ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 150
BY REPRESENTATIVE DOWNS AND SENATOR NEVERS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education work in
collaboration with the State Library of Louisiana and LOUIS: The Louisiana Library
Network to ensure the funding of library research databases and to negotiate the most
advantageous prices for school libraries in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, libraries play an essential role in a free and democratic society,
improving the quality of life of citizens throughout the state and contributing to the learning
environment at every level of education; and
WHEREAS, use of libraries is strong even in the age of the Internet, as forty-three
percent of Louisiana households do not have Internet access and rely on libraries for such
access; and
WHEREAS, fostering literacy and lifelong learning is still the foundation of library
programs, but the definition of literacy has expanded to encompass twenty-first century
literacy skills, including the ability to use computer-based and online resources effectively;
and
WHEREAS, school libraries are many citizens' first introduction to the library
learning experience and are where many individuals are first provided instruction in basic
computer literacy, Internet search skills, and library database use; and
WHEREAS, school libraries can more effectively foster lifelong learning for all
citizens of Louisiana by providing access to a broad range of online library databases, which
are edited, validated resources providing access to reliable and authoritative information; and
WHEREAS, online library databases have become core resources that all school
libraries need to meet the information need of students and teachers, and these databases are
subscription-based services with associated annual costs; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 150
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WHEREAS, the most cost-effective means of providing online library databases is
through contracts that make them available to all school libraries with the goal of adequately
educating Louisiana's citizens and therefore improving the quality of life in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, it is critical that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education collaborate with the State Library of Louisiana and LOUIS: The Louisiana
Library Network in the effort to maximize educational opportunities for students throughout
the state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education work in
cooperation with the State Library of Louisiana and LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network
to ensure the funding of library research databases and to negotiate the most advantageous
prices for school libraries in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state
superintendent of education, the state librarian of Louisiana, and the executive director of
LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE