Dallas ISD libraries are seeing a sharp rise in book checkouts this fall as students rediscover the joy of reading — part of a district-wide push to get kids off their phones and back into books. The district recorded 356,624 checkouts in the first quarter, up 62,000 from 2024.
The surge comes as campuses reimagine libraries as modern, inviting spaces. A new district cellphone policy — implemented at most schools this semester — may also be steering students toward books instead of screens.
At Hillcrest High School, media specialist Nina Canales has redesigned the library to feel more like a bookstore. Student visits jumped from 439 to 864 in the first three weeks compared to 2024.
The renewed enthusiasm for reading follows years of concern about literacy performance in the district. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Dallas ISD’s student achievement scores have remained in the “C” range for reading, with just under half of students meeting grade-level expectations. District leaders say efforts like redesigned libraries and reduced cellphone distractions could help turn those numbers around.
“One thing in the library that keeps me coming back is the quiet area and the sweet librarians,” said Alexander W., a sophomore. “Spending more time in the library influenced my school day by making it more productive and calming.”
Creative displays and new student-led book clubs are drawing larger crowds. At Hillcrest, the “My Book It–Make It Club” merges reading with arts and crafts projects.
“The goal is to make reading feel personal,” Canales explained. “Once students realize there’s something here for them, they start to see the library as their space. It’s the one place on campus where they can catch their breath.”
Brandon M., another sophomore, visits weekly for history books. “My favorite genre is history; the one specific book is about war planes and their different designs through the years. Spending more time in the library has influenced me to become more optimistic since I have a nice work environment to be in.”
District-wide checkouts climbed from 147,339 to 169,768 in the first month alone — a 15% jump year over year. Patricia Alvarado-Barnes, director of Library/Media Services, credits the gains to several factors.
“Students are using their technology a little more responsibly,” she said. “Without phones as a distraction, they’re discovering more about what’s on the shelves, and in their Sora e-book app.”
Nearly every Dallas ISD campus now has a certified librarian, a milestone the district says is paying off. The department’s goal: one million checkouts by year’s end.
“This increase in circulation is very valuable for our kids,” Alvarado-Barnes said. “We want students to be well-read and prepared — not just for school, but for the world.”
District officials say the trend is especially encouraging at a time when national reading scores have fallen, underscoring the impact of keeping libraries central to student life.