The Audrey Beck Learning in Equity (A.B.L.E.) Archives at the Elihu Burritt Library is a unique collection of materials devoted to educational equity through information found in books, videocassettes, pamphlets, reports, and teaching aids. The archives are an outgrowth of a grant from the Connecticut State Department of Education awarded to Dr. Judith Rosenberg of the Department of Health and Human Services Professions at the University. The grant also funded the development and teaching of a course in educational equity by Dr. Rosenberg. The Connecticut State Department of Education supports projects which best meet the criteria of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 funded by the Carl D. Perkins Act of 1984. Because of the funding sources, the A.B.L.E. collection focuses on gender equity and women's issues without neglecting equity issues in vocational and career education related to race, sexual orientation, ethnic stereotyping or disabilities.

The A.B.L.E collection is named in memory of Audrey Beck, a long-time Connecticut State Senator and champion of women's issues during the 1970's. Containing approximately 1,000 items, the A.B.L.E. Archives collection is split between stack 2 and the Curriculum Laboratory. Housing books, games, videos, teacher aids, and professional reading, the Curriculum Lab serves as a resource for counselors and teachers. Materials are available for classroom use for teachers to work equity issues into the curriculum for children from kindergarten all the way through senior high school. Materials available for vocational and career teaching and counseling emphasize a gender-blind approach to education.

Other subject areas covered in the A.B.L.E. Archives include cultural bias against women; women in low-paying jobs; self-esteem; non-sexist language in the classroom, science, and society; sexual harassment and rape; AIDS awareness and prevention; homosexuality, and factual works on health issues from anorexia to breast cancer. The collection also contains numerous literary works. Unclassified vertical files cover areas such as single parents, displaced homemakers, vocational alternatives for women and athletics for females.

The A.B.L.E Archives present strong, successful women, many of whom are in non-traditional and high tech jobs. Additionally, resources promote a strong sense of self among girls and adolescents so they can compete educationally and become self-sufficient.

Additional information about the A.B.L.E. Archives and a complete list of its holdings is available via the World Wide at URL: http://library.ccsu.ctstateu.edu/lib/able/able.html