Public Libraries

Closing school libraries and cutting certified librarian positions does not make sense, says YA author and advocate Sarah Darer Littman, who has backed this assertion with research she cites in an open letter to policy makers.

YA authors are tackling “the s-word” head-on. As professionals serving young people, librarians can talk to teens about why slut-shaming can’t be tolerated—and provide supportive programming.

A unique partnership between Jacksonville (FL) Public Library and the University of North Florida continues to bring tutoring services to children who might otherwise experience the "summer slide."

Librarian Tricia Bengel of Nashville Public Library shares her story about teaming up with local school librarians and offers practical tips for others in the industry.

Mayhem, schmayhem. If your library's children's room is chaotic, it’s proof that the little ones are learning.

How important is summer reading to parents? According to a study conducted by Reading Is Fundamental and Macy's, only 17 percent of parents responded that reading should be a "top priority" for their kids during summer months.

On July 11, a big E-Rate vote for Wi-Fi funding for schools and libraries is coming up. The latest FCC proposal states that libraries' Wi-Fi funding be determined by a space's square footage—$1 per square foot. With $2 billion at stake, librarians across the country are objecting to this funding formula with claims that it doesn't serve high-need urban libraries where square footage does not represent the number of visitors.

Summer is a tough time for many kids—when they don’t get enough to eat. Summer meal programs are critical and public libraries are uniquely suited to host them. While outside of traditional library services, providing food to hungry citizens is "another way we can serve the community," says Susan Maldonado, teen services librarian at Oakland Public Library.

The loss of a giant in the field, Walter Dean Myers, is juxtaposed against the ongoing tension around print/digital and our popular feature on music’s role in early learning in our top 10 stories of the past week.