The library is not exactly the coolest hangout for teenagers.

“It was either, like me, usually alone, or like people just like, studying in the corners and stuff,” said David Assani, a student at Hillcrest High.  

Then, Texas ordered schools to ban cellphones on campus.

“You’re thinking, Oh, discipline problems right away,” said Nina Canales, Hillcrest High School’s librarian.

“Most of the kids are already planning how to break into the pouches and how to get the phones out,” said student Rachel Pedraza.

The ban did create a situation, a big one; the library suddenly became the new hangout. 

“They had nothing else to do because they didn’t have their phones anymore,” Canales.

Librarian Canales says she bought new books, audiobooks and stem projects that sat untouched for more than a year, until the phone ban.

“Our numbers doubled in just the first three weeks of school,” she said. “I literally was like, this doesn’t sound right, so I literally ran it again because I didn’t believe it, and it was true.”

Rachel, Naveah and Alexa show up almost every day. When we visited, they were doing an art activity they saw on social media, but they were talking about what they’re reading while doing it.

“She’ll recommend a book to me, and I’ll recommend a book to her. So that way we both have, like, we both have time to read,” said Pedraza.

It’s not just restricted to these four walls.

“There’s nothing to do when I’m done with my work. So I started reading this one book called ‘Six Paper Greens,'” said student Genesis Velasquez.

Genesis in finding her favorite genres. Even when she has her phone, she’s not reaching for it but instead for her favorite author.

“They had all her books here. And then I finished reading all of them. I think it was four of them, and they’re like, really long,” said Velasquez.

It’s a high school that has embraced books. 

“I never thought in 2025, I would see something like that, honestly,” said Canales.

It means that David has had to compromise on his quiet spot. 

“The more the merrier,” he said.  “It’s let like people like, start talking to each other. I really like the communication that it brought.”

The teachers and staff aren’t the only one noticing, some of the parents who were against the phone ban have been pleasantly surprised.

With the kids engaging in a new pastime, it has created a new problem.

They need to buy more books, something the school can handle.