To improve academic results, policymakers use research and data to make changes in what—and how—students are taught. Data gives insight into student’s lives, as well as what works and doesn’t work in today’s education. Most importantly, data identifies patterns that provides insights into educational outcomes.

Here at UMassOnline, we are all proud to support and celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians, as we would not be where we are today without them!

In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions, and musical instruments. This brought a major concern to the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Book Publishers; in hopes to keep their organizations alive, the two organizations developed a plan for a National Library Week.