SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — November 5, 2009 — High school librarians, students, and teachers in the state of Washington are making ABC-CLIO's history and social studies databases an integral part of the research and learning experience at their schools. In particular, the databases are used as a resource for students to meet the requirements of Washington's Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) in social studies.

CBAs are the Washington state assessment created to help schools and districts determine whether students have met the social studies learning standards. They are designed to ensure that students employ critical thinking skills and engage in their own individual analysis of a particular context or topic. Given in the classroom by a teacher, these assessments ask students to develop a position on an issue, event, or question, include background on the issue, event, or question, provide reasons and evidence for the position, and cite sources used to develop and support the position.

Stanwood High School's library is one place where students are going to find resources that help them meet the CBA requirements in social studies (which includes history, geography, civics, economics, and social studies skills), according to JoAnn Olsson, Librarian at Stanwood High in Stanwood, Washington. "The Classroom-Based Assessments in social studies require that students cite primary source and historical data," says Olsson. "The ABC-CLIO databases provide that information, and present it in a way that is very accessible, which is appealing to students and teachers alike, and why our students are using them with the CBAs."

"As a librarian, I find the ABC-CLIO American History and World History databases to contain very high quality information. They are easy for students to use, and have a great combination of attractive graphics and informative, reliable content," she adds. "I particularly like the primary sources and the MLA citations available in the American History, World History, and American Government databases."

Sabrina Shaw, Stanwood High School's History Department Chair, echoes Olsson's sentiments. "ABC-CLIO databases have allowed my students to access primary sources, giving them insight into the historical process and psychological perspectives of the times."

At Monroe High School in Monroe, Washington, Humanities teacher Josh Allen encourages his students to employ ABC-CLIO databases for the CBAs as well as in doing other research assignments. He also finds the products useful for his own purposes.

"I have students use ABC-CLIO databases when doing CBAs, research papers, and most recently, in gathering information on current world issues for honors presentations on problems our interdependent world is facing," says Allen. "The wealth of vetted, grade level-appropriate information available on a huge array of social studies topics ranging from ancient to modern world history and American history is wondrous for a history teacher."

The combined database lineup from ABC-CLIO and Greenwood features in-depth coverage of US and world history, multicultural, and contemporary culture topics that support and enhance collection development programs. These award-winning databases provide world-class reference tools using breakthrough applications of technology. They provide information that's dynamic, engaging and contextual.

"ABC-CLIO is dedicated to the success of students like those in the state of Washington," says Becky Snyder, President of ABC-CLIO. "As we further the development of our databases, we will continue to think about schools like these and provide products that advance scholarship and meet research needs."


# # #


About ABC-CLIO
Founded in 1955, ABC-CLIO is an award-winning publisher of reference titles, academic and general interest books, electronic resources, and books for librarians and other professionals. Today, ABC-CLIO publishes under four well-respected imprints. ABC-CLIO serves the history profession, history teachers, and students and scholars of history with a complete line of award-winning databases, books, and eBooks, along with social studies reference and curriculum resources for middle and high school libraries and classrooms. Greenwood publishes high-quality, authoritative reference books and general interest topics across the secondary and higher education curriculum. Praeger is widely regarded for scholarly and professional books in the social sciences and humanities, with emphasis in modern history, military studies, psychology, business, current events and social issues, international affairs, politics, visual and performing arts, and literature. Libraries Unlimited/Linworth publishes professional materials for librarians, media specialists, and teachers.

ABC-CLIO's corporate headquarters is located in Santa Barbara, CA, with offices in Denver, CO. For more information, visit the ABC-CLIO website at: www.abc-clio.com.