Schools that banned phones are seeing an unexpected upside: students are checking out more library books. Just months into the school year, book checkouts are skyrocketing, according to a report. “We’re reclaiming attention,” students say.

The finding adds evidence to the debate over smartphones in classrooms. Supporters of bans argue phones fragment focus and fuel anxiety. Critics worry about safety and access.

The library boom suggests that when the constant pull of the screen is removed, many students rediscover reading on their own. Educators say the shift is visible in corridors and classrooms.

Librarians report longer queues and fuller reading rooms. Some schools are ordering more copies of popular titles.

Whether the trend lasts the whole year remains to be seen. Districts across the world are experimenting with phone-free school days, and the early results favour the books.

Librarians say the change is hard to miss. Reading rooms are fuller than before. Some students say they sleep better too. The full picture will emerge over the school year.