News

The latest information in the fight for school libraries and school librarians. Brought to you by Follett and EveryLibrary

News

The latest information in the fight for school libraries and school librarians. Brought to you by Follett and EveryLibrary

DCPS Needs School Librarians - Pass Students' Right to Read Amendment

We have been supporting school library stakeholders across DC Public Schools in their campaign to see stable and permanent funding for their positions in the budget. It's time for the City Council to pass the Students' Right to Read Amendment and fully fund these positions. EveryLibrary is giving testimony for the fourth time this week to City Council to encourage them to include school librarians in the regular budget. 

Montana Retain Educational Excellence Coalition Launches

For the past several months, EveryLibrary has been supporting the Montana Library Association's effort to retain the ratio of school librarians to students through our Save School Librarian digital campaign platform. Now we are very proud to support the launch of the Retain Excellence in Education Coalition, an effort by MLA, the Montana Federation of Public Employees, and the school counselors association to make sure that school librarians, counselors, administrators, and superintendents are at work for every student.

NJASL Info Literacy Bill in Assembly Education Committee

Good news: The New Jersey state Assembly Education Committee is considering A4169 on Thursday, September 22, 2022. School library activists like you have already helped move the NJASL Information Literacy Bill through the state Senate. Can you help this time?

Montanans Care About School Libraries

The Board of Public Education must know that the ARM 55 Recommendations are not right for Montana schools.

Utah's Biggest School District Pulls 52 Books

Alpine (UT) School Board Pulls 52 Books From School Library Without Proper Review The Alpine (UT) School Board has pulled 52 books from their school libraries without the due process that is required by first amendment law which says that materials cannot be deemed “harmful to minors” without being assessed “as a whole” with regard to their value. The Alpine Board has violated this requirement by failing to read the books they are banning, basing their decision solely on isolated excerpts presented out of context.

A Win for Delaware Students and School Libraries

We are glad to bring you some good news today about Delaware school libraries. SB195, the Media Literacy bill establishing statewide standards in Delaware schools, has passed the Assembly and is waiting for the Governor’s signature!

Testimony to DC City Council About School Librarians and Literacy / Learning

The Washington, D.C. City Council held a hearing about the importance of literacy services in the District and the EveryLibrary Institute asked to testify. We reminded the City Council that reintroducing the Student Right to Read Amendment would ensure that there will be a school librarian in every public school. That choice is one of the most effective ways to support literacy and a love of reading for a new generation. 

Michigan Legislative Candidates Express High-Level Support for Certified School Librarians in Recent MAME Survey

The Michigan Association for Media in Education, with the assistance of EveryLibrary, conducted a survey of candidates for the upcoming Michigan House and Michigan Senate primary elections to gauge their support for school libraries and school librarians. We received a 12% response rate to the survey. Responses highlighted the importance of school libraries and school librarians with the candidate.

Keeping the Books in Kent School District

We are very happy to share news from Gavin Downing, the school librarian fighting to retain LGBTQ+ books for his students in the Kent School District outside of Seattle, that the school board has finally voted to keep the books on the shelves. It's an important win for student access and the First Amendment in that district and a key campaign against book bans and materials challenges in Washington state.

Chapter 55 Comments are Critically Important Now in Montana

We're sharing an urgent update from Montana Library Association President Angela Archuleta in advance of the next Negotiated Rules Making Committee meetings on 6/16 and 6/17 the State Capitol. Public comments and participation is critically important right now.