Notes from the Field highlights practical lessons from the front lines of teaching with primary sources in thematic series of open peer-reviewed articles. These short articles explore the theory and practice of teaching with primary sources, broadly relating topics to educators and practitioners from all types of institutions, teaching all kinds of students. Currently, Notes from the Field offers articles in two series: Practical How-To and Reflective Practice.

Primary Source News & Notes

The Instruction and Outreach Committee of the ACRL Rare Books and Manuscripts Section published a monthly themed newsletter compiling short essays, professional development opportunities, and more in the world of teaching with primary sources. View these information-packed newsletters.

Reflective Practice Series

The Reflective Practice Series provides a space for thinking about our teaching in a broader context. Articles may relate to successes and failures in the classroom, or any other aspect of teaching with primary sources and how it relates to cultural heritage fields at large.

  • Designing Primary Source Curricula for the K–12 Classroom

    By Alex Tronolone Background In 2021, the New York Public Library established the Center for Educators and Schools, whose mission is to use the resources and collections of NYPL to ignite the curiosity, joy, and passion of learning within educators, students, ...
  • One-shot Instructional Sessions and Teaching with Community Based Archives

    By Jennifer Olguin New Mexico State University (NMSU) Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is situated uniquely in the southern New Mexico community of Las Cruces, just 40 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. The NMSU ASC is comprised of four units: Political ...
  • Contextualizing the Collective Memories of Emerging Educators through Archival Curriculum Planning

    By Stephanie-Renee Anckle Within the K-12 curriculum, a problematic portrayal of underrepresented groups has been noted (Banks, 1987; Kaomea, 2015). The ongoing, inaccurate representation of people of color within the K-12 curriculum necessitates imparting new approaches, strategies, and methods for preparing ...
  • Teaching Asia through Touching Archives

    By Shu Wan Teaching with primary sources is challenging for American college instructors of Asian history and culture. US History teachers could easily arrange class visits to special collections in their home institutions’ libraries and museums nearby. Their peers in Asian ...
  • Learning to Teach: Theory and Practice

    By Anna Holmes When I started my journey into librarianship, I had no idea that I would end up where I am today. I was convinced I wanted to work in conservation and have a quiet job where it was just ...

More from the Reflective Practice Series…

Practical How-To Series

The Practical How-To Series offers advice and instructions that are directly applicable to any classroom environment. From document camera usage to communication strategies, learn more about how your colleagues approach their work in the classroom.

More from the Practical How-To Series…