COVID-19

In covering achievements in the library world, it’s natural to focus on outcomes, reporting and raising up the endpoint of success. This story represents a win, for sure. But as Colleen Kilbreath, director of the Stanton County (KS) Public Library recalls, it stemmed from failure.

WIth unschooling, children follow their interests instead of a curriculum.

The Mid-Continent Public Library system in Kansas City, MO, has beefed up and expanded its resources and services for all students learning from home, including temporary homeschoolers.

The application period is now open for schools and libraries to seek funds from the $7.17 billion fund dedicated to helping with technology and internet access. The deadline to apply is August 13.

With COVID abating, the mood is palpably lighter. Not so for Asian Americans, who fear a return to school and work—just 18 percent of Asian eighth graders returned to in-person classrooms this spring. Schools and employers must take specific action to protect AAPIs from hate, say advocates, with alternatives to more policing.

After a school year when digital tools were vital for educational success, the AASL has announced the year's best.

As some schools are creating new programs to meet the crisis, In Tuscaloosa City (AL) Schools, where summer learning is part of the core educational strategy, an already successful summer program has expanded.

Though they are rarely recognized with merit awards,  licensed content books are hugely popular and often timely—addressing social-emotional issues and, lately, concerns related to the pandemic—and the comfort of familiar TV and movie characters has strong appeal for beginning readers.

Motivated by the lack of diversity in the books she saw in Little Free Libraries in her Massachusetts hometown, Sarah Kamya set out to add titles by and about Black and brown people to the boxes. Soon she was creating Little Free Diverse Libraries, getting national attention, and setting goals for this project that will continue beyond the pandemic.