Nationwide, there were 9,198 public libraries in operation during fiscal year 2005. Visits to public libraries totaled an estimated 1.4 billion. And the average number of Internet terminals available for public use per stationary outlet was 11.2.

SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics, located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences

FOREIGN STUDENTS SHARE THEIR CULTURES

International Education Week — founded in 2000 by the departments of Education and State to provide an opportunity for foreign students living in the United States to share their cultures with American classmates — kicks off Monday. For additional information, as well as an online quiz about cities of the world, visit http://iew.state.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, The Achiever, November 2007.

GEOGRAPHY WEEK FOCUSING ON ASIA

Geography Awareness Week gets under way Sunday, sponsored by the National Geographic Society as part of a multi-year campaign to highlight the diversity of peoples, places and natural wonders around the globe, with this year's focus on Asia. For events and K-12 resources, visit http://www.my wonderfulworld.org.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, The Achiever, November 2007.