EveryLibrary Institute to partner with SLIDE Project to ensure continuity of national school library research
The EveryLibrary Institute recently announced a new partnership with the SLIDE Project (School Librarian Investigation—Divergence and Evolution), becoming the project’s key organizational partner for 2026–2027. This collaboration will ensure the continued stewardship, accessibility, and development of one of the most important national research efforts tracking school librarian staffing, policy, and equity.
Originally launched with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and, most recently, housed at San José State University, the SLIDE Project has established itself as a foundational source of data and analysis on the size and scope of school librarianship in the United States.
Through this partnership, the EveryLibrary Institute will provide organizational continuity and long-term support to safeguard the project’s datasets, reports, and public-facing tools for researchers, policymakers, and advocates.
“SLIDE has fundamentally changed how the field understands school librarian staffing, not just as a matter of funding, but as a matter of policy, leadership, and equity,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of the EveryLibrary Institute. “We are honored to serve as the new institutional home for this work. Ensuring the continuity of SLIDE means preserving a critical evidence base for decision-makers and advocates working to strengthen school libraries nationwide.”
The partnership will focus on maintaining and expanding the SLIDE Project’s core assets, including its national datasets, longitudinal analyses, and interactive tools that illuminate disparities in access to school librarians across states and districts. You can review all of the data and tools from SLIDE on the website, https://libslide.org.
“From the beginning, SLIDE has aimed to provide clear, credible evidence about how and why school librarian positions are changing across the country,” said Keith Curry Lance, Principal Investigator of the SLIDE Project. “Partnering with the EveryLibrary Institute ensures that this work will continue to evolve and remain accessible to the field. Their commitment to policy research that informs decision-makers makes the Institute an ideal steward for the next phase of the project.”
The EveryLibrary Institute, a national nonpartisan public policy and research organization for libraries, will support SLIDE alongside its broader portfolio of research and policy initiatives, including its work supporting state-level school library legislation, public education campaigns, and national data-driven advocacy.
This transition marks a significant step forward in sustaining the SLIDE Project as a long-term resource for the profession, ensuring that its findings continue to inform policy decisions, legislative efforts, and public understanding of the essential role of school librarians in student success.
The EveryLibrary Institute is a nonpartisan public policy think tank dedicated to advancing the role of libraries in American society through research, education, and strategic initiatives. The Institute supports libraries and policymakers with data, analysis, and tools to strengthen library funding, governance, and access nationwide. https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org.
About the SLIDE Project
The SLIDE Project (School Librarian Investigation—Divergence and Evolution) is a national research initiative examining trends in school librarian staffing and the factors influencing those changes. Through quantitative data analysis and qualitative research, SLIDE provides critical insights into equity, policy, and decision-making affecting school libraries across the United States. Please visit the project at https://libslide.org/.