America's Library

America's Library

What is It?

This is a website designed by the United States' Library of Congress. The website was created to help students connect to America's past by allowing them to interact with history. The website is intended to make history fun while students are learning.


Who is the Target Audience?

The website does specifically state who it's intended audience is. However, I would say that the intended audience is students between the grades of 3rd and 9th. In addition to students, parents and teachers can also be the audience.


How Can the Website be Useful?

The website can easily be used a supplement tool for teaching United States history. Teachers teaching any U.S history lessons can easily use the website because it provides extensive information related to United States history. In addition, parents can also use the website to ensure that their child is learning world history.


What are the Advantages and Disadvantages?

The website is very colorful and immediately captures the visitor's attention. The website provides a large amount of primary sources that comes from letters, diaries, records and tapes, films, sheet music, maps, prints, photographs, and digital materials. The site allows students to become active participants in the learning process because the site allows students to engage in scavenger hunts, answer questions, listen to music, and read interactive time-lines. The site is exceptional for younger students, however I feel that students in higher grades above 9th might find the website to be "kiddie."


What is My Opinion?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this website. The site is very useful because it provides a plethora of primary sources that can be easily incorporated into any American history lesson. Also the website gives covers all aspects of American history and does not exclude any American group. The website is not bias. In addition, the website tells history stories rather than just state facts and attempt to be student friendly. I would definitely use this website in my classroom.


Want More Information?

If you would like more information about the website or you would like to contact the Library of Congress, you can click here to visit their contact page.