Libraries see surge in book checkouts after districts ban cell phones

(InvestigateTV) — As more school districts across the country ban students from using cell phones, an unexpected upside may be emerging from the digital detox: a reading revival.

With new screen time restrictions in place, some librarians report students are checking out a record number of books. At one school, a tenfold increase from the previous year. Educators say they don’t think it’s a coincidence.

Twice the checkouts in Kentucky

At Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Kentucky, books have been flying off the shelves since the start of the 2025 school year.

“We’ve checked out 4,200 books in the first three months of school, which is twice what we checked out last year for the whole year,” said librarian Erin Reed. “Yeah, it’s amazing.”

That’s also when a district-wide cell phone ban took effect.

“It was the best decision that was ever made,” said Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood.

The goal was fewer distractions and more learning.

“What I’ve seen happening now is because of the cell phone ban, full engagement,” Yearwood said. “Students are now attentive. Students are now participating in activities, group activities. Students are now interacting in the classroom environment.”

Reed said she directly ties the cell phone ban to the increase in library book checkouts.

“I do, absolutely, yes,” she said.

But she said students don’t just have their noses buried in books.

“Everybody’s much more social. They’re sitting together now instead of apart. They’re discussing the books that they’re reading,” Reed said. “It’s been really wonderful.”

Student Brooklyn Smothers said she loves talking about books.

“It’s like one of my favorite things to do to sit down and talk about a book that I read,” she said.

Bell-to-bell restrictions

While the state of Kentucky prohibits devices during instructional time, the ban enforced by Jefferson County Public Schools goes a step further.

It’s bell-to-bell, meaning phones need to be off and put away during school hours.

Students have the option of using locked pouches to help keep them out of sight and out of mind until the end of the day.

But not all Gen Z students are excited about handing over their phones.

“I was very angry, especially because this was my last year of school,” said senior Noah Berry. “So I was like, oh, it’s going to be such a long year.”

Berry said he used to check his phone dozens of times a day at school.

“I was connected to it the entire day. Probably barely took my eyes off of it, if I’m being honest,” he said.

But now Berry said he has started reading a lot more books than usual.

“Actually, my entire time at being at the school, I’ve never checked out a single book until this year,” he said.

And it’s a habit many of his peers are starting to pick up, too.

“Students were more engaged with their phones, and now they have to interact, and they’re interacting with books,” Yearwood said.

Expert weighs in

Psychotherapist Tom Kersting, an outspoken advocate for banning cell phones in schools, agreed with the connection.

“As far as I’m concerned, what else could it be from? It has to be from them not having access to the phone,” Kersting said.

“It’s an addiction. That’s literally what it is. It affects their executive functions. It reduces social interaction big time,” he said.

More than 30 states, including Kentucky, now have some kind of restriction on student use of the devices in schools.

“It’s really been more of a parental problem, because the phone has sort of become the umbilical cord, the umbilical cord between parent and child,” Kersting said.

Parents raise safety concerns

National Parents Union President Keri Rodrigues, a mother of five, said kids should have access to their phones during the school day.

“These communications devices can be critically important to keep kids safe,” Rodrigues said.

“Some of the excuses that we hear that if you’re nervous, if you’re scared, if you need to get a hold of your kid or your kid needs to get a hold of you, just call the school secretary. Those are not solutions that work in a modern context with the violent culture, unfortunately, that we have to deal with in our current society,” she said.

Students like Berry said they can’t help but think about those worst-case scenarios.

“There’s always this big fear of lockdowns and all that stuff, and I still think that’s a big concern that needs to be addressed,” he said.

But there’s another issue, said Merve Lapus of Common Sense Media.

“We know that technology is here to stay,” Lapus said.

Whether we like it or not, these devices are a big part of society today, and healthy tech habits are important.

“The bans are the direction that we need to really consider putting policies in place to recognize when technology is appropriate or not appropriate. But if we end it there and don’t get to the root of what we are deeming appropriate and the impact in the full lives of our kids, then are we really building them out to be prepared in a world that is digital?” Lapus said.

Measuring success

Yearwood said district leadership will closely monitor how the cell phone ban is impacting their students long-term. Library trends are just one indicator.

“Yes. By seeing increased graduation rates, by seeing us close the achievement gap that does exist,” he said.

Meanwhile, students at Pleasure Ridge Park said they’re going to keep embracing books.

“It’s not as bad as you think it is,” Berry said. “People need to read books more because books, they’re definitely going to tell a better story than what you’re going to find on your phones.”