school libraries Archives | Page 7 of 8 | American Libraries Magazine

Libraries Win as President Signs ESSA

December 10, 2015

A major reauthorization bill overhauling K-12 education policy–the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)–has been signed into law by President Obama and in a significant victory for ALA’s decade of advocacy efforts, it includes provisions favorable to libraries. ALA President Sari Feldman praised all ALA members, crediting their unified, collective, high-impact messages to their Members of … Continue reading Libraries Win as President Signs ESSA →

Capitol Building (Photo: Laurie D. Borman)

Senate Passes Every Student Succeeds Act

December 9, 2015

AASL President Leslie Preddy and ALA President Sari Feldman released the following joint statement regarding today’s developments: “The Senate vote brings America’s schoolchildren one step closer to the school library resources and other tools that they need to succeed as 21st century students. For school-age students, ESSA represents an historic new chapter in federal support … Continue reading Senate Passes Every Student Succeeds Act →

Support School Libraries!

By Keith Michael Fiels | September 4, 2015

In some communities, we see that testing pressures and budget decisions have led to the elimination of school libraries and school librarians. In some districts, we see that school libraries are seen as a “frill”—nice to have but not essential to student learning. Yet school libraries and school librarians are among the most effective and efficient … Continue reading Support School Libraries! →

Bookend: Urban Renewal

September 1, 2015

“These are stories that are about inner-city life and urban life, and the kids could really relate,” says Boyd, now library media specialist and director of social media at Wendell Phillips Academy High School, where she has worked since 2010. When Boyd began advocating for the urban fiction genre, she was sometimes misunderstood. Many people, … Continue reading Bookend: Urban Renewal →

Newsmaker: James Patterson

By Megan Cottrell | June 4, 2015

American Libraries: You made headlines last year by giving $1 million dollars in small grants to independent bookstores, and now you’re doing the same for school libraries. The problems bookstores are facing are well known, but school libraries haven’t received as much national attention. Why did you decide to focus on school libraries? That’s exactly … Continue reading Newsmaker: James Patterson →

The Future of Library Services to Teens

By Linda W. Braun | May 22, 2015

Not only can students learn from these presentations but so can professors who develop LIS courses and help students gain the necessary skills to succeed in 21st-century libraries. This need to bring the real and the academic worlds together underscores the importance of the work that the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has done … Continue reading The Future of Library Services to Teens →

Library Systems Report

By Marshall Breeding | May 1, 2015

Tied to the economy of libraries, the vendors that make up the library technology industry support a stable but highly constrained economic sector, with global opportunities. Library budgets may never recover to pre-recession levels, fueling interest in technology to improve their efficiency and the impact of collection resources. Products able to deliver efficiency, innovation, and … Continue reading Library Systems Report →

The State of America’s Libraries 2015

April 13, 2015

This and other library trends of the past year are detailed in ALA’s State of America’s Libraries Report 2015, made available during National Library Week, April 12–18, both as an American Libraries digital supplement, as well as on the ALA website at ala.org/americas-libraries and as a PDF file. As society continues to change the way … Continue reading The State of America’s Libraries 2015 →

Selecting the (Mock) Newbery and Caldecott Winners

By Greg Landgraf | January 27, 2015

Zinkovich operates the mock election as an activity for 4th- and 5th-graders that takes place during the school’s end-of-day study hall period. At the beginning of the year, the group discussed criteria for the award. Since then, the club has met every three weeks to discuss books. “After a bit of trial and error, we’ve … Continue reading Selecting the (Mock) Newbery and Caldecott Winners →

A girl reads to Minnie from K9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore.

Dog Therapy 101

By Timothy Inklebarger | December 22, 2014

“I started pitching it at the school, and my principal was absolutely against it,” Weibling tells American Libraries. The former 3rd-grade teacher, who was then working toward her master’s degree in library science, was eager to find new ways to get students excited about reading and comprehension. “Reading therapy dog programs weren’t common knowledge to … Continue reading Dog Therapy 101 →

Ferguson’s Safe Haven

By Timothy Inklebarger | November 10, 2014

After being informed that classes would be canceled, Carrie Pace, an art teacher at Ferguson’s Walnut Grove Elementary, wanted to do something, anything, to help with the recovery. While driving through town she passed the Ferguson Public Library. That’s where she got the idea to use the facility as a place for kids to go … Continue reading Ferguson’s Safe Haven →

How Libraries Help Kids Stand Up to Bullying

By Beverly Goldberg | October 1, 2014

Before study hall was over, the principal was dealing with the perpetrators. “We handled it all immediately,” Watson tells American Libraries. “That’s a key role of what librarians can do in schools to be a force against bullying. If the students know you’re there, and that you’re an advocate for them, they’ll come to you.” … Continue reading How Libraries Help Kids Stand Up to Bullying →

Latest Library Links

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Emma Ockerman writes: “In recent weeks, parents have complained to school boards in Missouri, Virginia, Texas, Florida, and other states about novels they consider to be obscene or inappropriate—most often, books that illuminate stories of marginalized identities. As a result, some districts have pulled books for review, while a handful of conservative politicians have seized upon the movement as a rallying cry to their side. In a few instances, parents or school board members have also tried to elevate their concerns to law enforcement.”

Vice, Nov. 22
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Donald Cohen and Allen Mikaelian write: “Libraries resist privatization because they are not just about the books. We could easily replace the transactional part of libraries with corporations, but we’d be left with a place where you come in, get your books, pay, and leave. You’d lose the opportunity to get help with homework or trade quilt patterns or meet people who are eager to recommend their favorite reads. And that’s just the surface of what libraries do, especially in a time when most other social services have been slashed. Author Deborah Fallows, after crisscrossing the nation, decided that libraries have become ‘second responders.’”

Lit Hub, Nov. 22
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In our November/December issue, we’ve got stats celebrating the culinary cornucopia found in books, libraries, and collections, including the number of classes offered annually through Free Library of Philadelphia’s Culinary Literacy Center (350), the number of copies that the novel Like Water for Chocolate has sold (4.5 million), and the number of individually wrapped Kraft Singles bound together in the book 20 Slices of American Cheese at University of Michigan’s Art, Architecture, and Engineering Library in Ann Arbor (20).

American Libraries Trend, Nov./Dec.
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Lara Ewen writes: “As a second pandemic holiday season rolls in, even the cheeriest folks are fraying a little around the edges. This year, give them effortless presents that will make their lives gentler, simpler, and sweeter. And since you could probably also use a little break, we’ve done most of the work for you by rounding up a collection of bookish gifts that, despite inflation, are still easy on the wallet (everything is under $50) and suitable for just about everyone on your list (including you).”

American Libraries feature, Nov. 23
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Emily Ashcraft writes: “Sonya Sones, author of The Opposite of Innocent, said she was ‘saddened and disturbed’ when she learned this week that a book she wrote was removed from four high school libraries in Salt Lake County (Utah). Although the book has sexual content, it was written in response to Sones’ experiences, and she hoped it would have a positive effect on teenagers who are in situations of abuse. The Opposite of Innocent is one of nine books that was removed by Canyons School District officials from high school libraries after a Sandy woman sent an email expressing concerns about the books’ content.

KSL-TV (Salt Lake City), Nov. 20
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The North Kansas City (Mo.) School District said November 22 that it’s returning All Boys Aren’t Blue and Fun Home to high school library shelves, according to a copy of a letter to families provided to The Associated Press by a spokeswoman, who said it was sent November 19. The books were pulled following parent concerns raised in a late October school board meeting. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri on Monday wrote a letter to school officials urging that the books be returned, arguing that banning the books would violate students’ First Amendment rights by restricting their access to ideas. Students had also petitioned to keep the books in libraries.

KSHB-TV (Kansas City, Mo.), Nov. 22
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April Umminger writes: “It‘s the time of year for soups, sautées, and stories! If you’re looking for a palate-cleansing nonfiction to listen to, this roundup has memoirs that are both sweet and salty. These audiobooks serve up the true stories of celebrity chefs, restaurant critics, movie stars, and famous foodies.”

Goodreads, Nov. 22

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