The education system faces several persistent and interconnected shortcomings, such as overcrowded schools, lack of funding and unequal access to technology. These challenges are not new, but they have become more visible and politically charged in recent years.
Librarians play a critical role in addressing such issues in modern education. They expose students to knowledge and information, helping to create an informed student population equipped with the literacy skills they need to thrive.
The online Master of Education (M.Ed.) – Library Media program from Eastern Washington University (EWU) prepares school library media specialists for this work. The program’s curriculum includes a course titled Current Issues in Education, exploring challenges such as those explored below.
Political Control and Censorship in School Libraries
Organized efforts to control school curricula increased in recent years. In particular, school book selections face coordinated pressure, as campaigns to challenge and remove titles from school libraries surge across the country. According to the American Library Association (ALA), 821 attempts to censor library materials were recorded in 2024 alone, targeting 2,452 unique titles, with 72% of those demands originating from organized pressure groups and government entities rather than individual parents.
The impacts of this censorship extend beyond any single title. Restricting access to books limits students’ exposure to diverse perspectives and shuts down the kind of open inquiry that education depends on. Librarians must acquaint themselves with challenged title lists and seek alternative materials so students can access the information they need. Building community relationships with educators, administrators and families strengthens that advocacy over time.
Balanced Education: Helping Students Access a Range of Perspectives
Librarians are central in helping learners access a range of perspectives and develop critical thinking skills. Sharing knowledge exposes students to ideas and topics that they may not fully understand or agree with, and that exposure is part of the purpose of education. While encountering cultures and ideas that differ from one’s own can be challenging, the U.S. tradition of free expression means students have the right to explore diverse viewpoints and express their identities and beliefs without fear of judgment or consequence.
This work also connects directly to building digital literacy skills. Today’s students encounter information not only in print but across social media, news feeds and algorithmically curated platforms. Librarians provide students with the media literacy skills to evaluate sources, recognize bias and seek out diverse viewpoints, preparing them to be thoughtful participants in a free society.
Knowledge is Power: Intellectual Freedom in Schools
Intellectual freedom in schools depends on librarians who actively work to ensure students can access knowledge freely. Although many people note that youth engage with text differently than in decades past and use a wider array of digital media, reading remains an essential tool of knowledge. Access to knowledge takes many forms, and librarians open those pathways for young people despite ongoing attempts to limit open access to certain content.
An advanced degree in library media positions educators as community leaders who can advocate for unbiased access to information. Equipping students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to engage with the world around them is among the most important investments any community can make.
Navigating challenges such as defending intellectual freedom and fostering critical thinking requires comprehensive training grounded in both policy and practice. EWU’s online Master of Education – Library Media program prepares school library media specialists to serve students and communities effectively, even in a rapidly changing educational landscape.
Learn more about Eastern Washington University’s online Master of Education – Library Media program.
