Launching National Survey on Cellphone-Free Schools and School Library Engagement

This new national survey effort will examine how cellphone restrictions are reshaping reading, school library use, and student engagement, and why it matters for funding school libraries.

The EveryLibrary Institute is launching a national survey of school librarians and library media specialists to better understand how cellphone restrictions in schools are influencing reading, library use, and engagement during the 2025–2026 school year.

As more states and school districts adopt policies that limit or eliminate student cellphone use, early reports from schools suggest a shift is underway. Librarians are observing increased interest in reading, more students spending time in the library during lunch and free periods, and growing participation in programs such as book clubs, games, and collaborative learning activities.

However, these observations remain largely anecdotal. Without clear, consistent data, they are difficult to translate into the funding and policy decisions that shape the future of school libraries.

This new survey, “Cellphone Free Schools Policy Impacts and Effects on School Library Circulation and Engagement”, is designed to fill that gap.

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cfsurvey2026

A National Call for Three Critical Perspectives

The EveryLibrary Institute is specifically seeking responses from school librarians in three distinct policy environments:

• Phone-free schools (bell-to-bell or near full-day restrictions)
• Partially restricted schools (instructional time limits or inconsistent enforcement)
• No restriction schools (baseline or control group)

By gathering data across all three groups, the ELI aims to build a clear, comparative picture of how cellphone policies may be affecting student behavior, reading habits, and demand for library services. “We are not just looking for success stories. We are building a dataset that allows us to compare what’s happening across different school environments,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary and the EveryLibrary Institute. “That’s how we move from anecdote to evidence, and from evidence to policy.”

The survey asks school librarians to report on:

• Circulation trends across print books, periodicals, and digital resources
• Changes in library visits and door counts
• Participation in programs and activities, from reading groups to games and makerspaces
• Shifts in student behavior, attention, and engagement
• Strategies for marketing and outreach during the transition to phone-free environments

These data points are essential to understanding a larger question now facing school leaders and policymakers: What happens in and around school library programs when students are no longer occupied by their phones and are fully present in the school day?

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cfsurvey2026

“We know that the school library is one of the few places equipped to meet that moment with books, resources, and a certified professional who can guide students into reading, collaboration, and learning,” adds Chrastka. “But if we don’t measure that impact now, we won’t be able to make the case for the funding needed to sustain it.” The EveryLibrary Institute will compile and analyze survey responses and publish a national summary report in early 2026. The findings will be shared with school and district leaders, state education agencies, legislators and policymakers, and school library associations and advocates.

The goal is to ensure that emerging changes in student behavior and school library use are reflected in decisions about staffing, collections, and program funding. “This is a pivotal moment for school libraries,” Chrastka added. “If students are returning to shared spaces, to books, and to each other, then our policies and budgets need to reflect that reality. This survey is how we begin to document that shift.”

Please Participate in the Survey

School librarians and library media specialists in all types of schools - whether phone-free, partially restricted, or unrestricted as of now - are encouraged to participate.

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cfsurvey2026

The survey takes approximately 8 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and respondents may choose to share anonymized data and insights for inclusion in the final report. The survey will be open from April 29 until June 12, 2026.