MSI recently announced a reorganization that brings together the editorial teams of Library Journal and School Library Journal. It’s a change that positions both publications for stronger, more focused coverage through editorial collaboration.

Understandably, change can bring questions, so I want to address them directly. Some of you may be wondering whether this means we’re folding school librarianship into broader library coverage.

The answer is definitively no. This new structure will enable our team to maintain its focus on school libraries and children’s and teen collections while benefiting from collaborative coverage on topics that affect libraries of all types—challenges to intellectual freedom, emerging technology, digital equity, and building a pipeline of diverse and future-ready librarians, just to name a few.

What this means

Under the leadership of editorial director Hallie Rich, SLJ will continue to cover the topics that matter most to our readers in the K–12 and school library market: collection development, author interviews, readers’ advisory, innovative programming, legislative and policy developments, and the evolving role of school libraries in digital learning environments.

We’re also expanding our coverage on topics that require a school library lens: educational technology, AI skill-building, digital citizenship, and media and news literacy.

SLJ book reviews remain foundational and will continue to provide the trusted, professional evaluations that guide your collection decisions and help you connect the right books with the right readers.

One change we’re pleased to announce is the creation of a new media advisory committee to ensure the profession’s diverse voices are prioritized and represented across our work. In the coming months, we will name this committee of library professionals whose insights will help elevate the issues where SLJ needs to focus attention and provide direct feedback on emerging trends.

Professional challenges

We understand that school librarians work in a fundamentally different environment than their colleagues in public, academic, or special libraries. Unlike public librarians, who serve voluntary patrons, K–12 school librarians serve mandatory audiences—every student and teacher in the building, regardless of their interest or preparation level. You’re held accountable for educational outcomes, required to align with curriculum standards, and expected to collaborate directly with classroom instruction. SLJ’s coverage must meet you where you are and address the issues that are unique to your work.

In recent years, school librarians have faced challenges ranging from censorship laws to the emergence of AI in the classroom. You’ve had to balance new educational objectives with professional standards and navigate difficult conversations with stakeholders. The emotional weight of defending collection decisions while maintaining relationships with parents, administrators, students, and community members is real and often underestimated.

Far from operating exclusively with physical collections, school librarians also often serve as the bridge between technology and teaching. You’re increasingly responsible for collaborating with teachers on technology integration and working with students to build their digital literacy skills. SLJ’s technology coverage must include the creative ways school librarians integrate new tools into authentic learning experiences while surfacing the latest technological advancements that are shaping education and their policy implications.

At the same time, we’re seeing districts replace certified school librarians with library aides or paraprofessionals—a move that undermines student learning. With certified school librarians’ specialized graduate training in both library science and educational pedagogy, you bring important value to instruction, collection development, and educational leadership that has no substitute. Library aides and paraprofessionals are valuable members of the school library team—and SLJ’s editorial coverage will be inclusive of effective training programs and collaboration strategies to support their work—but it’s critical that we provide the field with the resources needed to advocate for funding these positions.

Our enduring commitment

We’re looking forward to connecting directly with many of you at the 2025 SLJ Summit, November 7–9 at Baltimore County Public Library. As in years past, lively panels and facilitated dialogue on important industry topics will connect us directly with our readers, giving us the chance to hear what’s on your mind and how SLJ can best support the profession.

We’re creating space for authentic discussions about what works and what doesn’t—the programs that succeeded, the collaborations that failed, the crises you have confronted, and the daily realities of this profession.

We’ll continue reporting on the implications of education policy issues for school libraries, major changes in certification requirements, and the evolving legislative landscape. We’ll approach these topics as professional issues requiring educational expertise, not political battlegrounds.

We’ll also keep making the case for why this work matters beyond individual schools. In an era when misinformation spreads instantly and AI can generate convincing false content, and when everyday written communication competencies are still critical, the skills that school librarians teach aren’t just academic—they’re essential for informed citizenship.

The bottom line

School Library Journal remains a specialized publication focused on K–12 libraries and their youth services and collections, and—leading the way—the librarians and media specialists who guide these efforts.

We see the complexity of what you do every day. We value the expertise you bring to school communities. You’re teaching students how to think critically—a skill that determines everything from academic success to democratic participation.

That’s work that matters. That’s work that requires professional expertise. And that’s the work we’ll continue to support and amplify.

Robert Gogel is President and CEO of Media Source Inc.