Literacy is about social and cultural power. In a period of rapid and, for many, threatening social, economic and educational change, literacy remains the focus of public debate. To many educators, it has become increasingly obvious that literacy is not a matter of psychological or natural skills but must be understood in relation to dynamic social and cultural contexts. Educational projects and programmes need to begin from an understanding of how literacy is acquired and how it is used by young and old, women and men, in institutions like schools and workplaces. This collection of essays aims to analyze the current crises in literacy in Western nations. It addresses questions facing educators, such as: What are the connections between literacy, economic and technological change? What are the optimal ways that schools and institutions can prepare literate citizens?, and how can schools combat the continuing exclusion of students at the social and economic margins from the power of literacy?