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Mesquite ISD librarians report growth in curriculum collaboration and family engagement, flag declines in print circulation
Summary
District library services said teacher-library collaborations rose 15% and family events and early-literacy programs grew, but staff warned of declining print checkouts and budget pressure tied to Reader Act compliance and digital-resource tracking.
Emma McDonald, director of library services, told trustees that Mesquite ISD now has 52 campus librarians who serve as instructional partners and that librarian–teacher collaborations increased by 15% this year. The district reported stronger outreach: the Little Readers program grew 63% and the Fanfare community event registrations rose from 800 to 1,500.
McDonald said librarians logged more than 4,000 lessons and that inquiry instruction and curriculum-linked work have increased, with seven campus libraries now housing hydroponics gardens used for hands-on STEM lessons. She also flagged concerns about a decline in print checkouts and library visits, citing shifts to digital resources (TumbleBooks, Lightbox) and instructional-minute limits that reduce campus library access.
Trustees commended the expanded role of librarians as instructional leaders and asked about sustained funding for new initiatives. McDonald said compliance with state Reader Act requirements and ongoing budget constraints make acquisitions and digital subscriptions an ongoing challenge: "We continue our work with intentionally supporting district priorities and initiatives through librarian professional development and targeted implementation," she told the board.
