School Library Journal

Tabletop Role-Playing Games | Multimedia Reviews https://hubs.la/Q03c_NfH0

These books touch on book banning, romance, mental health, trans history, friendship breakups, folk-horror, time travel, historical fantasy, dance, climate change, and more. https://hubs.la/Q03c_NNZ0

With anti-DEI legislation and sentiment festering—the president of the United States leading the way—we risk losing ground on fairness and equality when we need it most. This despite that most Americans support DEI measures, according to a Washington Post/Ipsos poll. "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. Now More Than Ever. | From the Editor" https://hubs.la/Q03c_Ny60

Libraries use programming and community engagement to meet our needs. Good libraries know the teens in their communities, what their needs are and what resources are available to them. Try the following with teens who need to feel secure about their future. (Pearl's & Ruby's) https://hubs.la/Q03c_z-p0

Tim Jones has taken his work combining graphic novels and media literacy beyond the library, presenting at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), American Association of School Librarians (AASL), American Library Association (ALA), and NAMLE conferences. He is currently expanding a popular article he wrote for Booklist, “Teaching Media Literacy Using Graphic Novels,” into a book on how to use comics to teach critical thinking in a post-truth, AI-driven world. “I’ve seen firsthand how students engage with comics, and I wanted to create a resource that helps educators harness their power,” Jones says. https://hubs.la/Q03c_BJg0

The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind serves students from preschool through 12th grade, housing multiple schools for students who are deaf or hard of hearing and students who are blind or visually impaired. When she was hired in April 2022, Jennifer Mathews didn’t read braille or know American Sign Language (ASL). After arriving on campus, she discovered that she faced an even bigger hurdle. Hired initially as the librarian for blind students, Mathews was surprised to learn that the school for the deaf had recently cut its library position. Mathews’s new principal asked if she would head a combined library for blind and deaf students. The unexpected challenge didn’t faze Mathews, a finalist for the 2025 School Librarian of the Year Award, presented by SLJ and sponsored by Scholastic. She took on her new duties without hesitation. https://hubs.la/Q03c_rp60

As educators realize how including RPGs in libraries and other school spaces can create educational opportunities as well as foster social-emotional learning skills, here are some books and graphic novels that feature the popular RPG Dungeons & Dragons. https://hubs.ly/Q03c_jfx0

Illustrator and graphic novelist Yao Xiao (center) with students. Applications from educators rose by 20 percent for the 2024–25 Lambda Literary LGBTQ Writers in Schools program, and this winter and spring, some 10,000 K–12 school children in the NYC DoE will experience these author visits in their libraries or classrooms. Educators apply for the grant by responding to essay questions, and when selected, they choose from approximately 130 books in an LGBTQ WIS roster by LGBTQ authors writing for children, middle grade, YA, and crossover teen/adult audiences. https://hubs.la/Q035ry2d0

DIY to the Rescue: 10 Librarian-Tested Passive Programs https://hubs.ly/Q03c_j9-0

4 Twisty Boarding School Mysteries for Teens | YA Spotlight https://hubs.la/Q03c_jl50