Academic integrity, copyright in K-12 schools

 569 school library practitioners in 85 countries participated in a study to investigate the current landscape of academic integrity and copyright literacy policies and instruction in K–12 schools. The researchers identified challenges and opportunities in this crucial domain, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to teaching academic integrity and copyright literacy regardless of the specific curriculum followed by each school. The study found that many K-12 schools lack policies on academic integrity and copyright, with variability in teaching practices, highlighting the need for improved education and collaboration between school library professionals and teachers. 

Hossain, Z., Celik, O., & Hertel, C. (2024).  Academic integrity and copyright literacy policy and instruction in k-12 schools: a global study from the perspective of school library professionals. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 4, article no. 4.

https://edintegrity.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s40979-024-00150-x

Global Digital Reading Report

Sora, the student reading platform from OverDrive, published “its first annual reading report of worldwide student digital reading data for the 2022-2023 school year.” “The State of K-12 Digital Reading,” which is available to download for free after registering, “reveals compelling regional differences, double digit growth in Comics and Graphic Novels and a surprising insight on which months tracked the most time spent reading.”

Key findings include the following:

Digital reading in K-12 schools has increased significantly over the past few years. Since 2019, total usage (based on digital book checkouts) has grown 286 percent as the number of schools using the Sora platform more than doubled. In 2022-23, usage continued the trend with 12% growth.

Reading sessions on the Sora reading app were up more than 8 percent compared to the previous school year (2021-2022), with total books read per student increasing by 3 percent.

The ebook format accounted for 84 percent of titles opened during the ’22-’23 school year, while audiobooks remain popular with 14 percent. Comics and graphic novels have contributed to the strong ebook usage, more than quadrupling in checkouts and jumping from 31 to 42% of total ebook checkouts since 2019.

For more information, read the press release at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/student-ebook-usage-breaks-records-302105186.html.

2024 School Library Budget and Spending Survey

 The School Library Journal's annual budget and spending survey's 2024 findings show stable budgets (although depending more on state and federal money than on local funding) and more spending on print books less spending on ebooks, now that most schools are back to in-person instruction. School librarians also spent money on upgrading their furniture. With book bans and challenges becoming more prevalent, school librarians are sometimes needing to get more approvals for spending choices. More details can be found in the full article.

Cockcroft, M. (2024, April 4). Spend it if you can. School Library Journal. 

https://www.slj.com/story/spend-it-if-you-can-SLJ-2024-school-library-budget-survey

Parents' Perceptions of LIbraries

Three national surveys asked parents and guardians about their perception of librarians' trustworthiness as professionals and curators of a library collection and their attitudes toward books and book bans. ​

"Top-level findings from the Parents Perception Report are:

• 85% of respondents say they trust librarians.
• 58% of parents think public librarians should be primarily responsible for what books are selected for the public library as opposed to elected officials, library boards, or parent groups.
• 92% of respondents say libraries are safe spaces for their children.
• 75% of respondents do not believe their libraries are experiencing book bans.
• 67% of respondents feel that book bans infringe on their rights to make decisions for their children.
• 75% of respondents report that neither they nor their child have checked out a book from the library that they felt was inappropriate.
• 63% of respondents agree or somewhat agree that “banning books is a waste of time” at the public library. 
• 57% of respondents say banning books from the school library is an appropriate way to prevent children from learning about certain topics. 
• 80% of respondents agree that "school libraries should have content rating systems.
• 95% of respondents want to see a school library in their child’s school. 

The increase in book bans is a concerning trend threatening the democratic values of freedom of expression and access to information. The survey report should inform librarians about curating content and creating policies that align with community values and expectations, as well as inform policymakers and educators about making decisions that reflect the actual views of parents rather than those of special interest groups." (from Every Library Institute).  

McGehee, M., & Chrastka, J.(2023). Parents' perception survey series final report. Every Library Institute. 

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/votelibraries/pages/6280/attachments/original/1705534711/Parent_Perceptions_Final_Report_-_ELI_and_BR_-_17_January_2024.pdf?1705534711

Early digital reading and reading stamina research

Early frequent reading online can negatively impact reading stamina. Recognizing letters and matching them to their associated sounds is a vital part of learning to read. Being read to and reading practice results in automacity between 5 and 7 years old. when this combination skills is delayed, it makes it harder to read, which impacts reading stamina. Early exposure to digital text can be overstimulating and can lead to more passivity and distraction, which impedes focus. Even when presented as a host of “learning activities,” electronic devices do not benefit toddlers cognitively, she said. “The screens move too fast for them. At that age, children need an adult to sit beside them to mediate the information, to communicate the information.”

Horowitz-Kraus T, Rosch K, Fotang J, Mostofsky SH, Schlaggar BL, Pekar J, Taran N, Farah R. Fluent contextual reading is associated with greater synchronization of the visual and auditory networks, fluent reading and better speed of processing in children with dyslexia. Cortex. 2023 Nov;168:62-75. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.07.007. Epub 2023 Aug 17. PMID: 37660660. 

Parents' Perception of School Libraries reports

A recent study investigated parents' perceptions of school librarians. A vast majority of the parents surveyed asserted that every school should have a school librarian. The survey results show that a significant percentage of parents (80%) trust school librarians to select appropriate books and materials for school libraries. However,  only 41% of the parents have met their child’s school librarian. There were also mixed feelings about providing materials on race/racism and LGBT+, depending on the students' age. Parents also want more say about library collections.

A series of Parents’ Perception of School Libraries and Librarians Survey (Dec 2023) findings are available at https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/parent_perception_school_libraries_2023. Please see “Parents’ Perceptions of Public Libraries” (Sept 2023) and “Parents’ Perceptions of Librarians” (Nov 2023) for additional insights on this dynamic topic, surveyed by Book Riot and EveryLibrary Institute. 

Book Banning Report

A recent study reflected on the nearly 6,000 book bans in public schools documented from July 2021 to June 2023. The study illustrates the spread of copycat book bans and an apparent “Scarlet Letter” effect, where several works from an author’s catalog were subsequently targeted after at least one of their works was banned.

PEN. (2023). Banned in the US: The growing movement to censor books in schools. PEN.

https://pen.org/report/banned-usa-growing-movement-to-censor-books-in-schools/