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The Power of Research: Supporting SEL in Schools
The Power of Research: Supporting SEL in Schools
In 2025, School Library Journal and EBSCO surveyed 446 school librarians to better understand how social and emotional learning (SEL) connects with information literacy and student research skills. The findings highlight the essential role of librarians in helping students build empathy, strengthen decision-making, and develop meaningful research habits that extend beyond academics.
Extent to which information literacy skills support SEL
- 51% - great extent
- 42% - moderate extent
- 7% - small extent
SEL competencies most supported by research and information literacy instruction
- Social awareness – 84%
- Responsible decision making – 83%
- Self-awareness – 69%
- Self-management – 61%
- Relationship skills – 58%
8 out of 10 librarians say engaging in research projects helps students develop empathy and perspective-taking.
7 out of 10 librarians say time constraints prevent them from integrating SEL into research instruction.
“Research helps us understand the world and appreciate various perspectives. This is how we learn to connect as human beings and global citizens.”
— K-12 school librarian from North Carolina
Top activities used to support SEL through research
- Personal reflection prompts
- Topic choice autonomy
- Debates/discussions
- Group research projects
- Peer review
Library resources most often used to support SEL
- Biographies
- Primary sources
- Social issues databases
- Literature/fiction databases
- Health and wellness databases
Outcomes observed in students who engage deeply with research projects
- More thoughtful communication – 60%
- Greater confidence – 58%
- Increased empathy – 51%
- Improved collaboration - 45%
- Stronger decision-making – 42%
- Resilience after setbacks – 30%
“Research projects can act as structured opportunities for students to step outside themselves, hear new stories, and wrestle with multiple interpretations of reality. This not only strengthens academic skills but also nurtures more compassionate and open-minded learners.”
— High school librarian from Illinois
