Welcome back to our School & Library Spotlight newsletter. In our latest issue, we bring you a preview of the upcoming Texas Library Association and Public Library Association conferences, including program picks and an interview with featured author Tracey Baptiste. We also round up celebratory picture books for Women’s History Month and the spring season.
We're always looking for teachers and librarians to share their insights and ideas for stories. If you're interested in participating in future features or reflecting on issues you're facing, please get in touch. We look forward to connecting!
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All Together in the
Lone Star StateFor the first time in a decade, the Texas Library Association returns to Houston for its annual conference, to be held March 29–31. The event aims to foster connection among the group’s diverse membership.
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TLA Program PicksSee highlights from the slate of general sessions, ticketed events, and educational panels.
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PLA 2026: Showing UpWeeks after federal immigration enforcement upended everyday life in Minneapolis, the Public Library Association brings its biennial convention to the city, from April 1–3.
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PLA Program PicksParticipants in the Public Library Association’s Minneapolis meeting will lean into social justice, ethical AI, getting more bang for library bucks, and connections with authors.
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SPONSORED
DK Super Economics = Financial Literacy
This brand-new series presents economics topics in an accessible format for elementary school students. Aligned with key curricula, DK Super Economics features immersive visuals, engaging infographics, and hands-on projects or challenges that build financial vocabulary and literacy, providing critical life skills from an early age.
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House Committee Advances National Book Ban BillThe U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce endorsed HR 7661, a bill to withhold federal education funds from public schools alleged to have “sexually oriented materials” in their library collections.
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FY2027 Budget Process Begins, with Library Line ItemsThe American Library Association is seeking bipartisan support as the House Appropriations Committee collects representatives’ requests to fund Library Services and Technology Act grants and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program.
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B&T Makes Surprise
Chapter 11 FilingThe filing caught many in the industry by surprise as the library wholesaler closed its doors when it ran out of funds following the failed sale of the company to ReaderLink. more
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Barnes & Noble Adds to Library ServicesAs companies look to fill the gap left by Baker & Taylor, the bookstore chain’s library platform &Classwork has upped the number of titles that libraries can order to 3.5 million, along with such upgrades as easier payments and faster delivery.
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Children’s Book Council Revamps Kids Favorites AwardsAfter more than 50 years, the former CBC Favorites program, in which children vote on their picks for the best books of the year, has been rebranded as Kids Favorites: Kid Read. Kid Chosen. The Children’s Book Council is relaunching the longstanding initiative with an emphasis on middle grade readers.
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Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award Turns 10, Opens Up VotingThis year marks the 10th anniversary of the Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award, which was established in 2016 by Penguin Young Readers, the Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader in honor of the late author-illustrator and Llama Llama creator. For the first time, the public is invited to help select the winning picture book from a longlist of publisher submissions.
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PW Talks with
St. Paul Public Library Director Maureen HartmanThe St. Paul Public Library director talks about its citywide Read Brave book club, which this year selected Romina Garber’s YA novel about an undocumented teen hiding from immigration enforcement. Hartman will present a leadership strategy session at PLA on April 2.
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Q & A with Angela Quezada PadronWe spoke with Angela Quezada Padron about her work as an educator, editor, and an author-illustrator and publisher; and why she feels called to tell the untold stories of strong Latinas.
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