How the American School in London uses Sora to support reading success [Global Sora Spotlight]

At the American School in London (ASL), literacy is woven into the school’s culture.

With students from diverse backgrounds and a need for U.S.-published books, the school turned to Sora, the student reading platform from OverDrive, to expand access and enhance learning.

Expanding Access to a Global Library

Navigating the challenge of sourcing U.S.-published books while supporting a diverse international student body, ASL sought a solution that would bridge the gap. Sora provides 24/7 access to ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines, ensuring students always have the right reading materials at their fingertips. The app’s multilingual content and accessibility features, such as adjustable text sizes and dyslexia-friendly fonts, make reading more inclusive for all learners.

A Digital Solution for Modern Learning

When the pandemic limited access to physical books, ASL saw a 93% increase in Sora usage, highlighting its role in keeping students engaged with reading. Even as in-person learning resumed, Sora remains a key part of the school’s literacy strategy, offering study tools like annotations, highlights, and text-to-speech options that support comprehension and engagement. Students use these features to take notes, analyze texts, and export key insights for assignments.

Encouraging a Reading Culture

Beyond academics, ASL has integrated Sora into book clubs, faculty collaboration, and parent engagement. The school has even given parents their own logins, encouraging them to read alongside their children and model positive reading habits.

Teachers also integrate Sora into their lessons, using digital resources to enhance discussions and classroom learning. The ability to create leveled digital collections ensures that students can easily find books suited to their reading ability, making independent reading more accessible and enjoyable.

“The biggest benefit to having Sora is working with an amazing support team!”

– Venisha Bahr, High School Librarian

By breaking down barriers to reading access, Sora empowers ASL students to explore diverse content, develop literacy skills, and foster a lifelong love of reading.

Learn how Sora can support your school

Want to bring Sora to your school? Learn more at discoversora.com/global.