Follett School Solutions denies an NBC News report that it released student information to law enforcement in Texas; the FCC expands the E-rate program, PLA releases its 2023 Tech Survey; Algonquin Young Readers is closing, and more.

Follett denies releasing student information

UPDATED

In a story revealing the details of a police investigation into librarians in Granbury, TX, NBC News reported that Follett School Solutions responded to a subpoena with information that included names of students and the books they checked out. A Follett School Solutions spokesperson denied the report and the company has asked for a correction.

“It has come to our attention that a recent article incorrectly implied Follett School Solutions provided student data as part of an investigation into school librarians in Texas. This information is incorrect, and we have demanded a correction. We fiercely safeguard all customer data, especially student data. To clarify, we did not provide any student data in response to a subpoena.

“As the leading provider of K–12 educational technology solutions in the United States, the privacy and security of our student data is of the utmost importance.” 

NBC has updated its story "to reflect that it is not clear who provided London with records that included the names of students who had checked out library books, and to add Follett School Solutions’ statement that it had not provided data including student names."

The original story said that First Amendment experts said that the release of student information was a "clear violation of student privacy." At the time of the story's posting on Wednesday, it noted that Follett had not responded to NBC's requests for comment.

FCC approves expansion of E-rate program

The Federal Communications Commission voted to approve an expansion of the E-rate program to include support for off-premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet services. The E-Rate program aims to ensure that schools and libraries can obtain affordable, high-speed broadband services and equipment by providing funding for Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet services. The expansion will fund Wi-Fi hotspot hardware and services only and be based on a per-student, per-library location budget.

“Until everyone has an affordable home internet connection, hotspots are a promising alternative in most communities—and America’s libraries have proven success in lending them,” ALA president Cindy Hohl said in a statement. “Libraries are the go-to place for millions of people who need a connection to the internet and the technology to use it. Library hotspot lending programs bridge digital divides, closing the homework gap by equipping students to complete assignments and communicate with teachers, and enabling everyone—jobseekers, adult learners, and families—to connect with community services.”

The Public Library Association (PLA) released its 2023 Technology Survey

The 2023 Public Library Technology Survey looked at the state of technology resources, services, infrastructure, and staff in U.S. public libraries.

The previous tech survey was done in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic. The 2023 results “shed light on changes wrought by the pandemic and emergence from it. Across the board, the technology resources and services libraries offer have expanded in the last three years,” according to the press release.

Some of the key findings include:

47 percent of libraries offer hotspots for checkout

25 percent have digital media production equipment, and 40 percent have maker production equipment.

95 percent offer some formal or informal digital literacy training.

95 percent offer ebooks and/or e-audiobooks, and 58 percent offer streaming and downloadable media for patrons.

Federal funding is critical to supporting library technology needs: 52 percent of libraries applied for the E-rate program either individually or as part of a consortium.

Kid lit creator James Proimos dies at 66

Children’s author and illustrator James Proimos died July 8 at age 66. Proimos published more than 20 children's books, including Joe's Wish, Mac & Cheese, Knuckle and Potty Destroy Happy World, and the YA novel 12 Things To Do Before You Crash and Burn. He was also a successful cartoonist and animator known for work in television and advertising.

While working on an animated TV show, he hired Suzanne Collins as a writer. He would later illustrate her picture book autobiography, Year of the Jungle. 

"Jim was a dear friend—kind, funny, with a truly unique view of the world, which you see reflected in his delightful body of work," the Hunger Games author told Publishers Weekly. "We met in TV, but it was his encouragement that led me to give books a try. Getting to collaborate with him on Year of the Jungle was a gift; his art perfectly captured the complexity of that story and made its telling possible. I will miss him always."

Follett brings back Book eFairs

Follett Book eFairs are back after debuting four years ago. The new iteration of online book fairs will be available to all PreK–8 schools in the United States.

Book eFairs will feature a wide selection of physical books, with hundreds of new releases and popular fiction and nonfiction titles from leading PreK–8 publishers. Students also can create wish lists and share them with family members and friends. Librarians and teachers can make donation wish lists and share with parents.

Among the most popular titles available this fall:

• The Wild Robot (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), a #1 New York Times bestselling novel from Peter Brown that also is being released as a DreamWorks movie in late September.
• Pizza and Taco: Wrestling Mania! (Random House Graphic), a graphic novel from Stephen Shaskan.
• Fire Flight: A Wildfire Escape (Capstone), a picture book authored by Cedar Pruitt and illustrated by Chiara Fedele.

Fall Book eFairs—which typically will run for a two weeks—are available through Dec. 6 to ensure books arrive before winter break. For every dollar an online book fundraiser earns, schools will receive 20 percent back in the form of a Titlewave Promotional Credit that may be used to buy books to enhance school and classroom libraries.

The eFairs are an offering of Follett Content Solutions, which has left the Follett School Solutions umbrella and will now operate as its own business entity with a new logo, website, and social media channels.

DK acquires A Kids Book About 

Nonfiction children’s publisher DK will acquire A Kids Book About (AKBA) from A Kids Co.

 DK will now take on the global sale of the entire frontlist and AKBA back catalog of over 170 titles. The AKBA series was launched in 2019 by author and entrepreneur Jelani Memory, who published his first title, A Kids Book About Racism. , Following the sale of AKBA, A Kids Co. will continue to produce new podcasts, operate the direct to consumer business, seek brand partnerships outside of books, and pursue additional multi-media opportunities to tell impactful stories for kids of all ages.