Absenteeism is at an all-time high, challenging school districts across the country. How to get students back? The school library could play a role, providing a safe space and sparking engagement.

Rochester (MN) Pride cited unspecified safety concerns for canceling the visit by The Rainbow Parade author Emily Neilson; federal judge says lawsuit over removal of school library books in Florida can continue; districts in South Carolina and Texas keep The Hunger Games and Bathe the Cat on the shelves, respectively, while a Pennsylvania high school removes three LGBTQIA+ graphic novels.

With expertise, empathy, and innovation, librarians have supported students and patrons through COVID-19.

Women’s History Month reminds us that, although they are sometimes overlooked in history classes, women are very much a part of American history. They’ve been key players both out front and behind the scenes. During our recent work creating the new database, Women’s History in the United States, we discovered many inspirational stories of such women from various time periods and walks of life.

SLJ asked librarians, authors, and illustrators to reflect on their pandemic experience: the impact on them, their students, and readers; the innovations that stuck; the memories that linger; and the lessons we learned.