This panel examines from a historical perspective how we access the information we need to participate in a democratic society, with a focus on public education, public libraries, and how we learn about the people we elect. With Lisa García Bedolla, Graduate School of Education and Center for Latino Policy Research, UC Berkeley; Thomas Hollihan, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, USC; Beverly P. Lynch, Graduate School Education and Information Studies, UCLA; Carolyn de la Peña, Dept. of American Studies and Humanities Institute, UC Davis (#21649)