Friends of HISD Libraries
@friendshisdlibs.bsky.social
Working to support Houston ISD libraries through funding, advocacy, & volunteer aid, and to advocate for all school libraries as essential centers of student learning.
"I didn't like reading, & then I was introduced to Encyclopedia Brown, my first boyfriend. I'm reading today because of Encyclopedia Brown."
School libraries help kids read & succeed, but 185+ Houston ISD schools no longer have libraries. 90% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
School libraries help kids read & succeed, but 185+ Houston ISD schools no longer have libraries. 90% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
October 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
"I didn't like reading, & then I was introduced to Encyclopedia Brown, my first boyfriend. I'm reading today because of Encyclopedia Brown."
School libraries help kids read & succeed, but 185+ Houston ISD schools no longer have libraries. 90% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
School libraries help kids read & succeed, but 185+ Houston ISD schools no longer have libraries. 90% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
"Libraries are places for everybody."
Student isolation & anxiety are increasing - & school libraries offer more than books (print & digital), tech, safe study space, & academic support. But 108k+ HISD students no longer have libraries; 90% of those kids live in/near poverty. Let's do better, TX.
Student isolation & anxiety are increasing - & school libraries offer more than books (print & digital), tech, safe study space, & academic support. But 108k+ HISD students no longer have libraries; 90% of those kids live in/near poverty. Let's do better, TX.
September 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
"Libraries are places for everybody."
Student isolation & anxiety are increasing - & school libraries offer more than books (print & digital), tech, safe study space, & academic support. But 108k+ HISD students no longer have libraries; 90% of those kids live in/near poverty. Let's do better, TX.
Student isolation & anxiety are increasing - & school libraries offer more than books (print & digital), tech, safe study space, & academic support. But 108k+ HISD students no longer have libraries; 90% of those kids live in/near poverty. Let's do better, TX.
90%+ of the affected students live in or near poverty. Many have little access to print/digital books, technology, literacy/research support, & quiet study space at home, & may not have adults available to read to them.
TX: School libraries help our students read and succeed.
#HISD
TX: School libraries help our students read and succeed.
#HISD
September 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
90%+ of the affected students live in or near poverty. Many have little access to print/digital books, technology, literacy/research support, & quiet study space at home, & may not have adults available to read to them.
TX: School libraries help our students read and succeed.
#HISD
TX: School libraries help our students read and succeed.
#HISD
“Education is the foundation to build your dreams upon, & that starts with literacy. Knowing how to read helps every aspect of your life.”
115k HISD kids now have no school libraries for books (digital & print), tech, literacy/research help, safe study spaces, & more. Texas: Why?
115k HISD kids now have no school libraries for books (digital & print), tech, literacy/research help, safe study spaces, & more. Texas: Why?
September 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
“Education is the foundation to build your dreams upon, & that starts with literacy. Knowing how to read helps every aspect of your life.”
115k HISD kids now have no school libraries for books (digital & print), tech, literacy/research help, safe study spaces, & more. Texas: Why?
115k HISD kids now have no school libraries for books (digital & print), tech, literacy/research help, safe study spaces, & more. Texas: Why?
The Houston library closures continue; 186+ HISD schools now lack functioning libraries. 90%+ of affected students live in/near poverty; these kids most need the books, tech, literacy support, & safe study space that school libraries offer. TX: Libraries help kids succeed; let's support them.
August 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The Houston library closures continue; 186+ HISD schools now lack functioning libraries. 90%+ of affected students live in/near poverty; these kids most need the books, tech, literacy support, & safe study space that school libraries offer. TX: Libraries help kids succeed; let's support them.
HISD Library Staff: Please join us on Sat 9/13 to pick up some books, hear district news, share successes & challenges, grab a snack, maybe win a great door prize! Kids welcome. Location info coming soon. Thanks for all you do for #HISD students!
#literacymatters #library #books
#literacymatters #library #books
August 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
HISD Library Staff: Please join us on Sat 9/13 to pick up some books, hear district news, share successes & challenges, grab a snack, maybe win a great door prize! Kids welcome. Location info coming soon. Thanks for all you do for #HISD students!
#literacymatters #library #books
#literacymatters #library #books
When she arrived in NY at age 12, her only disappointment with libraries was that she could only borrow 10 books at a time. “Libraries felt like church to me. It felt like a religious experience.”
107k+ HISD kids now have no school libraries. 93% of them live in/near poverty. TX: Let's change this.
107k+ HISD kids now have no school libraries. 93% of them live in/near poverty. TX: Let's change this.
July 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
When she arrived in NY at age 12, her only disappointment with libraries was that she could only borrow 10 books at a time. “Libraries felt like church to me. It felt like a religious experience.”
107k+ HISD kids now have no school libraries. 93% of them live in/near poverty. TX: Let's change this.
107k+ HISD kids now have no school libraries. 93% of them live in/near poverty. TX: Let's change this.
Today's libraries are full of exciting resources! But in Houston ISD, a child now can easily go from prek-12th grade without ever having a school library. Slides & worksheets are replacing books. TX: Solid literacy skills, not test prep, are essential for success in school & in life.
July 26, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Today's libraries are full of exciting resources! But in Houston ISD, a child now can easily go from prek-12th grade without ever having a school library. Slides & worksheets are replacing books. TX: Solid literacy skills, not test prep, are essential for success in school & in life.
“I loved going to the library... And I’ll never forget my librarian, Coreen Harvey.”
Of the 107k+ HISD kids who now have no libraries, 93% live in/near poverty. They read handouts instead of books; reading aloud to students is discouraged. TX: Literacy is critical for success in life.
#johnlewis
Of the 107k+ HISD kids who now have no libraries, 93% live in/near poverty. They read handouts instead of books; reading aloud to students is discouraged. TX: Literacy is critical for success in life.
#johnlewis
July 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
“I loved going to the library... And I’ll never forget my librarian, Coreen Harvey.”
Of the 107k+ HISD kids who now have no libraries, 93% live in/near poverty. They read handouts instead of books; reading aloud to students is discouraged. TX: Literacy is critical for success in life.
#johnlewis
Of the 107k+ HISD kids who now have no libraries, 93% live in/near poverty. They read handouts instead of books; reading aloud to students is discouraged. TX: Literacy is critical for success in life.
#johnlewis
"Libraries are the places where book lovers are made."
175+ Houston ISD schools - most in high-poverty areas - no longer have libraries. The district's new, tightly regimented New Education System doesn't allow time for read-alouds, library visits, or reading full books.
TX: Libraries help our kids.
175+ Houston ISD schools - most in high-poverty areas - no longer have libraries. The district's new, tightly regimented New Education System doesn't allow time for read-alouds, library visits, or reading full books.
TX: Libraries help our kids.
July 11, 2025 at 10:52 PM
"Libraries are the places where book lovers are made."
175+ Houston ISD schools - most in high-poverty areas - no longer have libraries. The district's new, tightly regimented New Education System doesn't allow time for read-alouds, library visits, or reading full books.
TX: Libraries help our kids.
175+ Houston ISD schools - most in high-poverty areas - no longer have libraries. The district's new, tightly regimented New Education System doesn't allow time for read-alouds, library visits, or reading full books.
TX: Libraries help our kids.
2 librarians with HISD ties were accepted to TALL Texans, a highly competitive library leadership program. Lindsey, an HISD Library Services Coordinator until the dept was closed, now heads Stafford's school libraries. HISD librarian Kaitlyn just earned her MLIS degree in addition to her MLS.
July 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
2 librarians with HISD ties were accepted to TALL Texans, a highly competitive library leadership program. Lindsey, an HISD Library Services Coordinator until the dept was closed, now heads Stafford's school libraries. HISD librarian Kaitlyn just earned her MLIS degree in addition to her MLS.
“My life has been inescapably shaped by libraries and books and the knowledge they hold."
2022: all Houston ISD schools were required to have staffed libraries.
2023: TX took over the district; 175+ schools - most in high-poverty areas - now have no libraries, & the closures continue.
2022: all Houston ISD schools were required to have staffed libraries.
2023: TX took over the district; 175+ schools - most in high-poverty areas - now have no libraries, & the closures continue.
July 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
“My life has been inescapably shaped by libraries and books and the knowledge they hold."
2022: all Houston ISD schools were required to have staffed libraries.
2023: TX took over the district; 175+ schools - most in high-poverty areas - now have no libraries, & the closures continue.
2022: all Houston ISD schools were required to have staffed libraries.
2023: TX took over the district; 175+ schools - most in high-poverty areas - now have no libraries, & the closures continue.
“I lost myself in my school library, & I found myself as well. I was deathly shy & introverted, but books gave me something I loved."
175+ HISD schools, incl. Tate’s schools, now have no libraries; 93% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
TX: Libraries help kids succeed in school & in life.
175+ HISD schools, incl. Tate’s schools, now have no libraries; 93% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
TX: Libraries help kids succeed in school & in life.
July 1, 2025 at 10:28 PM
“I lost myself in my school library, & I found myself as well. I was deathly shy & introverted, but books gave me something I loved."
175+ HISD schools, incl. Tate’s schools, now have no libraries; 93% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
TX: Libraries help kids succeed in school & in life.
175+ HISD schools, incl. Tate’s schools, now have no libraries; 93% of the affected kids live in/near poverty.
TX: Libraries help kids succeed in school & in life.
"When I was growing up in East Texas, my family had no money for books, so our local library was my reading room... There I entered a boundless world to discover more lives to lead than I had dreamed of.” In HISD, kids can now easily go from PreK-high school without ever having a school library.
June 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
"When I was growing up in East Texas, my family had no money for books, so our local library was my reading room... There I entered a boundless world to discover more lives to lead than I had dreamed of.” In HISD, kids can now easily go from PreK-high school without ever having a school library.
100% of the students at the pictured HISD school live in/near poverty, & own few, if any, books. 65% speak another language at home. They loved their library, but it (&174+ others) is now closed. HISD libraries in more affluent areas remain open.
TX: All kids deserve libraries.
TX: All kids deserve libraries.
June 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
100% of the students at the pictured HISD school live in/near poverty, & own few, if any, books. 65% speak another language at home. They loved their library, but it (&174+ others) is now closed. HISD libraries in more affluent areas remain open.
TX: All kids deserve libraries.
TX: All kids deserve libraries.
“I now know I need quiet in order to create. The world easily overwhelms me. I first noticed I needed silence when I made my first visit to the library.”
175+ HISD schools no longer have these important sources of books (print & digital), tech, research/literacy help, & more.
175+ HISD schools no longer have these important sources of books (print & digital), tech, research/literacy help, & more.
June 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
“I now know I need quiet in order to create. The world easily overwhelms me. I first noticed I needed silence when I made my first visit to the library.”
175+ HISD schools no longer have these important sources of books (print & digital), tech, research/literacy help, & more.
175+ HISD schools no longer have these important sources of books (print & digital), tech, research/literacy help, & more.
"I am who I am today because I had a pretty remarkable imagination. I dreamed a lot. And I had lots of ideas based on books I read in school."
175+ Houston ISD schools no longer have functioning libraries; 93% of the affected students live in/near poverty.
TX: ALL children deserve school libraries.
175+ Houston ISD schools no longer have functioning libraries; 93% of the affected students live in/near poverty.
TX: ALL children deserve school libraries.
June 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
"I am who I am today because I had a pretty remarkable imagination. I dreamed a lot. And I had lots of ideas based on books I read in school."
175+ Houston ISD schools no longer have functioning libraries; 93% of the affected students live in/near poverty.
TX: ALL children deserve school libraries.
175+ Houston ISD schools no longer have functioning libraries; 93% of the affected students live in/near poverty.
TX: ALL children deserve school libraries.
Question 1: When impoverished kids don't have books from Pre-K through high school, is it surprising that they struggle with the SAT’s reading/writing sections?
Question 2: Why is Houston ISD closing libraries in its neediest schools, while keeping them in its most affluent schools?
Question 2: Why is Houston ISD closing libraries in its neediest schools, while keeping them in its most affluent schools?
June 12, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Question 1: When impoverished kids don't have books from Pre-K through high school, is it surprising that they struggle with the SAT’s reading/writing sections?
Question 2: Why is Houston ISD closing libraries in its neediest schools, while keeping them in its most affluent schools?
Question 2: Why is Houston ISD closing libraries in its neediest schools, while keeping them in its most affluent schools?
Houston ISD students can now easily go from pre-K thru high school without ever having a school library. 93% of kids without libraries live in/near poverty, & have few, if any, books at home.
TX: ALL students deserve school libraries.
TX: ALL students deserve school libraries.
June 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Houston ISD students can now easily go from pre-K thru high school without ever having a school library. 93% of kids without libraries live in/near poverty, & have few, if any, books at home.
TX: ALL students deserve school libraries.
TX: ALL students deserve school libraries.
For kids in high-need areas, school libraries are vital sources of books; tech; literacy/research support; safe, quiet study space; activities; companionship.
175+ Houston ISD schools lacked functioning libraries in 2024-25; more will close this fall. 93% of affected kids live in/near poverty.
175+ Houston ISD schools lacked functioning libraries in 2024-25; more will close this fall. 93% of affected kids live in/near poverty.
June 9, 2025 at 12:19 AM
For kids in high-need areas, school libraries are vital sources of books; tech; literacy/research support; safe, quiet study space; activities; companionship.
175+ Houston ISD schools lacked functioning libraries in 2024-25; more will close this fall. 93% of affected kids live in/near poverty.
175+ Houston ISD schools lacked functioning libraries in 2024-25; more will close this fall. 93% of affected kids live in/near poverty.
At least 175 Houston ISD schools now have no functioning libraries. Of the 106k+ students affected, 93% live in/near poverty, & 42% speak another language at home.
Of the 40 most affluent schools in the district, 36 have retained their library staff & programs.
Of the 40 most affluent schools in the district, 36 have retained their library staff & programs.
June 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
At least 175 Houston ISD schools now have no functioning libraries. Of the 106k+ students affected, 93% live in/near poverty, & 42% speak another language at home.
Of the 40 most affluent schools in the district, 36 have retained their library staff & programs.
Of the 40 most affluent schools in the district, 36 have retained their library staff & programs.
Incorrect. Houston ISD invested $19.5 million in fed funds to upgrade its libraries post-COVID, & required a library on each campus, but since the state takeover at least 175 HISD schools have no functioning libraries.
In many cases the books & other resources are gone, or inaccessible.
In many cases the books & other resources are gone, or inaccessible.
June 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Incorrect. Houston ISD invested $19.5 million in fed funds to upgrade its libraries post-COVID, & required a library on each campus, but since the state takeover at least 175 HISD schools have no functioning libraries.
In many cases the books & other resources are gone, or inaccessible.
In many cases the books & other resources are gone, or inaccessible.
TX school librarians have a master's degree & 2 yrs+ of classroom teaching experience, complete a 200 hr school librarianship course, pass a certification exam. They're experts at teaching literacy, research skills, critical thinking, STEM, & more. HISD now has only 28 librarians for 274 schools.
May 31, 2025 at 3:16 AM
TX school librarians have a master's degree & 2 yrs+ of classroom teaching experience, complete a 200 hr school librarianship course, pass a certification exam. They're experts at teaching literacy, research skills, critical thinking, STEM, & more. HISD now has only 28 librarians for 274 schools.
Dr. Harrison's first job was washing hair in her mother's home beauty shop; her love of reading helped lead to a distinguished career. Bright students at 170+ HISD schools - most in high-need areas - now have no libraries. TX: School libraries are smart investments in future success.
May 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Dr. Harrison's first job was washing hair in her mother's home beauty shop; her love of reading helped lead to a distinguished career. Bright students at 170+ HISD schools - most in high-need areas - now have no libraries. TX: School libraries are smart investments in future success.
Our event included updates on the loss of 170+ district libraries since the state takeover, info about outstanding programs, & remarks from elected officials. Current library staff continue to do a great job of promoting success in school & a lifelong love of reading; thank you!
May 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Our event included updates on the loss of 170+ district libraries since the state takeover, info about outstanding programs, & remarks from elected officials. Current library staff continue to do a great job of promoting success in school & a lifelong love of reading; thank you!