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The goal of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) is to conduct high-quality, relevant research that contributes to the improvement of the quality of education provided by adult basic educators. NCSALL has a commitment not only to conducting research but also both to ensuring that is it shared with practitioners in formats that are accessible to them and to supporting them in putting research findings to use. To accomplish this, the publication ‘Focus on basics’ was created. NCSALL undertook an evaluation of the impact of its publication ‘Focus on basics’ upon its readers. At the time of the survey, 28 issues had been published, the first in February, 1997. A total of 292 readers responded to a Web-based survey asking why adult basic education practitioners read ‘Focus on basics’, how it influences them, and what impact it has on their practice. The readers who completed the survey reported that ‘Focus on basics’ has had a positive impact in the following ways: it has influenced their beliefs about adult basic education; it has helped them feel connected to the larger education community as professionals; it has contributed to the development of communities of practice; it has enabled them to make a connection between research and practice; [and] it has provided them with concrete ideas they have used to change their programs and practice. Unlike many professions, adult basic education does not have a prescribed career path. No set academic path or certification qualifies teachers for their roles. Many adult basic educators get jobs as adult basic education teachers without realizing that they have, in fact, entered a ‘field’. The evaluation revealed that ‘Focus on basics’, with its national scope and articles targeted to the state, program, and classroom level, provides practitioners with a sense of the broader field to which they belong. ‘Focus on basics’ is a mainstay for professional development providers. Teachers and program administrators, as well as professional development providers, report that it is the publication they turn to for ideas, information, and materials.