From the newest fantasy series to graphic novels and manga, shelves are emptying fast at Hillcrest High School as more students rediscover the joy of reading.
Creative displays, cozy seating, and student-led book clubs are drawing more visitors than ever, fueling a surge in checkouts.
“One thing in the library that keeps me coming back is the quiet area and the sweet librarians,” Alexander W., a sophomore, said. “Spending more time in the library influenced my school day by making it more productive and calming.”
Media specialist Nina Canales continuously transforms the Hillcrest library into a space that feels more like a neighborhood bookstore than a traditional school library. She also keeps an eye on new releases, bringing the latest books to students and giving them reasons to keep coming back.
“The goal is to make reading feel personal,” she said. “Once students realize there’s something here for them, they start to see the library as their space. It’s the one place on campus where they can catch their breath.”
More conversations about reading are taking place and have even led to a new student book club called “My Book It–Make It Club,” where they bring their latest read to life through arts and crafts projects inspired by their favorite stories.
“I visit the library once a week or even every other day,” Brandon M., a sophomore, said. “My favorite genre is history; the one specific book is about war planes and their different designs through the years. Spending more time in the library has influenced me to become more optimistic since I have a nice work environment to be in.”
Enthusiasm for reading isn’t just at Hillcrest; it’s evident in the numbers across the district.
Book checkouts and renewals increased from 147,339 in the first month of the 2024–2025 school year to 169,768 in the first month of the 2025–2026 school year.
By the end of the first quarter, students had checked out 356,624 books, an increase of more than 62,000 from the same period last year.
At Hillcrest, student visits nearly doubled in the first three weeks of school, from 439 in 2024 to 864 in 2025, while book checkouts rose from 733 to 1,195.
Patricia Alvarado-Barnes, director of Library/Media Services, said the rise stems from multiple factors, including intentional library redesigns, student-driven book selections, and the state’s new device-free policy, which restricts cellphone use during school hours.
“Students are using their technology a little more responsibly,” she said. “Without phones as a distraction, they’re discovering more about what’s on the shelves, and in their Sora e-book app.”
She added that nearly every Dallas ISD campus now has a certified librarian and that the department has set a goal of one million book checkouts by the end of the school year.
With momentum growing and thousands of daily digital checkouts through the district’s Sora platform, Library/Media Services are optimistic about reaching their milestone.
“This increase in circulation is very valuable for our kids,” she said. “We want students to be well-read and prepared, not just for school, but for the world.”
