied, consider the sources, move beyond "click bait" and hype, seek out more reliable information providers and data, and delve for deeper truths not easily found online or in any one medium.
In hopes of assisting you in this essential effort, we have compiled a directory of potentially useful resources:
We also invite you to take advantage of another free online service we provide, one which can prepare you to begin to ask critical questions and analyze information on your own:
Yes, it might seem like a lot of work, to get at the truth, but is worth it!
Especially in such questionable times, your public library is a friend and ally, enabling you to access information in all its forms and empowering you to make better choices and conclusions on your own.
We encourage you to full advantage of free access to in-depth
article databases and encyclopedias,
entire reference works online,
online information guides, and the ability to
search an entire library system in seconds or
ask a librarian a question.
You also have the ability to
learn on your own, right through our website, as a member of our library.
If, by chance, you're a member of another library or have not recently visited your nearest public library, we urge you to do so and inquire about the possibility of getting a free library card.
Stand with libraries, and join us in ongoing quest to preserve culture, freedom, equal access to all information, history, all the arts and sciences, government information, the prospect of personal and professional enrichment - and the truth!
Net Neutrality
December 14, 2017
On December 14, 2017, the
FCC voted to repeal Network Neutrality regulations.
You can read about this development and learn more about this topic through our
Network Neutrality information guide.
Earlier this year, on July 12, 2017, as part of an "
Internet-wide Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality,"
individuals, companies, and organizations around the world" voiced their collective concern and support for
network neutrality.
The debate over "Net Neutrality" has persisted
well over a decade, and deliberation concerning earlier and broader telecommunication and telephone carrier regulations go back even further.
Paris Climate Accord Update
June 1, 2017
The White House has announced a new decision regarding U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Accord.
Please
visit our Environment blog to read more about this and to learn more about the Accord.
Brexit:
The United Kingdom Referendum
June 24, 2016
After the recent historic vote in the United Kingdom concerning
the EU (European Union) Referendum, there are many questions as
to why the Referendum came about and what the "Brexit" vote means.
To help you begin to explore this news, as it develops, we have
assembled some select links below for your consideration:
About "Brexit"
- BBC
- The New York Times
- NPR (National Public Radio)
- The United Kingdom (UK)
News Coverage
- BBC
- Google News
- The New York Times
- NPR (National Public Radio)
Network Neutrality Update
June 15, 2016
Our
Network Neutrality information guide
has been updated to reflect recent news in this topic.
2015 Nobel Prize Winners
October 9, 2015
The 2015 Nobel Prizes have been awarded.
You can follow the links below to learn about the current award recipients and their works:
Europe: Immigration & Refugee Crisis
Updated Sept. 21, 2015
The following sources explore the international crisis of increased migrations into European countries
by those fleeing difficult conditions especially in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
- BBC:
- The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR):
- Google News:
- National Public Radio (NPR):
- The New York Times:
- Thousands Ricochet Across Europe: Inside the Migrant Crisis (Sept. 21, 2015)
- Closing the Back Door to Europe (Sept. 16, 2015)
- With Some Paths Shut, Migrants Seek Others (Sept. 15, 2015)
- Numbers of Migrants and Unrest Prompted Germany's Border Controls (Sept. 14, 2015)
- Hungary Detains Migrants in Border Crackdown (Sept. 14, 2015)
- President Obama Directs Administration to Accept 10,000 Syrian Refugees (Sept. 10, 2015)
- How Big Is the Migrant Crisis? (Sept. 10, 2015)
- Desperate Crossing (Sept. 3, 2015)
- Why Migrants Don't Want to Stay in?Hungary (Sept. 2, 2015)
- Which Countries Are Under the Most Strain in the European Migration Crisis? (Sept. 1, 2015)
- Migrant Crisis Tests Core European Value: Open Borders (Aug. 31, 2015)
- An Escalating Migrant Crisis and an Intensifying Search for Solutions (Aug. 31, 2015)
- EU Struggles for Answers as Migrant Influx Raises Tensions (Aug. 31, 2015)
- PBS NewsHour:
- TIME:
- The United Nations (UN):
Other Websites
For Further Exploration...
Library Items (books, etc.) in the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) - subject searches:
Databases - Full Text Articles:
(available at Thrall and to members of Thrall who log in these article databases with their library card numbers):
For an even more in-depth and historically-based exploration of immigration and related topics/issues, please also consider:
Iran Agreement
Posted July 14, 2015
On July 14, 2015, President Obama announced a historic agreement had been reached with Iran.
Please follow this link for the full details in our Government Information blog:
California Drought
Posted April 10, 2015
Updated April 14, 2015
The following news and information resources cover the state of California's extensive drought conditions as well as related topics.
California - Official News & Information
Climate & Drought Conditions - Current & Historic
News
- Ongoing Coverage
- Related Articles & Reports
- The New York Times: "California's Cycles of Drought" - Article (April 8, 2015).
- The New York Times: "In California, Cities Braced to Cut Water by 10 to 35%" - Article (April 8, 2015).
- CNN: "How Historic California Drought Affects Rest of Nation" - Report and video (April 3, 2015).
- NASA.gov: "California Tuolumne Snowpack 40 Percent of Worst Year" - Article (Apr. 2, 2015).
- NASA.gov: "California Landscape is Mix of Green and Brown" - Satellite photo and article (Feb. 26, 2015).
- NASA.gov: "Satellites Spot Fields Idled by Drought" - Article (January 30, 2015).
- TIME: "Hundred Years of Dry: How California's Drought Could Get Much, Much Worse" - Article (Jan. 23, 2014).
- Climate.gov: "It poured in California in December. Can we stop talking about the drought?" - Article from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (Jan. 12, 2015).
- NASA.gov: "11 Trillion Gallons to Replenish California Drought" - Article (Dec. 16, 2014).
Other Resources
- National Park Service (NPS): Drought - Topics include: California Water Comes from Snow, How Does Drought Affect Wildlife?, How Does Drought Affect Trees?, How Does Drought Effect Fire?, What Can You Do to Conserve Water?
- Save Our Water - Official California conservation campaign. Includes water-saving tips, drought history, and more.
- The White House: California Drought - Topics include: Help for Farmers and Ranchers, Help for Affected Communities, and more.
Ebola Virus
Updated March 23, 2015
Please visit
our Health & Wellness blog for information, news, and related resources
about the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus.
World War I Centennial Guide
Posted August 19, 2014
A century ago the world witnessed the beginning of "the war to end all wars," a global conflict of unprecedented scale and devastation.
In the interests of commemorating this historic period, we have prepared
an online guide to educational resources for your exploration.
Common Core Curriculum
Posted July 14, 2014
Changes in New York State Learning Standards
From the New York State Education Department:
"In January 2011, the NYS Board of Regents adopted the New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS), which include the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and a small amount of additional standards uniquely added by New York State. The New York State P-12 CCLS were implemented in New York State schools at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year."
(
source)
To help parents, students, and teachers explore changes enacted through New York State's adoption of Common Core curriculum standards (and the larger debate surrounding these changes), we have assembled a directory of relevant resources below.
For related
items in the Library System Catalog, please follow this link:
For even more
educational resources online, please see this link.
About the Common Core
- Common Core State Standards Initiative - "This site is the official home of the Common Core State Standards. It is hosted and maintained by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center). It provides parents, educators, policymakers, journalists, and others easy access to the actual standards, as well as supporting information and resources." Sections include: Learn Why the Common Core is important to your child: Explore the Common Core: Understand How the Common Core was Created.
See also:
- Definition of the Common Core & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - "State education chiefs and governors in 48 states came together to develop the Common Core, a set of clear college- and career-ready standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts/literacy and mathematics."
- Myths vs. Facts - "The following myths and facts aim to address common misconceptions about the development, intent, content, and implementation of the standards."
- Common Core Works from "the page to the Classroom" from the Council of the Great City Schools - "The Council of the Great City Schools has designed this Common Core Works website to provide member districts of the Council of the Great City Schools quick access to reliable information, tools, and resources for implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts/Litearcy and Mathematics, and the Next Generation Science Standards".The site includes informative videos and Parent Roadmaps by subject and grade level.
- EngageNY: Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Library - "EngageNY.org is dedicated to providing educators across New York State with real-time, professional learning tools and resources to support educators in reaching the State's vision for a college and career ready education for all students...EngageNY.org is developed and maintained by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to support the implementation of key aspects of the New York State Board of Regents Reform Agenda. This is the official web site for current materials and resources related to the Regents Reform Agenda." The site includes: "Common Core Standards, curriculum and instructional resources, bilingual resources, performance tasks and assessment guidelines and materials developed by NYSED and our partners; Teacher/Leader Effectiveness materials; Video library featuring Common Core teaching, information on the instructional shifts and highlights from NYSED's Network Team Institutes; Professional Development materials designed to support everything from school leaders and teachers to district-wide training; Parents and Families Library Resources for Parents and Families designed to build understanding of the New York State education reform initiatives and how the changes help children"
- National PTA "Parents' Guides to Student Success - "The Parents' Guides to Student Success were developed by teachers, parents and education experts in response to the Common Core State Standards that more than 45 states have adopted." These guides include:
- Key items children should be learning in English language arts and mathematics in each grade, once Common Core Standards are fully implemented.
- Activities that parents can do at home to support their child's learning.
- Methods for helping parents build stronger relationships with their child's teacher.
- Tips for planning for college and career (high school only) and Our Children Magazine
- New York State Education Department: Common Core Implementation Timeline
- New York State Governor's Office - Common Core Implementation Panel - Preliminary Report (March 10, 2014)
Curriculum Standards
- English Language Arts Standards from the Common Core State Standards Initiatives - "The standards establish guidelines for English language arts (ELA) as well as for literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. Because students must learn to read, write, speak, listen, and use language effectively in a variety of content areas, the standards promote the literacy skills and concepts required for college and career readiness in multiple disciplines." A complete listing of standards can also be downloaded in PDF format.
- Mathematics Standards from the Common Core Stare Standards Initiatives - "The math standards provide clarity and specificity rather than broad general statements....by not only stressing conceptual understanding of key ideas, but also by continually returning to organizing principles such as place value and the laws of arithmetic to structure those ideas." A complete listing of standards can also be downloaded in PDF format.
- EngageNY - New York Curriculum to support the Common Core Standards - "In order to assist schools and districts with the implementation of the Common Core, NYSED has provided curricular modules and units in P-12 ELA and math that can be adopted or adapted for local purposes. Full years of curricular materials are currently available on EngageNY, for grades Kindergarten through 9th grade in Mathematics and Kindergarten through 8th grade in English Language Arts (ELA)."
Debates
- AFT Common-Core Resolution Calls for Teacher Input in Implementation (July 13, 2014)
- PEW Research Center - "Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research does not take policy positions."
From PEW Research:
- The Politics of Common Core - "The Common Core State Standards aim to raise student achievement by standardizing what's taught in schools across the United States, but have sparked controversy among educators, parents and politicians. In our new Special Report, A Guide to Common Core, U.S. News & World Report offers insight and analysis about the issues."
- "What to Make of the Debate Over Common Core" by Stephen Sawchuk - An article from the Smithsonian Magazine
See also
News Media and Local Coverage below.
Resources
- Common Sense for the Common Core - Includes book lists and lesson plans you can browse by grade, videos, answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), product finders, and more for parents, teachers, and administrators:
- International Reading Association: "Choices" Reading Lists - "Each year, thousands of children, young adults, teachers, and librarians around the United States select their favorite recently published books for the "Choices" reading lists. These lists are used in classrooms, libraries, and homes to help young readers find books they will enjoy." Lists include annotated titles for children and young adults.
- Young Adult Library Services Association - The Teens' Top Teen is essentially a "teen choice" list of ten recommended readings." Fiction and Nonfiction titles are included. Site includes a Teen Book finder app. From the American Library Association (ALA) / YALSA.
- National Council of Teachers of English: Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children - "The NCTE Orbis Pictus Award was established in 1989 for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. The name Orbis Pictus, commemorates the work of Johannes Amos Comenius, Orbis Pictus-The World in Pictures (1657), considered to be the first book actually planned for children."
- American Library Association - Association for Library Service to Children - The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal - "The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. ALSC administers the award."
- National Science Teachers Association - Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 - "Reading science trade books is the perfect way for students to build literacy skills while learning science content. The books that appear in these lists were selected as outstanding children's science trade books. They were chosen by a book review panel appointed by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC)."
- National Council for the Social Studies - Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People - "The books that appear in these annotated book lists were evaluated and selected by a Book Review Committee appointed by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC). NCSS and CBC have cooperated on this annual bibliography since 1972."
- NYSUT: Common Core Resources - From New York State United Teachers. Includes "Parent's Guide to Common Core Learning" and "Share My Lesson."
Common Core in the News
News Media & Other Coverage (2015-)
News Media & Other Coverage (to 2014)
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