A Site of Debate-able Value

The online Homework Center at Multnomah County (OR) Library is one of the most comprehensive librarian-selected homework site collections in the world. While the entire site deserves praise, the Center's "Social Issues" page shines because it meets the needs of middle and high school students searching for material on controversial current issues.

Both sides of the question: The page appeared after several Portland-area teachers asked the School Corps, the library's school outreach program, for a list of Web sites that presented both sides of topics to be used in high school debate programs. Kate Houston, the Homework Center manager (kateho@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us), and Vailey Oehlke (vaileyo@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us) began collecting sites on the requested topics.

It takes a lot of sites: There were few places where students and teachers could find both sides of important social issues. Locating and evaluating sites for the 37 topics chosen "was very labor intensive," says Houston. "Finding credible sites that have longevity on the Internet can be a challenge, as well, especially for local or grassroots organizations with useful information."

Abortion to World Population: The Social Issues page, which went online in Spring 1998, now includes 190 sites grouped by topic and, when there are clear stances, identifying the position and side taken on issues. The topics are as diverse as assisted suicide, animal rights, prayer in schools, and school violence. "Homosexuality," for example, includes sites from the American Civil Liberties Union (in support of gay rights) and the Family Research Council (in opposition). While Houston and Oehlke were initially concerned that some site visitors might find the more extreme viewpoints presented on the page too controversial, they are quick to point out that the page is intended for older students, and no significant complaints have surfaced. "Vailey and I," Houston says, "haven't seen other libraries addressing this curriculum need in such a broad and comprehensive manner."