Leander ISD librarians stand ready to partner with parents in meeting the needs of all students in our school district. Libraries are safe and inviting spaces of learning that support students’ academic needs and curiosity, providing enrichment opportunities along with encouraging a love of reading. Parents or guardians are welcome to reach out to their campus librarian if they have any questions regarding library services.
Our mission is to lead our school communities in an environment that challenges students to IMAGINE possibilities, EXPLORE opportunities and CONNECT with the future and the world.
How are Libraries Serving Our Children?
There is a large body of research showing that strong school libraries make a measurable contribution to student achievement, a summary of which can be found at School Libraries Work!
In accordance with those findings, our most recent annual statistics show that Leander ISD libraries:
- had collectively, more than 540,000 items available for check out
- circulated over 1,115,000 items in total
- checked out more than 700,000 items on our Destiny library in the 24/25 school year, averaging nearly 16 items per student
- checked out more than 190,000 items on Sora Digital library in the 24/25 school year, and hit 1,000,000 overall digital checkouts in December 2024
- shared over 2500 items among campuses through our inter-library loan service
- had more than 138,799 searches on our Gale databases, 391,982 searches on Britannica and over 1 million searches on PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next and PebbleGo Spanish combined.
Your Leander ISD librarians:
- taught over 8,400 hours and nearly 20,000 lessons on
information literacy skills - hosted authors, story tellers, artists, poets–and even reading dogs!
- sponsored dozens of book fairs, reading programs, contests and events
- attended more than 1500 hours of professional learning, and were presenters at several conferences, including Leander ISD’s own Continuous Improvement Conference, TCEA Conference, and Texas Library Association Annual Conference
Frequently Asked Questions
About Libraries
Are there standards on how school libraries should function?
Yes, school libraries follow the School Library Program Standards and Guideline for Texas and the mandatory standards for school library collection development.
What are the qualifications of school librarians?
School librarians must have at least 2 years of teaching experience, have completed a school librarian certification program, have a Master’s degree, and have successfully passed a librarian certification test. Link: Texas Administrative Code for School Librarian Certification
What’s the difference between a library book and an instructional resource?
While instructional materials and library books are both considered instructional resources, they are not the same and the terms should not be used interchangeably.
Since school and classroom libraries are viewed as places for voluntary inquiry, library books are treated differently from instructional materials used in classroom instruction.This distinction has legal significance and is explained on the TASB Instructional Materials and Library Books in Texas Public Schools document in the “Additional Considerations” section.
How do librarians select books to purchase for the school library?
School librarians undergo yearly training and review LISD Board policies EF Legal & EF Local. They also abide by the the following practices: How School Library Materials Are Selected in Leander ISD
How can parents/guardians provide feedback regarding their campus library?
Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their campus librarian to provide feedback and ask questions. Contact information for campus librarians can be accessed on the Library Services website > LISD School Libraries section.
Are students allowed to request an inter-library loan (ILL) from any library?
Per the Leander ISD Student Handbook, students may request to borrow materials from any library in Leander ISD so long as the library matches the same grade level or lower. (Ex: elementary student borrowing from another elementary library or middle school student borrowing from another middle school library or an elementary school library) Should a student want to borrow from a grade level span higher than the current grade span assigned, parent permission would be required via a digitally signed form. All ILL requests are made through the student’s home campus librarian, and all items will be checked out and returned through the student’s home campus library.
I have concerns about a book. What is my first step?
Please contact your student’s librarian and/or campus administrator to express your concern. Often initial conversations are enough to address concerns. It also allows the campus librarian an opportunity to check on professional resources to determine the proper placement of a library book. If you wish to continue with a formal challenge, contact the campus administrator or the district library coordinator.
I’ve visited with my librarians and/or campus administrator and still have concerns. What are the next steps?
If there are still concerns after the material has been informally reviewed, please ask for a Request for Reconsideration form. Once received, one of our employees will review the request and reach out about next steps in the reconsideration process.
What policies are in place regarding library books?
Current Leander ISD Board policies for school libraries can be found on the EFB Instructional Resources: Library Materials page.
Parent/Student Access
Destiny Parent Control
How do I access titles in my student’s library to find out what is available?
To view titles in a campus library, go to the campus library catalog https://leanderisd.follettdestiny.com/ and click on your student’s campus link > Catalog tab.
How do I find out what my student currently has checked out?
Current library checkout information is housed in Destiny, our library management system. To access, go to the Leander ISD Destiny link: https://leanderisd.follettdestiny.com/, click on your student’s campus link and login via the Sign in With Google link.
I would like to request a parent account to view their student’s library activity on Destiny. What is the process for that?
Parents and guardians can view all books in the library catalog, request email communication for any library materials checked out to their children, as well as indicate books they do not want their child to check out through a parent user account in the library Destiny catalog. Follow the Guardian Account Setup instructions to set this up.
Maintaining a positive reading experience is a priority. Be sure to communicate requests or specific actions with your students in advance to ensure a smooth library experience.
Sora Parent Control
How do I access titles in the Sora digital library to find out what is available?
To view titles in the Sora digital library, go to https://soraapp.com/welcome and log in with your student’s login credentials to view titles in the Sora collection. Please note: students only have access to check out titles in the grade-banded area they belong to. Ex: Elementary school students can only check out elementary titles, middle school students can check out middle and elementary titles, etc.
How do I find out what my student currently has checked out?
Current Sora checkout information can be accessed by going to Sora (login directions) and logging in with your student’s login credentials and going to the shelf > loans tab. Please note: students only have access to check out titles in the grade-banded area they belong to.
I would like to request a parent account to view their student’s library activity on Sora. What is the process for that?
Overdrive, the parent company for Sora, is currently working on a process for this. Should this not be in place by September 1, 2025, all Leander ISD students will be removed from accessing Sora until parent controls are in place by the company.
Community Notification of Library Purchases
Makerspace
A Makerspace is a space and time for students to create, tinker, build, and solve problems through collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Learners are encouraged to think, be persistent, and make real-world connections via the projects and activities that take place in a makerspace.
In Leander ISD library makerspaces, you will see students interacting with others, taking on simple challenges, and using technology to solve problems through iteration and experimentation. You will also see 3D printers and materials for building and creation; you may also see a green screen studio or a podcasting room. The goal is to provide opportunities to think creatively and access to materials that allow for richer students experiences.
LISD School Libraries
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
- Canyon Ridge MS
- Cedar Park MS
- Danielson MS
- Four Points MS
- Henry MS
- Leander MS
- Running Brushy MS
- Stiles MS
- Wiley MS
