AT YOUR SERVICE Whether it’s finding a student loan or getting a passport, navigating the maze of government information and services can at times be a daunting task. But the challenge just got a little easier thanks to FirstGov.gov, a new Web site that helps consumers quickly and easily locate just the department or agency they need. The service also offers a toll-free number (800/FED-INFO) and Web information arranged by topic and by audience. It also offers ways to contact officials by phone, e-mail or in person.

HIV/AIDS MATERIALS Educators can download and reproduce free copies of a new AFT-produced pamphlet that explains key information about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America. The three-fold pamphlet, available in pdf format at www.aft.org/topics/aids-in-america, was produced by the union’s human rights and community relations department. It details the scope of the crisis, the importance of HIV/AIDS awareness, key terms, ways to get involved in fighting the problem and more.

GEAR UP FOR READING Teen Read Week, a yearly effort by the American Library Association, encourages teens to read just for the fun of it. The theme for this year’s celebration, which runs Oct. 15-21, is “Get Active @ your library.” Celebrity promoters this year are Olympic figure skater Kimmie Meissner and pro soccer stars Kevin Hartman and Chris Armas. Libraries across the country will be hosting events to promote the week. To find activities in your area or to organize an event, visit www.ala.org/teenread.

KIDS, GET PUBLISHED Children ages 5 and up are invited to participate in the SillyBooks.net Children’s Book Writing Contest. The competition offers young authors a chance to have their stories published as animated books or cartoons and displayed online at http://www.sillybooks.net. One winning entry is chosen each month between September 2006 and May 2007. Submitted books should be no more than 300 words; entries may be either fiction or nonfiction. Monthly winners receive a $25 cash prize, and a $200 grand-prize winner will be announced in September 2007.

GOOGLING SHAKESPEARE You know that “all the world’s a stage” is a memorable quote from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” Now, you might want to find out all the other passages in the comedy that refer to “stage.” That investigation is only seconds away thanks to the Google Book Search, which now offers all of the Bard’s plays, arranged by category and supported with an advanced search engine. Visit http://books.google.com for more details. (Note that use of Google Book Search is free to registered Google users.)

FACT-CHECK FEEDBACK FactCheck.org needs your help in designing a new companion site for classroom use, primarily at the 11th- and 12th-grade levels. The nonpartisan organization assesses claims made by organizations and public figures to see if they are either untrue or misleading. Now, the group wants feedback from teachers about what they would like to see in a new classroom companion site. The group plans to develop a series of issue briefs on subjects of particular interest to students, such as reviving the military draft and imposing a special subminimum wage for teenage workers. Organizers also hope to devote part of the site to lesson plans for these topics, as well as selected articles from the main FactCheck.org site. Have a suggestion? E-mail Editor@FactCheck.org and put “Teacher response” in the subject line.

FIRST-CLASS DELIVERY School bus transportation is the safest form of mass transit in the country. To celebrate this service, the Tennessee Association of Pupil Transportation, working with the National Association of Pupil Transportation, has started a campaign for a new U.S. postal stamp to honor bus drivers. The campaign was inspired by Tennessee bus driver Joyce Gregory, a dedicated school bus driver who was shot by a 14-year-old student she was picking up for school in March 2005. To honor her, and the profession generally, Americans are asked to write letters, send post cards and draft petitions of support for a bus driver stamp. Go to http://66.39.151.211 for more information about the project.

GOING NORTH Teachers and students in K-12 classrooms are invited to participate this fall in a global study of wildlife migration patterns and seasonal change through the Journey North project. Students in 11,000 schools track the seasons on a real-time basis, and follow the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, bald eagles, whooping cranes and other animals. Students share field observations and have access to interactive maps, video clips, reading and writing activities and much more. Visit www.learner.org/jnorth for details.

HEAVY LOAD Improper use of backpacks has caused strain and injury to many students across the country. That’s the message behind Backpack Safety America Month in September. Organizers hope that teachers will get school off to a great start by reminding students and parents about the safe, correct ways to lift and carry a backpack. Details are available at www.backpacksafe.com.