BILL NUMBER: SCR 129ENROLLED BILL TEXT ADOPTED IN SENATE APRIL 25, 2016 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 19, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Senator Leyva (Coauthors: Senators Beall, Mendoza, Pan, and Vidak) APRIL 7, 2016 Relative to school librarians. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 129, Leyva. School Librarians Month. This bill would proclaim the month of April 2016 as School Librarians Month and would acknowledge the excellent work being done by credentialed teacher librarians and school library staff in all of California's schools from primary grades to universities. WHEREAS, With skills such as reading, writing, researching, critical thinking, and information literacy more important than ever to individual opportunity and global economic competitiveness, it is critical that California's students are exposed to these 21st century learning skills through trained librarians at their school libraries; and WHEREAS, Information literacy is the ability to identify an information need, as well as locate, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically; and WHEREAS, Because information literacy, digital literacy, and digital citizenship are mandated elements of public education, it is critical that school districts provide quality school libraries staffed with trained librarians to help students excel in these areas; and WHEREAS, The lack of a quality school library negatively affects all students but has the most significant impact on socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English learners, and foster youth; and WHEREAS, These negative impacts are exacerbated by the lack of equitable access to school libraries and trained librarians at schools with large percentages of socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English learners, and foster youth; and WHEREAS, Research indicates that schools with a quality school library staffed by credentialed teacher librarians outperform those without such programs, regardless of the school community's parent education levels, poverty levels, ethnicity, or percentage of English learners; and WHEREAS, Based on data from the State Department of Education, California ranks last in the nation in the number of credentialed teacher librarians with a ratio of 7,187 students to one teacher librarian; and WHEREAS, School libraries provide a safe haven on campus for students during or after school, and it is vital that all students have the opportunity to discover and learn about issues and subjects that capture their interest; and WHEREAS, Whereas the presence of a credentialed teacher librarian is integral to helping students find and pursue their passions through research materials and books that spark their interest; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the month of April 2016 as School Librarians Month and acknowledges the excellent work being done by credentialed teacher librarians and school library staff in all of California's schools from primary grades to universities; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.