What's happening
This bill requires every public school in New York to have a library and a certified school library media specialist, with staffing levels based on student enrollment.
Why it matters
Mandates consistent library access. By requiring every elementary and secondary public school to have a library and a certified school library media specialist, the bill aims to establish equitable access to educational resources and literacy support for all students, regardless of district or school size.
Staffing levels tied to enrollment. The bill introduces a tiered staffing formula, ensuring that schools with more students are allocated more library professionals, which could lead to better student-to-librarian ratios and potentially more individualized support for research, reading, and digital literacy skills.
Waivers address staffing shortages. The inclusion of a waiver process for districts facing certified school library media specialist shortages acknowledges workforce realities, while also capping waivers to prevent long-term noncompliance and encourage districts to prioritize hiring.
Potential operational and budget impacts. Schools may need to invest in hiring, training, and possibly expanding facilities to comply, particularly in districts that currently lack dedicated libraries or certified staff, which could have significant budget and operational implications for local education systems.
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Who cares
School districts
The bill would require a library in every elementary and secondary school and certified school library media specialist staffing within three years, with staffing levels based on enrollment.
Certified school library media specialists
The bill would require positions ranging from part-time assignments in smaller schools to multiple full-time specialists in larger schools.
Library clerks
Schools with at least 1,000 pupils would have to employ a full-time library clerk, with another full-time clerk for each additional 1,000 pupils.
State education commissioner
The bill would authorize limited waivers for schools in designated specialist shortage areas when districts demonstrate that they made an actual employment offer to a certified specialist.
Headline styles
Require School Librarians Statewide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Certified School Librarians
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Anna Kaplan
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2444
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to librarians of school libraries; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 275 of the education law is REPEALED and a new section 275 is added to read as follows:
§ 275. Librarians of school libraries. 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, and subject to the provisions of section two hundred seventy-four of this part, and subdivision three of this section, each school district in the state shall have and maintain a school library in each elementary and secondary school in the district, and shall employ a certified school library media specialist for each such school library within three years of the effective date of this section.
2. Employment of certified school library media specialists shall be in accordance with the following standards:
a. In each elementary or secondary school with an enrollment of not more than one hundred pupils, a certified school library media specialist shall be employed as fifteen hundredths of a full-time equivalent staff member;
b. In each elementary or secondary school with an enrollment of more than one hundred but not more than three hundred pupils, a certified school library media specialist shall be employed as a three-tenths of a full-time equivalent staff member;
c. In each elementary or secondary school with an enrollment of more than three hundred but no more than five hundred pupils, a certified school library media specialist shall be employed as a one half of a full-time equivalent staff member;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04251-01-9
A. 2444 2
d. In each elementary or secondary school with an enrollment of more than five hundred pupils, a certified school library media specialist shall be employed as a full-time equivalent staff member;
e. (i) In each elementary or secondary school with an enrollment of more than two thousand pupils, two certified school library media specialists shall each be employed as a full-time equivalent staff member;
(ii) An additional certified school library media specialist shall be employed as a full-time equivalent staff member for each additional one thousand pupils enrolled in an elementary or secondary school.
f. (i) In each elementary or secondary school with an enrollment of at least one thousand pupils, a full-time equivalent staff member shall be employed as a library clerk.
(ii) An additional full-time equivalent staff member shall be employed as a library clerk for each additional one thousand pupils enrolled in an elementary or secondary school.
3. The commissioner may, upon application by a school district, waive the applicability of the provisions of subdivisions one and two of this section for up to one year, if such application demonstrates the elementary or secondary school is within a designated shortage area for certified school library media specialists, and such application demonstrates that an actual offer of employment was made to a certified school library media specialist; however, no such waiver shall be granted for more than two consecutive school years, and no more than two waivers may be granted with a five year period.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.