FAQ

We are a fairly new organization; our site launched in June 2023 and we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in July 2023. Our current board members are:

Dorcas Hand, certified teacher-librarian, founder of Students Need Libraries in HISD, and former Director of Libraries at Annunciation Orthodox School (1990-2014).

Debbie Hall, certified teacher-librarian, library consultant, library volunteer, currently part-time Public Services Librarian at Houston Community College Southwest, former HISD librarian in HISD schools (K-12 experience). Debbie served as HISD Library Services Technology Specialist for ten years before retiring.

Cheryl Hensley, certified teacher-librarian, library consultant, and advocate, with 39 years of experience in HISD libraries. HISD Librarian of the Year (2002) and Texas Library Association Siddie Jo Johnson Children’s Librarian of the Year (2023).

Suzanne Lyons, certified teacher-librarian, former Houston ISD Library Specialist and Fort Bend ISD Library Coordinator.  Suzanne is currently a school library consultant and library advocate.

Lisa Robinson, certified HISD educator (Pershing Middle School) and teacher-in-charge-of-library (Shearn Elementary School) (now retired), as well as longtime volunteer for HISD schools; literacy and library advocate; former estate planning attorney.

Anne Furse, community volunteer; former attorney; and Vice Chair of Community of Resources (COR) Houston, a nonprofit that supports underserved Title 1 HISD schools.

We are currently expanding our board. We conduct formal meetings quarterly, and invite a representative of the Houston Association of School Librarians (HASL) to participate in each meeting. We also invited a representative of the HISD Library Services Department, before the department was disbanded.

Volunteers and donors include current and former librarians, teachers, parents, students, and supporters of literacy and learning throughout the Houston area.

Yes. Research from more than 60 impact studies conducted in 22 states has shown that schools with a well-equipped library, staffed by a full-time, certified librarian, contribute significantly to gains in student learning.

High quality school libraries not only help students read more, but also help them learn how to use and process information more effectively and to perform better on achievement tests.

The positive impact is especially significant for disadvantaged students who may have no access to resources and computers at home. “By providing students equal guidance and access to print and digital resources, school librarians help close the gap between privileged and at-risk students.”

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The following information is from an American Library Association infographic, Students Reach Greater Heights with School Librarians:

School librarians are teachers in the school’s largest classroom and integral to educational equity. Research shows the presence of a professionally staffed school library improves achievement for all students, with proportionately higher benefits for disadvantaged students. 

Achterman, D. (2008). Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement in California.

Kuon, T., Flores, J., & Pickett, J. (2014). The Biggest Classroom in the Building. Phi Delta Kappan, 95(7), 65–67.

Lance, K., & Kachel, D. (2018). Why School Librarians Matter: What Years of Research Tell Us.

Williams, D., Wavell, C., & Morrison, K, (2013). Impact of School Libraries on Learning.

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School librarians teach essential skills that prepare today’s learners to become tomorrow’s leaders in our global information society. 

Huisman, R. (2015). Library As Place in Urban High Schools: Connecting College Readiness to Librarian Intervention and Community Partnerships.

Head, A. J. (2012). How College Graduates Solve Information Problems Once They Join the Workplace. Project Information Literacy Research Report.

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Learning and teaching are elevated by high quality educational technologies introduced by the librarian. From personalized learning to alternative assessment tools, from virtual field trips to guest speakers from around the world, school librarians are technology leaders: introducing, teaching, and integrating high quality tools that enhance learning and expand student opportunities. 

Johnson, Doug. (2019). The School Librarian: Your Ultimate Digital Resource. ASCD.

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All learners find resources appropriate to their needs in a school library.  School librarians curate diverse resources that enable every learner to see themselves and learn about others, with materials across grade levels and in multiple formats that support both assigned and self-directed learning. 

2019 Emerging Leaders Team, (2019). Developing Inclusive Learners and Citizens. American Association of School Librarians.

Ishizuka, K. (2018). Can Diverse Books Save Us? In a Divided World, Librarians Are on a Mission.

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Students value the school library as a safe space. School librarians create welcoming and safe learning environments that support students’ well-being and health literacy, nurture empathy, and facilitate deeper engagement in assigned and self-directed learning. 

Merga, M. (2020). A Place to Get Away From it All: 5 Ways School Libraries Support Student Well-Being.

Merga, M. (2021). Libraries as Wellbeing Supportive Spaces in Contemporary Schools. Journal of Library Administration.

Libraries are changing fast, and are important educational resources for every student and teacher in a school. Good school libraries have thousands of both digital and print books providing accurate information reflecting many perspectives, as well as the latest online research tools and librarians who help students learn to use them. Librarians are specially trained to help students (and teachers) become expert at using these resources, show them how to find obscure information in print and digital formats, and teach them how to evaluate the information they find. School librarians know the teachers and are familiar with the school curriculum, so they can support students who are working on class assignments.

In a school library, technology and books are always available. Students from economically disadvantaged families often don’t have consistent access to computers and/or the internet at home. Private schools and schools in affluent neighborhoods tend to have excellent libraries; it makes sense that all HISD schools – no matter what area they are in – should also have these educational resources.

Although e-books are useful and are readily available at school libraries, many titles are not available online, or are expensive, and many students still prefer print books, especially for recreational reading. Libraries allow students to browse thousands of volumes and discover books they really want to read. There are many wonderful picture books, graphic novels and manga, addictive fiction series, and lavishly illustrated books about history, design, video games, science, and countless other topics. Even the most reluctant reader can find a tempting book in a well-stocked school library. 

Libraries also include safe, comfortable places to read, study, and share information, and other features like media centers, maker spaces, collaboration rooms, and educational activities. 21st libraries are evolving to meet new demands and new technology. Today’s school libraries are popular learning centers that cultivate a culture of reading, teach students how to use research technology most effectively, and promote critical thinking skills for life-long learning – and HISD students deserve to have these resources.

Public libraries are wonderful, but students – especially in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – often can’t get to them. Young students are dependent on their busy families to take them to check out and return books. Even if a public library happens to be within walking distance, it may not be safe for young readers to visit independently. Many libraries also have limited hours on weekends and after school.

School libraries provide easy, free access to age-appropriate reading material, five days a week. They provide a wide range of books, digital materials, and other resources among various interests and reading levels. The setting is safe and comfortable, surrounded by schoolmates and supervised by a familiar librarian. The school librarian works with teachers to support class projects, and is familiar with student needs and interests. 

HISD library staff members do encourage their students to take advantage of the valuable resources that public libraries offer, especially during the summer and school holidays. All HISD students can use their student IDs to access Houston Public Library resources and services.

High school students may have less time for recreational reading during the school year, and tend to have more reliable access to internet-based resources for research. However, high school libraries benefit students (and teachers) in countless other ways. Well-run high school libraries are lively learning hubs where students research, study, and collaborate on challenging projects. 

Students in 9th-12th grade, especially those in IB programs or taking AP classes, must produce complex    research papers. Library resources can help them complete these projects, and librarians are trained to teach students the strong research skills they need in high school and beyond.

Students also use their high school library resources to research colleges and college alternatives, summer jobs, and careers; master the newest internet-based research tools; imagine and create in maker spaces and music labs; decompress by reading graphic novels or talking with friends; hear informative presentations; and much more. (HSPVA students regularly perform in the library, for example.) Students can also check out exciting new materials (physical or digital) to read during breaks and during the summer, improving their reading fluency in the process.  

A certified librarian in a Texas public school 

• Has a master’s degree.
• Is a certified teacher, with at least two years of classroom teaching experience.
• Has completed a School Librarian Certificate Program, including 160 hours of school library experiences with diverse types of students, grade levels, and campuses.
• Has passed the 5-hour Texas School Librarianship exam.
• Satisfies state continuing education requirements.  

Volunteers are very helpful to librarians and media specialists. By shelving books, helping students check out books, assisting at book fairs, and reading to children, volunteers can allow library staff to spend more time on other important tasks.

School librarians are teachers with a master’s degree and two years of classroom experience. Their many other responsibilities include selecting, ordering, and cataloguing print and virtual materials, including books, databases, journals, and news resources; improving students’ literacy skills by helping them find reading material suitable to their interests; helping students with research and other projects by suggesting helpful digital and print resources; coordinating with classroom teachers and administrators to support the curriculum for each grade; managing the computers, printers, wifi, and other technology in the library; teaching classes about subjects ranging from research skills to digital literacy; removing and disposing of out-of-date materials; teaching students and staff how to use online research resources; remaining informed about current state requirements governing library collections; obtaining comfortable and useful furnishings; organizing book fairs, literacy nights, and special events such as author visits; and hosting club meetings and other student gatherings. These responsibilities require excellent organizational, computer operation, communication, and reading skills.

While volunteers can provide valuable support, HISD students deserve the full spectrum of essential services that a trained librarian provides.

We currently aren’t able to accept donated books. The single (sometimes part-time) staff member in a typical HISD library isn’t able to undertake the time-consuming task of processing donations. In the future we hope to create a team of volunteer processors, enabling us receive donations of library-quality books to share with HISD libraries that need them.

Books Between Kids accepts new and like-new books for ages Pre-K to Grade 5. They “serve Houston’s at-risk children by providing them with books to build their own home libraries.”

You can deliver books of all kinds to the Friends of the Houston Public Library Warehouse. The Friends sell the books and use the proceeds to enhance Houston’s public libraries.

Literacy Now collects books for children aged 5-7 (K to Grade 1), and donates them to the economically disadvantaged children it serves.

Books for Development sends large shipments of books (and volunteers) to impoverished areas of the world to establish community libraries. The types of books they are seeking are listed here.

The Book Cycle is a Houston nonprofit that accepts used books and holds events to redistribute them (for free) to anyone who will appreciate them. They welcome donations of books for children and teens.

In HISD, each principal sets the budget for his or her school. The district itself doesn’t pay for library resources. The principal may decide to dedicate funds to the library, but there is no requirement to do so.

Some school libraries receive funding each year, and/or receive funds from parent organizations. However, many school libraries, particularly in the most economically disadvantaged areas, have no annual budget funds, and are least likely to have PTAs or PTOs.

Even if parent organizations exist, families in these communities are unlikely to be able to make donations to support the school library. As a result, these libraries may have difficulty funding new books, digital resources, and technology to help students learn. They may also lack comfortable seating and other amenities that help make the library an inviting place to gather and study.