Sora Bingo: A Digital Reading Adventure at Friends

The Friends Seminary Library is always evolving to meet students where they are—and one of the most engaging tools in our collection today is Sora, a digital library platform that brings reading to students’ fingertips anytime, anywhere.

This fall, Lower School students dove into the world of digital reading through a playful activity called Sora Bingo. Designed by Librarian Megan Gaffney, the bingo board introduced children to the many interactive features Sora offers—searching for books by genre, exploring curated collections, adjusting font sizes, bookmarking favorite pages, and more. With each completed square, students built confidence navigating the platform and made joyful discoveries about what it means to be a reader in a digital age.

While Sora is a powerful educational tool, it also emphasizes balance. Parents and caregivers are invited into the reading experience, helping younger students make choices that reflect their family values and daily routines.

One of the most exciting features? Public library integration. Because Friends is located in Manhattan, all students can sign up for cards with the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library systems—dramatically expanding the number of titles available to them. A single search in Sora shows both Friends’ digital holdings and any connected public library collections.

Whether browsing a bedtime story, listening to an audiobook during a car ride, or revisiting a favorite novel, students are learning that reading doesn’t begin or end in the classroom. Through Sora, they’re empowered to read on their own terms—with tools that support every age and ability.

To explore Sora’s full capabilities—including a student-led tutorial and feature overview—please visit the Friends Seminary Library page.