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If confirmed by the Senate, McMahon is expected to advance the school choice and conservative agenda while trying to fulfill the president-elect's campaign promise of shutting down the Department of Education.

This season's series cover favorite nonfiction topics from a variety of vantage points.

March 2025  will be five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. We will mark the anniversary by sharing your memories of spring 2020 and the months that followed or thoughts on the impact that you still see today.

SLJ remains committed to the work. There is much to be done.

School librarians Andrea Trudeau, Tom Bober, and Amanda Jones created Librarians Building Libraries, a nonprofit with a mission to “collaborate with library communities worldwide, providing resources, training, and innovative solutions that promote literacy and provide access for all.”

We don’t yet know what Donald Trump’s second term will mean for education and libraries, but the incoming administration had made its priorities and goals clear. Here are just some of the things we are watching.

Family members who collaborate talk about the dynamics (and ground rules) of their creative partnerships.

While on tour promoting the newest book in the "Wimpy Kid" series, author Jeff Kinney is also offering kids the opportunity to choose from a collection of diverse titles.

Readers are "questioning everything," including librarians in popular culture.

Singsong language is good for infant brains, according to new research. 

The School District of Philadelphia hired former Texas librarian Jean Darnell as its new director of library science and earned an IMLS grant to work toward returning school librarians to the district.

Rosie Stewart is ready to organize at the state level to push freedom to read legislation and make sure legislators know the political consequences of book banning.

A “rolling unconference” provides time for librarians from around the world to exchange ideas, share challenges and successes, and take in local libraries—all while pedaling through changing landscapes.

Has a book resonated with you, gotten so inside your head, that you had to talk to someone? Kids make such striking connections, notably after reading “intense and disturbing” books, finds recent research.

The annual Halloween event offers dancing, karaoke, a costume contest, and more for New York City's teens.

Saturday is Freedom to Read Day of Action; New Jersey State Library receives IMLS grant for information literacy initiative; Scholastic reveals next "The Hunger Games" cover; and more in News Bites.

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (BCALA) welcomes book submissions for the current cycle of its Children & Young Adult Literary Awards.

A former school librarian helped create Library Makers, an online platform designed to connect librarians and educators who manage makerspaces or run maker events and programs.

Brianne Colombo believes libraries and bookstores are complementary, each creating "third spaces" for community members.

As assessment and recovery efforts continue, Tennessee Association of School Librarians president Dustin Hensley is stepping up to assist in the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Here are some ways to help.

The Newbery Medal winner and National Ambassador of Young People's Literature will speak with SLJ reviews director Shelley Diaz about her time as Ambassador, Latinx representation in children's books, her latest projects, and more.

Presented by SLMath in partnership with SLJ, the Mathical Collection Development Awards will enable up to 36 libraries in K–12 U.S. schools with high numbers of low-income students to receive grants of $850 to purchase titles from the Mathical Book Prize list.

The five finalists include a debut novel, a poetry memoir, and a novel in verse.

As we seek ways to aid recovery and rebuilding of Hurricane Helene impacted communities, the devastating scenes from Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia are a reminder of the need for individuals and institutions to prepare for natural disasters.

On August 21, 1939, five Black men quietly sat down to read in the Alexandria (VA) Public Library after being refused a library card. Occurring years before more widely known efforts to desegregate lunch counters beginning in the 1950s, the Alexandria Library sit-in is the focus of a project to digitize and distribute related materials and teaching resources.

Early chapter books? Easy readers? Whatever you call them, transitional books are key for young students, librarians say.

Picture book creator Todd Parr's work has been the target of censorship attempts for more than a decade. This Banned Books Week he wants people to spotlight the purpose of the books being attacked.

Authors and industry experts discuss the closing of Algonquin Young Readers and the impact of three kid lit imprints lost in the last 15 months.

PEN America released a memo with preliminary book banning numbers, showing a huge increase in banned titles from the previous school year; Carole Boston Weatherford is the 2024 Young People's Poet Laureate; We Need Diverse Books honored by Library of Congress; and more.

A series of professional learning workshops partners school librarians with English language teachers from the same school district to develop programs that support ELLs and their families.

A speaker playing music in the school library brings out the best in students. Here's how, plus kids' 10 favorite tunes.

As Bluesky improves its community-building tools, more teachers and librarians are flocking to the platform as an alternative to X. Here's how to get the most out of it.

Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, shares ways to teach vital media literacy skills without igniting controversy during a highly polarized election.

Teacher librarian Molly Dettmann partners with the student council and the League of Women Voters to host a voter registration drive in her library. She also teaches students about researching candidates and ballot questions.

With rampant book banning in the U.S., the ILA has updated its guide, Advocating for Children's Right to Read, with action items for stakeholders, from teachers and school and public librarians, to administrators and policy makers.

Here we go! Readers let loose on the selection available in middle grade titles as well as disinvited authors.

Comments took a sartorial turn, as readers responded to the experience of Vicki Johnson, author of Molly’s Tuxedo, in “Disinvited,” SLJ’s September cover story.

With less than 100 days until Election Day, here's a look at the promises, statements, and proposed policies on education from vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

While book bans and other efforts to curtail free expression in schools have made headlines, canceled visits have gone relatively unmarked. SLJ spoke with authors about their experiences. 

The nonprofit advocacy group's week-long virtual event will be a celebration of libraries, reading, and the First Amendment with author panels, advocacy education sessions, and more.

School Library Journal is now accepting applications for the 2025 School Librarian of the Year award, sponsored by Scholastic. Let us know what you are doing in your school library and join an exceptional group of honored peers, including K.C. Boyd, Amanda Jones, Cicely Lewis, and Amanda Chacon.

New Jersey school librarian Elissa Malespina outlines the steps for using AI to create social media posts for Banned Books Week and more.

Used in concert with traditional teaching methods, these resources for creation, instruction, research, and grading can make learning more dynamic.

A reader tries to make sense of book banning legislation and more.

School Library Journal (SLJ) is pleased to welcome a new blog by Edith Campbell. “Pearl’s & Ruby’s” debuts this month.

School librarians can be a vital resource, helping students and families research prospective schools, find financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and learn about possible future careers.

Modeled after our long-standing supplement Series Made Simple, the new publication will cover 500 titles in series fiction.

UPDATE: The School District of Philadelphia has received a nearly $150,000 IMLS grant. The district plans to hire a district director of library science, who will work with the Philadelphia Alliance to Restore School Librarians to build a pipeline for new certified school librarians in Philly and create a five-year plan to restore its school librarian positions, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The library meme game has always been strong. So it’s no surprise these institutions took the opportunity of the Paris Olympics to strut their stuff on social media.

Offer registration help to caregivers, add voting activities to engage children and adults, and share these age-appropriate books about civic engagement. 

Physical books that play narration can increase students' reading confidence. Parents also like the format as an alternative to digital devices.

In districts like Cypress Fairbanks ISD in Texas, students are returning to schools this fall without full-time certified school librarians.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is accepting proposals for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian and National Leadership Grants for Libraries Programs; ALA put out the call for LibLearnX program proposals; Kwame Alexander will host a free virtual event for students; and more.
 

Follett School Solutions denies an NBC News report that it released student information to law enforcement in Texas; the FCC expands the E-rate program, PLA releases its 2023 Tech Survey; Algonquin Young Readers is closing, and more.

School Library Journal editor in chief Kathy Ishizuka has announced significant changes in the reviews department. Shelley Diaz has been named reviews director and Kimberly Fakih, executive editor, reviews.

Neal Shusterman received the 2024 Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors an author "for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." The annual award is administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association and sponsored by School Library Journal. Here is his acceptance address, delivered June 30 at the ALA Annual conference held in San Diego.

A New Jersey school librarian who used AI during her recent job search shares tips for librarians and students applying for a new position. 

ALA Annual at the San Diego Convention Center was filled with breaking news, discussions about the issues that will impact libraries in the future, sharing of resources, and memorable author talks. 

Calzada speaks with SLJ about forging connections, a counternarrative about school libraries, and more.

The Horn Book, We Need Diverse Books, and KidLit TV are all honored by the Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

The best-selling "Wimpy Kid" author selected eight nominated librarians for a weekend with him in Boston and at his bookstore and studio in Plainville, MA.

Librarians and authors highlight their most eagerly anticipated panels and programs at ALA Annual in San Diego.

Our most viewed stories of the week.

Can exposure in popular media make a difference? Given the sheer reach of these shows, it’s hard to imagine they haven’t raised awareness of libraries and the larger stakes currently at play. 

 On “The Cover-Up: Under Pressure, Some School Librarians Alter Illustrations to Avoid Book Challenges,” readers had a lot to say.

Communities around the country are feeling the love. Here’s a sampling of contributions to the “Reasons To Love Libraries” campaign, presented by SLJ and Library Journal and sponsored by OverDrive.

The American Association of School Librarians released its annual list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning; Follett will begin online book fairs; the National Women's History Museum is looking for proposals for its annual For Educators, By Educators resource development; and more in News Bites.

Our most viewed posts of the week ranged from high-interest stories for striving readers and shout outs to dear teachers to raising oysters in the library.

To fathom the defacing of images in children’s books, one almost has to process it in stages, beginning with incredulity. The issue, however, is no joke, and librarians are feeling the pressure. In our reporting, the frequency of instances involving the altering of material by school librarians was such that we elevated this to a cover story.

New York City Public Schools Robin Hood Libraries and the Billion Oyster Project have partnered to get students excited over learning about oysters and their important impact on the environment.

Readers had their say about "Dictionaries on the Chopping Block," the latest Scales on Censorship column, and more.

Daniel Bernstrom, Carole Boston Weatherford, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Kekla Magoon, Scott Reintgen, and others share stories about educators who played an important role in their lives.

Five women of Asian descent discuss the joy of telling resonant stories, handling vocabulary in unfamiliar languages, and other topics. 

Author Kate Messner describes the process of getting 17 authors together for the ultimate creative collaboration in the new series, "The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class." There is also a complementary teaching and discussion guide with a character writing workshop so students can follow the same process the authors did.

This spring’s issue of Series Made Simple includes a diverse selection of topics that will inspire readers to get out there and explore, think, and act. 

Our most viewed posts of the week.

Sydney Smith wins the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, applications are open for Freedom to Read Foundation grants and a scholarship, Mo Willems offers new, free resources on YouTube, and more in News Bites.
 

Gen A is plugged in and opinionated, as marketers attempt to keep pace. Librarians stay right with young users, knowing that's all a part of the job.

Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks have joined Penguin Random House and other plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the state of Iowa. 

On Take Actions for Library Day, the American Library Association announced its "Reader. Voter. Ready." campaign to increase library advocacy and civic engagement in advance of the November 5 elections.

Defending the Canon, reviews of classic lit by SLJ and NCTE—and James Patterson—grabbed readers' attention this week.

State superintendent has become a partisan position that increasingly impacts day-to-day decisions in school libraries.

Criticism and misunderstanding of Kao Kalia Yang's decision to leave the Hmong-only phrases in her book, The Rock in My Throat, spotlights the problem of the English-dominant literary landscape in a country where residents speak hundreds of languages, the author says.

The Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 has seven repeat titles from the 2022 list, including Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe at No. 1 and All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson at No. 2.

With budgets mostly flat, book challenges and rising costs pose hurdles for school librarians.

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center released its latest Diversity Statistics report on children's literature, showing another year of small increases in books with BIPOC primary characters and significant BIPOC content.

The State of K-12 Digital Reading breaks down the data for the 2022-23 school year, showing the popularity of comics and graphic novels in the digital format plus regional differences in reading habits.

This School Library Month, censorship and loss of library positions are once again hot topics of conversation. But district library leaders across the country are focused on something else as well—bringing qualified educators into the profession.

Jessie Storrs and Pia Alliende, both School Librarian of the Year finalists; "Jewish joy"; and Caldecott winner Big inspired comments.  

A school librarian provides information and tips for completing the National Board Certification process, which goes beyond what states require of educators and bills itself as the “gold standard.”

School and public librarians across the U.S. are preparing lessons and programming to educate and excite kids about the April 8th solar eclipse, which will appear in totality in parts of 13 states.

The U.S. ranks second in the world for the most ­Spanish speakers, after Mexico. With shortages of bilingual teachers reported nationwide, librarians and publishers consider meeting an acute need.

Many autistic girls cope by trying to mask who they are. For them and other children, seek books where main characters are appreciated for being themselves and are not required to change.

Characters in these books, including a few classics, are comfortable being different from others and engage with their world in nontraditional ways.

From Brooklyn, NY to the West Coast, librarians are taking the lead on climate change education.

Amanda Chacon ensures a relevant, engaging collection and a welcoming library for her predominantly bilingual students and their families.

"It doesn’t really matter what they did out there,” says the teacher librarian, who serves youth from age 10 to their early 20s at El Centro Junior/Sr. High School in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility.

The librarian at H. M. Carroll Elementary in Houston, TX, is committed to her students and community with programming that set her apart from her peers. In addition to Chacon, two finalists were named: Tamara Cox, librarian at Wren High School, Piedmont, SC; and Jessie Storrs, teacher librarian at El Centro Jr/Sr High School, Sacramento (CA) Youth Detention Facility.

Extending Brooklyn Public Library’s Books Unbanned initiative to young kids and parents.

The 2025 conference scheduled to be held in Phoenix will continue as planned, according to ALA's announcement, which said the organization was working toward the best way to continue to present certain events during that conference, including the Youth Media Awards.