School Libraries

As assessment and recovery efforts continue, Tennessee Association of School Librarians president Dustin Hensley is stepping up to assist in the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Here are some ways to help.

In districts like Cypress Fairbanks ISD in Texas, students are returning to schools this fall without full-time certified school librarians.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is accepting proposals for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian and National Leadership Grants for Libraries Programs; ALA put out the call for LibLearnX program proposals; Kwame Alexander will host a free virtual event for students; and more.
 

With budgets mostly flat, book challenges and rising costs pose hurdles for school librarians.

The average book prices are produced annually by SLJ in partnership with Follett and Baker & Taylor.

Walnut Grove Elementary School librarian Holly Whitt and third grade classroom teacher Lori Alexander created their own professional development program to meet their students needs. The pair financed the program through a grant from Fund for Teachers.

The grant program provides funding to revitalize existing school libraries and create a sustainable model for the library to become an essential resource for the school.

Librarians cite flexibility, close attention, and other reasons for working with smaller bookstores. 

Parents in Pickens County, SC, along with the NAACP, are suing the district and charging that the removal of Stamped is a violation of their children's First Amendment rights; a Nebraska high school librarian resigns in protest over a new book policy; book banners threaten publishers and public library funding; and more.