School Library Research 2026 studies

 

• Schattle, S. & O’Connor, J (2026). Books and Barriers: The Influence of Book Censorship on the Role of School Librarians, Their Self-Efficacy, and Well-Being. School Library Research 29. Collection development is demanding significantly more time and effort than in the past, and that book censorship is adversely affecting the overall well-being of school librarians, contributing to heightened stress and challenges in their work environment.
• Stellmann E. & Song, L. (2026). Digital Citizenship in K–12 Education: Educators’ Beliefs and Concerns. School Library Research 29. A recent study indicated the importance of DC instruction for K–12 students, with comment analysis revealing 21 new topics and one new category not included in the literature on the subject.
• Cheby L. & Wimberley, L. (2026). The Impact of High School Library Staffing on College Success. School Library Research 29. This study  found that the presence of library staff in students’ high school resulted in statistically significant improved GPA and number of credit hours earned in their first semester.
• Hossain, Z., Hertel, C., & Biswas, M.S. (2026). School Librarians’ AI Literacy, Readiness, and Professional Engagement with AI Technologies: An International Survey. School Library Research 29. This study highlights the urgent need for targeted LIS curriculum reform, institutional support, and professional development to empower school librarians to lead the preparation of future citizens for an AI-augmented world.
• Vallée, E. & Trespalacios, J. (2026). Exploring School Librarians’ Perceptions of Digital Books. School Library Research 29. The study reveaedlthat while participating school librarians perceive digital books as useful and generally easy to use, technology acceptance remains highly conditional. Acceptance is systematically bottlenecked by a lack of explicit digital reading instruction, classroom teacher skepticism, and a persistent user preference for physical print
• Krutka, K. R. (2026). “So they know the library is a space for them”: School Librarians’ Understandings and Perspectives on the Significance of Diverse Representation in Book Collections. School Library Research 29.  This study found that librarians center students in practices and decision-making; librarians believe in the power of books; they are deliberate about the message they are sending students, and they know libraries can continue to improve in service to communities.