The American Memory Fellows Program is an exciting opportunity for outstanding teachers, librarians, and media specialists to work with the Library of Congress in better understanding how primary sources can enrich grades 4-12 curricula. This is a yearlong professional development opportunity, the cornerstone of which is the summer institute, held this year in Washington, DC, at the Library of Congress, in two sessions: July 16-21 or July 23-28, 2000.

The American Memory Fellows Institute

The American Memory Fellows Institute sponsors 24 two- person-teams of exemplary grade 4-12 educators to come to Washington for a summer institute. Each six- day session will accommodate 12 teams of 24 Fellows. Teams will not attend both sessions; however, to be eligible to apply, teams must be available for both sessions. To apply, use the application found on-line at website shown below.

Applications must be postmarked by February 28, 2000.

During the 6-day institute, Fellows will work with Library of Congress staff and consultants, examine both actual and virtual primary source artifacts-photographs, maps, graphic arts, video, documents, and texts - plus learn strategies for working with these electronic primary source materials, and develop sample teaching materials that draw upon the American Memory online materials.

The Fellowship Year

Following the Institute, Fellows will continue to develop, refine, and 'road test' their teaching materials with other colleagues and students. These teacher-created materials are then edited for presentation on the Library of Congress Learning Page at http://learning.loc.gov/learn/. Throughout the school year, Fellows participate in on-line discussion groups as this process evolves. American Memory Fellows, as mentors to their professions, are also asked to share their knowledge with other colleagues throughout the nation at workshops and seminars, or in writing.

Selection Criteria:

The Library is seeking applications from 2-member teams of humanities teachers, librarians, and media specialists who:

• Have frequent access to and a high level of comfort using the World Wide Web, e-mail and other technologies;
• Have experience using primary sources to motivate students, promote critical thinking, and help students connect history to their own lives;
• Are active leaders in their fields, and/or have the ability to disseminate their expertise to teachers and/or librarians in their community and region;
• Work with student populations that are diverse (e.g. by region, income, race and ethnicity, language, disability, etc.).

If you meet these criteria, please print out and complete our online application at http://learning.loc.gov/learn/amfp/intro.html. You may make copies of the application for interested colleagues.

Remember, applications must be postmarked by February 28, 2000. (No email, fax or disk-based applications, please.) Notification letters to all applicants will be mailed the week of April 24, 2000.

Please send any inquiries to email listed below.