Effective school libraries support self-motivated literacy practices

New research published in AASL’s peer-reviewed online journal School Library Research analyzes the use of school libraries by students who receive free school meals. The research team’s findings are detailed in their article “Exploring the Literacy-Related Behaviors and Feelings of Pupils Eligible for Free School Meals in Relation to Their Use of and Access to School Libraries.” Findings indicated effective school libraries can be a significant resource in supporting engagement with self-motivated literacy practices in children from low-income families.

AASL, Aug. 10

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Minyoung Kim writes: “In the summer of 2024, I spent eight weeks at the American Antiquarian Society (AAS) for my first paper conservation internship. Under the guidance of Chief Conservator Babette Gehnrich—who has dedicated over 35 years to stewarding this remarkable collection—I had the privilege of engaging in various conservation projects. Through this internship, I came to appreciate how AAS’s vast collection, comprising over four million items, embodies American history not only through its texts and imagery but also through traces of use, repair, and past conservation efforts.”

Past is Present, Apr. 22
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ALA and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) organized the inaugural ALA School Librarians Conference in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, April 15–16. The event brought together a lineup of school librarians and education experts from around the world, with the goal of fostering a reading culture and enhancing school library systems across the region. It was planned in conjunction with the Sharjah Book Authority, the Emirates Library and Information Association, and the Combined Book Exhibit. AASL President Becky Calzada delivered the keynote address.

Sharjah 24 (United Arab Emirates), Apr. 15
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Alison Marcotte writes: “About a decade ago, filmmaker Dawn Logsdon started documenting life in libraries throughout the country. Since she began filming, public libraries have been on the front lines of a battlefield over intellectual freedom, facing threats of closures and an unprecedented surge of book challenges and bans. In the upcoming documentary Free for All: The Public Library, which premieres April 29 on PBS’s Independent Lens, Logsdon and codirector Lucie Faulknor trace the public library’s history since the late 19^th century. American Libraries spoke with the duo about libraries in today’s sociopolitical climate and the unsung heroes in library history.”

American Libraries Trend, Apr. 23
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After President Trump’s executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), states are grappling with how the cuts will affect their services. While South Dakota has not received formal notification of the elimination of IMLS funding, it has suspended its interlibrary loan courier program funded by IMLS grants. The Philadelphia School District has seen the cancellation of a $150,000 IMLS grant that would help it develop a model to reopen school libraries with certified school librarians. The Alabama Senate, meanwhile, has implemented a plan to use state money to replace up to $3 million in lost federal funds. See additional updates from Kentucky, Wisconsin, Arizona, Missouri, Idaho, and Washington.

South Dakota Searchlight, Apr. 15; AL: The Scoop, Mar. 16; Philadelphia Inquirer, Apr. 22; Alabama Political Reporter, Apr. 22; Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal, Apr. 22; Wisconsin Examiner, Apr. 21; Queen Creek Tribune (Tempe, Ariz.), Apr. 22; KCUR-FM (Kansas City, Mo.), Apr. 21; Idaho Capital Sun, Apr. 16; KUOW-FM (Seattle), Apr. 11
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Jennifer Chapman writes: “Government information continues to be removed or altered; Executive Orders targeting law firms, non-profits, higher education, and other institutions and individuals are chilling speech; and now the dismantling of agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services is directly targeting archives and libraries. As librarians we pride ourselves on finding the unfindable, but finding the unfindable is becoming harder or impossible. What do we do? With this post I hope to provide some practical, concrete ways to support the dissemination of knowledge and help prevent the further erosion of information access.”

RIPS Law Librarian Blog, Apr. 16
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Danielle James writes: “In keeping with a lower court ruling, the Michigan Court of Appeals has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to ban 14 ‘sexually explicit’ books from Rockford Public Schools’ libraries. The three members of the Court of Appeals’ Third District unanimously affirmed the lower court’s decision, writing that state laws regarding criminal dissemination of harmful content to minors contain ‘no express language providing a right of private action to enforce the statute.’” The ruling also said the plaintiffs “could not prove they were detrimentally affected by the books as non-current students, among other things.”

MLive, Apr. 15
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Free for All: The Public Library, a new documentary “the evolution of public libraries from their revolutionary beginnings to their role today as essential pillars of democracy, education, and community support,” will premiere on Independent Lens on PBS April 29. PBS Books is hosting an in-depth discussion with filmmakers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor, and ALA President Cindy Hohl, on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS app today, April 23, at 8 p.m. Eastern.

PBS Books

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