As an educator who recognizes the critical role of librarians and the too few conversations among literacy researchers and librarians, in this article the author presents a unifying conception of literacy, a conception to buttress collaborative efforts to support all students. The first section uses the experiences of David (pseudonym), a thirteen-year-old African American friend of the author, to call for viewing literacy as social and cultural practice. David's use of texts as tools and his navigation of language demands ultimately allow him to participate in literate activity in multiple contexts. The final section turns attention to two principles librarians can employ to support adolescent literacy. While the case study focuses on an adolescent, the principles are applicable to younger children and adults and presented with the hope our collective efforts support empowering literacy for all.