Aicher, P. 1990. The Study Circle Experience in Sweden Compared With the United States. Option: Journal of the Folk Education Association of America 15, no. 2 pp. 17-23.

Bystrom, J. 1976. All Study Circles are Not Study Circles. Stockholm, Sweden: Report of the Institute of Pedagogy of Stockholm University, English summary, pp. 303-313.

Canadian Circle
Hugh McLean
RR#2, Heatherton, NS BOH 1RO
(902) 386-2474

A study circle program on The Canadian Constitution (1992). The package contains an introduction to study circles and guidelines for study circle organizers and leaders based on publications by the Study Circle Resource Center. Materials for the four part Constitution program cover: Confederation and the Constitution Act of 1867, Patriation and the Constitution Act of 1982, Meech Lake, Quebec. "This program is intended to provide participants with practical experience in the study circle method as they explore major themes underlying Canadian constitutional issues."

Chiddister, D. and Hurley, M. 1987. National Issues Forum: Unique Educational Experiment Produces Surprising Results. Corrections Today 49, no. 3, pp. 20-24.

Folkbildnings Forbundet. The Adult Education Associations in Sweden. Stockholm, Sweden: The National Swedish Federation of Adult Education, undated.

Johnson, R. 1956. Antigonish For Potatoes And Fish and How the Study Clubs Work Leader's Digest #3, pp.55-58 & p. 59.

Laubach Literacy Action
P. O. Box 131
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 422-9121 fax (315) 422-6369
Contact: Betsy Stubbs

In partnership with National Issue Forums and Literacy Volunteers of America, LLA develops issue packages for literacy projects to use in study circles, classrooms and tutoring sessions. They focus on issues that affect the lives of American people: The Health Care Cost Explosion, Racism, The $4 Trillion Debt, The Poverty Puzzle. Each package contains: abridged edition issue books written at about the 5th grade reading level, supplemental materials that are instructional reading and writing activities based on the issue books, moderator guides and word-for-word audio tapes. Cost $40 U.S. per package. Definitely American but could be used as a guide to develop your own materials. Send all orders to: New Readers Press, NIF Dept., PO Box 888, Syracuse, New York 13210-0888. Fax (315) 422-5561.

Laubach Literacy Action. 1994. I Found My Voice. A study circles guide for literacy programs. "Best wishes as you add democratic citizenship to the list of basic literacy skills your program offers!" Includes descriptions of four literacy groups in the U.S. that are incorporating study circles into their programs using NIF or SCRC materials.

Laubach Literacy of Canada
70 Crown Street
Suite 225
Saint John, NB E2L 2X6
(506) 634-1980 fax (506) 634-0944

They send a 33 page catalogue describing their publications which are about literacy - what else! You might find materials geared for and about poor readers to help you aim study circles at lower reading levels. Their publications are most useful to literacy project workers and teachers.

Leonard, A. 1951. Library Group Discussion. Library Journal (March 1951) pp. 379-382.

Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc.
5795 Widewaters Parkway
Syracuse, New York 13214-1846
(315) 445-8000

Information about their cooperative program with NIF and LLA and a six page guide to incorporating the abridged versions of National Issues Forums into your literacy program.

National Issues Forums
100 Commons Road
Dayton, OH 45459-2777
(800) 433-7834

A project of the Kettering Foundation, NIF consists of more than 1,300 civic and educational organizations, colleges and universities, libraries, service clubs and membership groups. Although each community group is locally controlled, NIF is a collaborative effort. Each year, conveners choose three issues and common materials in the form of issue books and videos that will be discussed. The Kettering Foundation provides support materials to moderators, including a special set of activities, guides, and training for literacy programs. Materials are published jointly with Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 4050 Westmark Drive, Dubuque, Iowa 42004-1840. (800) 228-0810.

National Issues Forums. Organizing Your First Forum/Study Circle. A guidebook for conveners and moderators who want to use the NIF issues materials and join the NIF network of discussion groups. Includes good questions and directions for doing "choice work". "Sharing knowledge enables people to speak in a genuine Public Voice".

Ohliger, J. 1968. Social Change Through Listening Groups.Adult Leadership (January 1968) pp.247-250 & 279-280.

Ohliger, J. 1968. What Happened to the Canadian Farm Radio Forum? Adult Education Journal 28, no. 3 pp.176-187.

Oliver, Leonard P. 1987. Study Circles: Coming Together for Personal Growth and Social Change. Seven Locks Press, Cabin John, MD. A report of Oliver's trip to Sweden to study the history and development of study circles. Describes study circles as they have been integrated into Swedish national life and offers an extensive history of their development in the U.S. Includes descriptions of two discussion programs in the U.S.: Kettering Foundation's National Issues Forums and the study circle program of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen.

Oliver, L. 1990. Study Circles: New Life For an Old Idea.Adult Learning (November 1990) pp.20-22.

Open Learning Agency
Deborah Tait, Programming Department
P. O. Box 82080
Burnaby, BC V5G 4S8
(604) 431-3212 fax (604) 431-3388

They do large, well developed learning circle programs using the Knowledge Network television and videos as well as print material. Topics they have addressed include: "Living and Dying: the Human Journey", "Violence", "Forestry", and "Insight: Healing From Abuse". There is nothing new in the works for the fall of 1995 but there might be a new program in 1996.

Open Learning Agency. 1993. Transformation and Tribal Learning. How to organize, facilitate and participate in a learning circle. "The more centred you are, the more what you give will be "you", which is what the process requests. Relax and enjoy the turning of the circle."

Osborne, K. and Shevat, R. 1982. Study Circles: Personal and Professional Fulfillment for Employees. Management Review (June 1982) pp.37-42.

Pederson, D. 1991. In Sweden, You're Never Too Old to Learn Something New. Newsweek, 2 (November 1991) p.64.

Roddick, B. 1993. Learning Circles for Lifelong Learning Connections. AACE Journal, Vol.21 (Sept. 1993) pp.107-120.

Sembor, E. 1992. Building Community Citizenship Through Study Circles. Public Management 74, no.6 (June 1992) pp.15-17.

Study Circle Consortium, The University of the State of New York. 1990. The Rainbow Starts Here.. A Study Guide for Community Development.Albany, NY

Study Circle Consortium, The University of the State of New York. Study Circle Facilitator Training ManualAlbany, NY undated.

Study Circles Resource Center
P. O. Box 203
Pomfret, CT 06258
(860) 928-2616 fax (860) 928-3713
Contact: Francine Nichols

SCRC is a project of the Topsfield Foundation, Inc., a private, non-profit, non-partisan foundation dedicated to advancing deliberative democracy and improving the quality of public life in the United States. SCRC carries out this mission by promoting the use of study circles. They provide topical discussion guides on many social and political issues that affect the lives of American.-,. They see their role as a resource network to link groups that are doing similar work. Some material in this package is based on their publications.

Study Circles Resource Center. The Study Circle Handbook. A manual for study circle discussion leaders, organizers and participants.

Study Circle Resource Center. A Guide to Training Study Circle Leaders.

Study Circle Resource Center. Guidelines for Creating Effective Study Circle Material.