Libraries

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Students help repair laptops and work in the school library as part of the "Genius Bar," an IT help desk modeled on an Apple computer concept that is used at Anne M. Dorner Middle School near New York City.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Blye
Classroom Technology A Student-Staffed 'Genius Bar': Why It's Working for This Middle School
Starting a "Genius Bar" helped a suburban New York City school teach tech skills and support students' social-emotional needs.
Alyson Klein, July 5, 2023
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4 min read
Eliza Walton of Boise and Josie Backus of Nampa participate in a demonstration to read book titles that the Nampa School District is working to remove as dozens of people read those books sitting in the lawn in front of the school administration office during a school board meeting on June 16, 2022, in Nampa, Idaho.
Eliza Walton of Boise, Idaho, and Josie Backus of Nampa, Idaho, participate in a demonstration to read book titles that the Nampa school district is working to remove. The demonstration took place during a school board meeting on June 16, 2022, in Nampa, Idaho.
Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via AP
Reading & Literacy From Our Research Center How Students Are Reacting to Book Bans in Their Schools
When students know about bans, their interest in the titles increases, one-third of library staff said in a survey.
Eesha Pendharkar, June 28, 2023
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4 min read
Students read books in the Presidio Middle School library in San Francisco, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2019.
Students read books in the Presidio Middle School library in San Francisco, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2019. Most library staffers oppose banning books on any topic, according to an EdWeek Research Center Survey.
Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Reading & Literacy From Our Research Center Most Library Staffers Think No Book Should Be Banned From Schools
Almost two-thirds of library personnel think no topic should be off limits when it comes to library books, according to an EdWeek Research Center survey.
Eesha Pendharkar, June 23, 2023
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5 min read
Blue toned photograph of a school library with the -chairs placed upside down on tables and bare shelves in the background.
iStock/Getty Images
Curriculum School Districts Struggle to Implement New Laws on Sexually Explicit Books
Some districts are using that law to remove certain books from schools altogether.
Madyson Fitzgerald, Stateline.org, June 19, 2023
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6 min read
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference in Austin, Texas, on June 8, 2021.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference in Austin, Texas, on June 8, 2021.
Eric Gay/AP
States Texas Bans ‘Sexually Explicit’ Books in Schools. Law ‘Gets That Trash Out,’ Gov. Greg Abbott Says
The bill was among four “parental empowerment” bills that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed.
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 13, 2023
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2 min read
Reading & Literacy Reports Recent Book Ban Controversies: A National Survey of School Library Personnel
The EdWeek Research Center surveyed librarians and other staff members to gauge the impact of controversies about books in school libraries.
May 15, 2023
Trish Belenson, the librarian at Bella Vista Elementary School, returns books to the shelves at the library in Oakland, Calif. on Jan. 30, 2019.
Trish Belenson, the librarian at Bella Vista Elementary School, returns books to the shelves at the library in Oakland, Calif. on Jan. 30, 2019.
Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Reading & Literacy What the Numbers Say About the Drop in School Librarians
Districts across the country lost school librarians over the pandemic, widening the inequities in which students had access to them
Gina Tomko & Eesha Pendharkar, April 27, 2023
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2 min read
Image of a stack of books and a digital tablet.
Canva
Reading & Literacy 4 Tips for Reading Success: How to Combine Screens and Printed Text
Studies generally show that students can comprehend print text better than digital—but there are some caveats.
Laura Baker & Sarah Schwartz, April 3, 2023
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1 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media after his State of the State address March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.
Phil Sears/AP
Reading & Literacy There's Confusion Over Book Bans in Florida Schools. Here's Why
Librarians and experts say Florida laws cause book bans in schools, but the governor says there's no connection.
Eesha Pendharkar, March 16, 2023
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9 min read
Photo of librarian pushing book cart.
Wavebreak Media / Getty Images Plus
Curriculum Explainer How School Libraries Buy Books, Struggle for Funds, and Confront Book Bans: An Explainer
Schools are under fire from some parent groups over books they deem explicit. This is how those books end up in their library collections.
Mark Lieberman, February 27, 2023
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12 min read
Books line shelves in a high school library Monday, October 1, 2018, in Brownsville, Texas. The Brownsville Independent School District announced having been awarded a multi-million-dollar grant to revitalize libraries to encourage reading by school-aged children to improve literacy skills. It was stated in the meeting that money could also be used to replace aging furniture in some of the district's libraries.
Books line shelves in a high school library in Brownsville, Texas in 2018. In Florida, school librarians will be required to complete training this year that will include how to seek parent approval before they can purchase new books for school libraries and classrooms.
Jason Hoekema/The Brownsville Herald via AP
Curriculum How Florida's New School Librarian Training Defines Off-Limits Materials
School librarians will soon have to seek parent approval to order new books, and have to avoid books considered "indoctrination."
Eesha Pendharkar, January 19, 2023
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3 min read
A student browses through books in the Presidio Middle School library in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019.
A student browses through books in the Presidio Middle School library in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019.
Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Professional Development New Training Tells Florida School Librarians Which Books Are Off-Limits
Librarians must undergo training for selecting books and can't choose materials about CRT, SEL, and culturally responsive teaching.
Eesha Pendharkar, January 18, 2023
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6 min read
A students at Frost Elementary School in Jackson, Mich., spends time in the recently revived library on Thursday, May, 19, 2016. A $5,000 grant from the Michigan International Speedway has helped improve the Jackson elementary school's once dormant library.
A student at Frost Elementary School in Jackson, Mich., works in the school library. A new study finds that recent book bans are having an effect on library purchases across the country.
Samantha Madar/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP
Reading & Literacy What Book Bans Are Doing to School Library Purchases
Book bans might have a much larger impact than the removal of a few titles; they may be changing the makeup of school libraries.
Eesha Pendharkar, January 6, 2023
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4 min read
Children reading books, bookcase behind them
iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy School Librarians' Top Picks for Holiday Books
Three librarians share some favorite titles that represent a diverse array of holidays and cultural traditions.
Elizabeth Heubeck, December 15, 2022
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5 min read
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