School Libraries

In Saline County, AR, a judge can now hire and fire the county’s public librarians; authors discuss having their books pulled from shelves; Illinois libraries face bomb threats; and more. 

These elementary books also feature versions of the Monkey King, a character from a 16th-century Chinese tale and central character in a new streaming release.

Suggest these age-appropriate titles to those wanting to learn more about the Manhattan Project and the devastating legacy of the bomb it produced.

Booktalks are brief, in this case uber-brief, pitches to “sell” young readers on a given title. We invite readers to give it a shot, submit a stellar video booktalk for potential publication on SLJ.com and our social channels.

An Iowa school district asked ChatGPT to find books in its collection that had sexual content, Fort Worth ISD closes libraries for inventory after board removes three titles, "Heartstopper" books pulled in Mississippi, and John Green's 'Fault in Our Stars' may return to YA section in Indiana.

The most viewed stories: recommended titles for the return to the classroom, fiction and nonfiction, and ways to make books available in a time of rampant censorship. Meanwhile, M.T. Anderson calls us to what counts: love. 

In Florida, access to the book about a male penguin couple has been restored in a school district's libraries; a teacher provides banned books at a Ben & Jerry's; and a district limits Shakespeare. Author John Green criticizes Indiana libraries for moving his book from the YA section; a Virginia library director is forced to resign, and the ABA passes a resolution against book bans.

Getting books to kids who are denied them elsewhere is a critical piece in the ongoing fight for intellectual freedom. 

A law that would open librarians up to criminal charges is on hold in Arkansas; the Michigan Library Association is rallying residents against censorship; nearly 400 books are removed from an Iowa school district; and there are claims of concerns about Arthur damaging souls in Florida.