Each year, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) sponsors the celebration of April as School Library Month! It is a month-long celebration of school libraries and librarians and all they do for their communities.  April 2025 will be the 40th year of celebrating April as School Library Month nationally. The first celebration occurred on April 1, 1985, with a ceremony on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Michigan Celebrates School Library Month 2025

In Michigan, Governor Whitmer has been declaring April as School Library Month for the past six years, and we expect her office to publish a proclamation again this year. The 2024 proclamation recognized the importance of certified school librarians for our students and school communities.

Six Essential Roles: How School Librarians Transform Learning

Certified school librarians serve six essential roles within their schools: teacher, literacy and reading expert, information specialist, instructional technologist, program administrator, and leader as follows:

• Teacher – Delivers instruction on reading, accessing resources, information/media literacy, digital citizenship, and technology tools.
• Literacy and Reading Expert – Has training in youth and Young Adult (YA) literature and collection development to select and promote materials in multiple formats to support learning, personal growth, and enjoyment.
• Information Specialist – Selects, curates, promotes, and uses physical, digital, and virtual collections of resources ethically and equitably to support the needs of the diverse learning community.
• Instructional Technologist: Leads and supports technology integration.
• Program Administrator – Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates the school library programs, resources, and services in support of their schools’ missions according to the ethics and principles of library science, education, management, and administration.
• Leader – Leads a vibrant reading culture in their schools and advocates for students’ access to diverse resources and positive learning environments. Provides professional development for teachers and connects with administrators, teachers, and the community, including local libraries, to ensure all students and the school community have access to integrated resources and services.

Evidence of Impact: How School Librarians Boost Reading Achievement

Several studies have documented that school librarians positively impact student achievement, particularly reading achievement. A Michigan study showed that schools with certified school librarians have 35 percent more fourth graders scoring proficient or above in reading than schools without certified school librarians.  

Digital Literacy: Preparing Students for Today’s Online World

In addition to supporting reading, school librarians teach digital and information literacy skills. For instance, Rockford Freshman Campus School Librarian Alexa Lalejini recently taught a lesson on Digital Wellness to all 9th-grade students in the district.  She discussed safety online, how students could ensure their account information is secure, and how to set boundaries in online relationships.  She also discussed how social media explicitly targets students their age and how corporations use their data.  She connected cortisol and dopamine to the time students spend online and how it affects their brains. She also discussed ways to protect their mental health while using devices.

How to Honor Your School Library Team This April

Michigan and Kent County School Librarians will celebrate School Library Month with their students and communities by holding special events and asking students and colleagues to share their reasons for loving their school library.  Among the many reasons that students and staff love their school libraries include the collaborative and safe environment; the extensive resources, including books for personal enjoyment and learning; the reading recommendations and activities led by the school librarian; the support for research lessons, technology integration, and education; and much more!

What can Kent County school boards, administrators, educators, and community members do to help celebrate School Library Month?  School boards can develop their own statement recognizing School Library Month. They can look to strengthen and fund their school library programs using the MDE Guidelines and Michigan’s School Libraries for the 21st Century (SL21) Benchmarks. In addition, school board members, administrators, educators, and community members can reach out to their school library staff to thank them for all that they do and to share their “reasons to love school libraries.”

So, let’s all celebrate School Library Month!

If your district has questions about how to strengthen its school libraries or would like to share something incredible happening in its school libraries, please contact Kathy Lester, Kent ISD Librarian/Media Specialist Support Consultant, at kathylester.lib@gmail.com.

#SchoolLibraryMonth #ThankALibrarian #ReadingSuccess #WeLeadLearning #Excellence

This blog post was written by Kathy Lester, Kent ISD Librarian/Media Specialist Support Constant and edited by Amanda Walma, T/L Marketing and Communications Specialist.