January 2026

​JANUARY 2026

Welcome, SNL members.
(Join our mailing list here.)
Share with your friends so they can join as well.
We promised you periodic information with suggestions of action you might take. Here you go.
​​​Reach out with questions/suggestions: [email protected]

Newly Elected Board Members Sworn In
​On January 8, 2026, our new elected school Board members were sworn in. HISD held the event in the Overflow Room for the Board meetings, in indication of the status they give this important group of representatives of the people. Maria Benzon (D5), Felicity Pereyra (D1), Mike McDonough (D6), Myrna Guidry (D9)  and Bridget Wade(D7) now have an official role to speak for us about campus libraries and all the other details of the District which are currently being so abused. Please reach out to these Elected Board members to voice your thoughts. Pat Allen (D4)and Placido Gomez (D8) are continuing Electeds who attended the swearing in. Other continuing members are Dani Hernandez (D3) and Savant Moore (D2).

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“Mike Miles says the 'science of reading' justifies limiting books in HISD.
Experts say no.”
​Lisa Falkenberg wrote in our Houston Chronicle on Nov 21, 2025 about why Miles is wrong to limit HISD students’ access to books in class and from campus libraries. "​But I've come to believe that Miles is misreading the science — and that his takeover experiment in Houston risks a whole new mistake: pushing aside the very books and stories that help kids like Zoe fall in love with reading in the first place."

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“…reading volume is one of the most powerful predictors of achievement.”
​This article by Danielle Dennis of the University of Rhode Island, “Access denied: How banning books reduces reading volume and achievement” asks “Is book banning contributing to declining literacy rates?” She says yes. “To help children succeed at reading, they need opportunities to read at high volumes.”

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Don't Forget to Elaborate
According to Natalie Wexler in her Jan. 4 Mind the Gap blog, “explicit instruction and retrieval practice are fundamental components of learning, but students need more than that to acquire deep knowledge.” Elaboration requires readers to apply new understandings in their own context. "Deep learning is complex—far more complex than retrieval practice—and there’s no simple universal formula. ...Elaboration simply means adding something to information you’ve absorbed. That could consist of making a connection between different texts or between a text and a student’s pre-existing knowledge or opinions. It could be answering questions like how, why, or what’s an example. (Answering those kinds of questions is sometimes called “elaborative interrogation.”)"
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Sanctuary Stories
​In this season of ICE mayhem, immigrant children are likely experiencing much fear, especially if close family or friends have been detained or deported. I’m Your Neighbor Books is offering Sanctuary Stories & Family Safety which sends age appropriate books to families via an ally’s address. No identifying info about the family is collected.

1. The group will appreciate cash donations to support their work.
2. Many in the SNL community may know families who would benefit.
3. Librarians and others who share books may want to consult the books included on the website, sorted by immigrant community.

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Our StoryBridge Listens: Democracy & the Arts
​Listen to a 5 minute audio about why the First Amendment matters to us all. Dorcas Hand was asked to record this clip for Our StoryBridge Listens: “Choosing Your Own Book is a First Amendment Right.” Scroll down the page – maybe listen to other clips while you are there!

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The Strainer Lesson - or Why Reading Matters
 “Teacher, I’ve read so many books… but I’ve forgotten most of them. So what’s the point of reading?”
That was the question of a curious student.
The teacher didn’t answer. He just looked at him in silence.
A few days later, they were sitting by a river. Out of nowhere, the old man said:
“I’m thirsty. Bring me some water… but use that old strainer lying there on the ground.”
The student looked confused. It was a ridiculous request.
How could anyone bring water in a strainer full of holes?
But he didn’t dare argue.
He picked up the strainer ...
READ the full story as linked in The Strainer Lesson
Thanks to Classic Literature on Facebook. It is dated Sept 11, 2023 but still circulating because I just found it.

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Take time to understand our HISD situation more broadly: Recommended Reading ​to Understand the Takeover

And remember to FOLLOW and support Community Voices for Public Education (CVPE).

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​January brings a new year, and with it hope for many successful projects. The links in this newsletter allow us to look back at 25 for wisdom to approach in 2026. So far, our year is full of challenging news all around - locally in HISD and across the world. But this Students Need Libraries in HISD community will stand strong together and with CVPE and other pro-public education organizations to continue our resistance to the Takeover. We will bring libraries back to HISD campuses - it's just taking way longer than we hoped.

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