School Libraries

In challenging times, we could all use support. So the editors tapped some stellar individuals for insight and inspiration, featured in our back-to-school issue.

We Need Diverse Books will launch a multi-pronged effort to fight book banning attempts that are disproportionately impacting diverse books and support educators, students, and authors.

The Right to Read Act would help fund certified school librarians and well-resourced libraries across the country; the Philadelphia superintendent is looking for help from the city's public library system; Levine Querido launches a Spanish imprint; and more in News Bites.

School districts are devising plans to spend the third round of ESSER funds, $122 billion, signed into law in March 2021. 

Westerberg doesn't know if being outspoken in her advocacy for educators and school libraries factored into her dismissal, but the end result is the same: more Chicago kids without a certified school librarian in their building.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has launched its inaugural micro-grants program with a school library grant; author Stephen King testified about the negative impact the merger of Penguin Random House and S. & S. would have on writers, and it's time to vote for a library to get a makeover in this edition of News Bites. 

Twenty-five libraries in Title I schools have been awarded $700 grants, presented by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, in partnership with SLJ.

A new digital library for students across New York City is growing fast, with more than 1.5 million checkouts to date. 

In his speech, President Biden spoke of a need to help youth with mental health and learning issues caused by the pandemic. The White House released details of the plans for funding and support.