Texas Library Laws FAQ:
How Bookmarked Protects Schools and Staff
What is SB 13 and why does it matter for Texas schools?
SB 13 is a Texas law effective September 2025 that sets statewide rules for how schools select, approve, and display library and classroom materials. It requires districts to post new book acquisitions publicly, create local advisory councils if enough parents request one, and give parents full access to library catalogs and their own child’s checkout history. It also requires a documented book order and board approval process. These steps are all about making book decisions transparent, accountable, and community-focused.
What does SB 412 change for teachers and librarians?
SB 412 updated the Texas Penal Code around distributing materials considered “harmful to minors.” Importantly, it removes the previous legal protection that allowed teachers and librarians to use certain materials for educational purposes without fear of prosecution. Now, only law enforcement officials have an exception. This means staff face stricter personal liability for handling challenged content in schools, making documentation and oversight even more important.
How does Bookmarked help your district comply with SB 13?
Bookmarked’s OnShelf platform is purpose-built to simplify SB 13 compliance:
- The Book Intelligence Shield: This is our proactive, defensive data layer. It continuously scans all school and classroom libraries to flag potential risks before they become a public crisis, giving leaders a complete and defensible view of their liability.
- The OnShelf C.O.R.E. (Compliance & Ordering Review Engine): This is the operational workflow that directly solves the SB 13 mandate. It's a single, digital system that manages the entire book approval and reconsideration process—from the LSLAC committee review, to the public comment period, to the final, auditable board vote.
- The Classroom Library Module: This purpose-built tool closes the district's biggest liability gap and, at the same time, provides the district with one single source of truth. It also gives teachers a simple way to upload and catalog their classroom books, automatically running them through our Book Intelligence engine for review and approval before they are made available to students.
How does Bookmarked protect teachers and librarians under SB 412?
Our platform reduces staff risk by:
- Scan every book: Instantly flag potentially harmful or challenged content before it reaches students.
- Align with state standards: Tag sensitive material against policies like SB 13, with customizable district filters.
- Provide an audit trail: Every review, flag, and action is tracked, so staff can demonstrate best practices and compliance if ever challenged.
How will Bookmarked benefit my school district?
- Faster, easier protection and compliance: Eliminate spreadsheets and manual tracking that lead to errors. Bookmarked automates the annual review process, cutting evaluation time from weeks to minutes with AI-driven analysis.
- Reduced risk: Every book in a district—across both libraries and classrooms—must be reviewed at least once a year. With thousands of titles, manual inspection is impossible. Bookmarked identifies flagged books 100% of the time, protecting districts, boards, and staff from potential liability and ensuring full compliance with state requirements.
- Transparency and trust: With objective data and clear documentation, Bookmarked helps districts demonstrate accountability, safeguard decision-making, and strengthen trust among boards, parents, and communities.
Ready to safeguard your district and unlock new possibilities for library access, compliance, and community trust? Bookmarked partners with over 100 Texas districts and 8 ESC’s—join us and empower your schools with the future of book intelligence!