https://www.edweek.org/libraries Libraries en-US 2021 (c) Education Week Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:57:46 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/states-are-banning-book-bans-will-it-work/2026/01 Approved legislation aims to stop school libraries from removing books for partisan reasons. Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:57:46 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/states-are-banning-book-bans-will-it-work/2026/01 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-more-than-dusty-books-why-school-libraries-are-essential-infrastructure/2025/12 Administrators wrestling with learning loss rarely turn to librarians. That’s a strategic mistake. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:02:53 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-more-than-dusty-books-why-school-libraries-are-essential-infrastructure/2025/12 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-orders-new-review-of-religious-exemptions-to-school-vaccines/2025/12 The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a new look in a school vaccination case and declined to review library book removals. Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:45:47 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-orders-new-review-of-religious-exemptions-to-school-vaccines/2025/12 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/how-schools-will-feel-the-federal-funding-cuts-to-libraries-and-museums/2025/08 Cuts to library and museum grants threaten school databases, field trips, and teacher training programs nationwide. Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:00:02 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/how-schools-will-feel-the-federal-funding-cuts-to-libraries-and-museums/2025/08 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-this-school-librarian-transformed-the-library-and-got-more-kids-to-read/2025/06 While schools across the country have shed librarians, Leigh Knapp became the first full-time librarian at her school. Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:43:26 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-this-school-librarian-transformed-the-library-and-got-more-kids-to-read/2025/06 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-ruling-raises-bar-for-challenging-school-book-bans/2025/05 A federal appeals court rejected a challenge to book removals in a Texas public library and overruled a precedent on school library cases. Wed, 28 May 2025 21:18:40 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-ruling-raises-bar-for-challenging-school-book-bans/2025/05 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-admin-funding-cuts-could-hit-efforts-to-restore-school-libraries/2025/04 The Institute of Museum and Library Services is one of seven small federal agencies targeted for closure in a recent executive order. Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:35:58 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-admin-funding-cuts-could-hit-efforts-to-restore-school-libraries/2025/04 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-admin-cuts-library-funding-what-it-means-for-students/2025/03 In an executive order last week, the Trump administration mandated the reduction of seven agencies, including one that funds libraries around the country: the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:22:02 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-admin-cuts-library-funding-what-it-means-for-students/2025/03 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/iowas-book-ban-is-reinstated-by-appeals-court-but-case-against-it-will-continue/2024/08 The Iowa law bars books depicting sex in school libraries and discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in preK-6. Fri, 09 Aug 2024 20:27:28 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/iowas-book-ban-is-reinstated-by-appeals-court-but-case-against-it-will-continue/2024/08 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-students-are-struggling-with-literacy-the-public-library-can-help/2024/07 An early-childhood educator makes the case for partnering schools with local libraries to improve students’ reading and writing skills. Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:41:45 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-students-are-struggling-with-literacy-the-public-library-can-help/2024/07 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-librarians-are-creating-free-book-fairs-heres-how/2024/06 School librarians are turning to free book fairs in an effort to get more books to children in poverty. Mon, 24 Jun 2024 21:05:05 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-librarians-are-creating-free-book-fairs-heres-how/2024/06 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/want-to-start-your-own-free-book-fair-heres-how-you-can-get-started/2024/06 Book fairs may shut out families in poverty. Here's how some school librarians are making free versions. Mon, 24 Jun 2024 21:04:45 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/want-to-start-your-own-free-book-fair-heres-how-you-can-get-started/2024/06 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-school-librarians-cant-control-book-bans-here-are-6-things-we-can-do/2024/01 There are many challenges school librarians can’t control—book bans, for instance—but here are some productive areas we can focus on. Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:06:25 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-school-librarians-cant-control-book-bans-here-are-6-things-we-can-do/2024/01 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/parents-trust-school-librarians-to-select-books-but-theres-a-catch/2024/01 A new survey shows what parents think of school libraries and librarians following efforts throughout the country to remove books. Tue, 16 Jan 2024 19:42:54 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/parents-trust-school-librarians-to-select-books-but-theres-a-catch/2024/01 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/heres-what-students-miss-out-on-when-their-schools-lack-librarians/2023/11 Some administrators think school librarians are obsolete, but these schools prove otherwise. Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:50:35 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/heres-what-students-miss-out-on-when-their-schools-lack-librarians/2023/11 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/scholastic-reverses-controversial-decision-to-segregate-diverse-books/2023/10 Four public school librarians and two experts said Scholastic's reversal on making diverse books optional is a step in the right direction. Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:32:13 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/scholastic-reverses-controversial-decision-to-segregate-diverse-books/2023/10 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/how-this-district-boosted-its-ranks-of-school-librarians-from-within/2023/10 A South Carolina district partnered with a local university to grow its own teacher-librarians and fill vacancies. Wed, 18 Oct 2023 21:17:04 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/how-this-district-boosted-its-ranks-of-school-librarians-from-within/2023/10 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-dont-worry-about-book-bans/2023/09 So-called “book bans” are a lot rarer—and more reasonable—than you might think, argue Max Eden and Jay P. Greene. Fri, 15 Sep 2023 19:20:34 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-dont-worry-about-book-bans/2023/09 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/an-iowa-district-used-ai-to-figure-out-which-books-to-ban/2023/08 An Iowa school district used AI to decide which books to ban to comply with a state law that bans materials with depictions of sex. Mon, 21 Aug 2023 20:34:42 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/an-iowa-district-used-ai-to-figure-out-which-books-to-ban/2023/08 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/one-of-the-countrys-largest-districts-is-turning-school-libraries-into-discipline/2023/08 The Houston school district's decision to shut down libraries in 28 schools reflects a growing trend, according to advocates. Thu, 03 Aug 2023 21:10:32 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/one-of-the-countrys-largest-districts-is-turning-school-libraries-into-discipline/2023/08 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/want-kids-to-read-in-the-summer-school-librarians-can-help/2023/07 A literacy expert breaks down factors that impact students' summer reading—-and they all involve school librarians. Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:21:20 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/want-kids-to-read-in-the-summer-school-librarians-can-help/2023/07 https://www.edweek.org/technology/a-student-staffed-genius-bar-why-its-working-for-this-middle-school/2023/07 Starting a "Genius Bar" helped a suburban New York City school teach tech skills and support students' social-emotional needs. Wed, 05 Jul 2023 19:28:41 GMT https://www.edweek.org/technology/a-student-staffed-genius-bar-why-its-working-for-this-middle-school/2023/07 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-students-are-reacting-to-book-bans-in-their-schools/2023/06 When students know about bans, their interest in the titles increases, one-third of library staff said in a survey. Wed, 28 Jun 2023 16:05:21 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-students-are-reacting-to-book-bans-in-their-schools/2023/06 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/most-library-staffers-think-no-book-should-be-banned-from-schools/2023/06 Almost two-thirds of library personnel think no topic should be off limits when it comes to library books, according to an EdWeek Research Center survey. Fri, 23 Jun 2023 21:46:42 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/most-library-staffers-think-no-book-should-be-banned-from-schools/2023/06 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/school-districts-struggle-to-implement-new-laws-on-sexually-explicit-books/2023/06 Some districts are using that law to remove certain books from schools altogether. Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:19:43 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/school-districts-struggle-to-implement-new-laws-on-sexually-explicit-books/2023/06 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/texas-bans-sexually-explicit-books-in-schools-law-gets-that-trash-out-gov-greg-abbott-says/2023/06 The bill was among four “parental empowerment” bills that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed. Tue, 13 Jun 2023 21:16:22 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/texas-bans-sexually-explicit-books-in-schools-law-gets-that-trash-out-gov-greg-abbott-says/2023/06 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/districts-lost-school-librarians-over-the-pandemic/2023/04 Districts across the country lost school librarians over the pandemic, widening the inequities in which students had access to them Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:46:41 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/districts-lost-school-librarians-over-the-pandemic/2023/04 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/4-tips-for-reading-success-how-to-combine-screens-and-printed-text/2023/04 Studies generally show that students can comprehend print text better than digital—but there are some caveats. Mon, 03 Apr 2023 22:04:12 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/4-tips-for-reading-success-how-to-combine-screens-and-printed-text/2023/04 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/theres-confusion-over-book-bans-in-florida-schools-heres-why/2023/03 Librarians and experts say Florida laws cause book bans in schools, but the governor says there's no connection. Thu, 16 Mar 2023 21:29:08 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/theres-confusion-over-book-bans-in-florida-schools-heres-why/2023/03