School Libraries

Librarians are responding to a rise in book challenges as parents target titles that deal with race, racism, or social justice in even the most tangential way, as well as books that have LGBTQ+ characters and themes.

Legislation that mandates certified librarians in every school seems like the solution to librarian loss, but it isn’t always that simple—as Washington State shows.

Our School Libraries 2021 project goes beyond statistics to tell the human story of the profession. With reporting from across the country, we assess the scene from Washington, DC, and Seattle to tiny Crandall, TX, and New York City.

In the November issue of SLJ, we examine the state of U.S. school libraries and librarian ­positions—the fight to preserve the institutions and the vast range of critical services performed by library professionals nationwide.

Battling threats to library funding and positions and educating the community on the value of librarians often becomes like a second job, taking up nights and weekends with conversations, events, and social media posts. 

This manga category focuses on relationships between two women or girls, usually romances. 

School librarians must navigate a host of issues when considering when, and if, to use volunteers: how to train them, avoid leaning too heavily on volunteers, and entrust them with complex tasks.

Recommended activities and resources to help foster math and library skills. 

Applications are being accepted for the annual honor highlighting outstanding achievement by a K–12 library professional. Sponsored by Scholastic, this year's expanded award program features new prizes and participation in an upcoming event.